New sofa

Re: New sofa

Kim Buckley — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 16:46:37 GMT

The new sofas arrived yesterday and I've not been at home but my mum said the dogs have been fine and not tried to get on them. Mum bought Millie a new bed so she has been sleeping in that instead. They are higher than our last sofa so I don't think Meg would be able to get up on them as she has old dog hips.

They were shut in the dining room over night so weren't left unsupervised. Mum said she felt guilty as they were giving her puppy dog eyes through the baby gate lol

Re: New sofa

Julie-Anne Wilson — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 12:28:57 GMT

I had to do the same thing with my dogs a few years back. At that time, my current dog was still young but my old boy was about 9 or 10 I think and he'd been getting on the couch since we had him.

I just kept telling them to get down if I caught them on it and if I saw them trying to get on it I shouted "uh-uh" at them and clicked my fingers pointing to the floor. To this day, clicking my fingers still works on my current dog if she tried to get on the bed.

Re: New sofa

Tracy Windler RVN — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:15:37 GMT

I think thats all you can do! I don't think (and, lets be honest, this behaviour milarchy is hugely theoretical!) all behaviours (especially certain dogs!) can be modified by positive training techniques. I have used a combination of many different methods to train my dogs and I would always be open to using different techniques if the old ones didn't work.Yes, some dogs would respond badly to negative techniques and they should be used with caution, but I think they hve their place.

NB The holly under the sofa cushions worked and I'm pretty sure he's not traumatised by the experience! I thought it was actually quite ingenious of my mum, as it means the dog didn't associate the negative result with anyone, just with the sofa cushions!

I think everyone is entitled to their opinion, but lets not go down the road of condemning other people's opinions.

Re: New sofa

Kim Buckley — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:22:56 GMT

Well the sofa is being delivered tomorrow. Mum has decided to go and buy a baby gate so the dogs can be shut in the dining room when we aren't home and we will just have to tell them to get down if they do it when we are home.

Re: New sofa

Kim Buckley — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 09:07:05 GMT

Thanks for everyones input!

I'm not going to be mean to them in anyway, they will just be told to get off. I just don't think Millie is going to listen lol Especially as she likes to sit on the back of the sofa and watch the world go by!

Re: New sofa

laura dickenson — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 05:08:08 GMT

A positive aversion would be if a dog was about to run off and you squeaked a toy to stop him, this is a positive reason for the dog not to run off - the toy is more interesting and a better option to the dog. An electric shock given to a dog for doing what he has always been allowed to do is negative. This type of technique used in training is very old hat and behaviourists now use positive training methods ie rewarding the good behaviour. By putting a barrier up to stop the dogs getting on the sofa interrupts the behaviour and 'averts' them to sleeping on the floor. So if aversion therapy is what you wish to use then this is a good aversion with no negative input.

Postive reward training should be used in most cases and would work in this case very easily. We live with 3 street dogs in China and they have learnt they are not allowed in the kitchen by repeatedly telling them to leave. We've not had to erect an e-fence between the lounge and kitchen! When they do they always get a fuss by whoever is in the lounge.

Sprigs of holly and shock blankets are not the way forward and I hope not too many nurses are promoting this to owners. please take time to look in positive reward based training.

Not trying to be funny at all - just really anti negative/aversion training when its a behaviour we have been letting the animal do its whole life. These dogs dont have behavioural issues they have been trained/taught that sleeping on the sofa is ok.

I am definately not blinkered to behavioural issues and I totally agree that there is much depth to behavioural issues which is why I disagree so much with shock blankets and holly springs. I believe that animals respond equally aswell to positive training and these dogs havent been described as having dominance issues or aggression.

Re: New sofa

Tracy Windler RVN — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:29:59 GMT

[quote user="laura dickenson"]

I dont agree with this shock therapy!!!! since when did vet nurses support negative training techniques.

[/quote]

I would say its more aversion therapy. Its not like giving them a shock when they wee in the house, as that could cause problems with toiletting in general (not that I'm advocating the shock technique, just that I disagree with how you are describing it)

I don't think positive reward training would work in this case, as the dogs get too much positive reward for getting their way and being on the sofa. In my opinion, there is so much depth to behavioural issues, you should try not to become blinkered.

Re: New sofa

laura dickenson — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 05:25:23 GMT

I dont agree with this shock therapy!!!! since when did vet nurses support negative training techniques.

Dogs are clever and I think if you keep telling them to get off when they jump on they will soon re-learn. Just make sure when youre not there they dont have access to the sofa otherwise it will take too long to train them as they are allowed on some of the time but not all the time. Put their cosey beds in the kitchen with treats for 'positive reward training' and then give them a treat/fuss when they sleep on floor in your lounge.

good luck - if no luck big thows and lots of cosey cuddles!!

Re: New sofa

A Little TLC — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:44:38 GMT

Either enforce, new sofa, new rules, it will smell different, so it may help. Or Citronella spray,t hey hate it. x

Re: New sofa

Tracy Windler RVN — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:46:12 GMT

my mum put sprigs og holly on the sofa, then covered them with a blanket- gave her dog a bit of a surprise when he jumped on it! Good luck to your mum, I think she's got her work cut out!

Re: New sofa

Kim Buckley — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:02:06 GMT

Our current old sofa has got a hole in the bottom of it from where Meg decided to dig in it when she was a puppy! At least they aren't naughty puppies anymore!

Re: New sofa

Tracey Louise — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:00:11 GMT

Awww bless them. My cats wrecked my old sofa, we have just had a brand new one. Hope they dont wreck this too!

We can but hope, but im sure our new sofa wont look new for too long. But the cats like to sit with us too.

Re: New sofa

Kim Buckley — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:59:02 GMT

We have already got a throw that the dogs are supposed to sleep on if on the sofa. Maybe we will have to go down that route. The sofas are brown anyway so not like they will show up any dirt!

Re: New sofa

Dippy — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:57:13 GMT

I had 2 new sofas a fewmonths ago when I moved into my little batchelorette pad and the one me and Henri share has a throw on it at all times apart from when visitors come and then it's all shiny and new underneath. Works well for me and was the easier/lazier option than trying to untrain him!

Re: New sofa

Kim Buckley — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:53:34 GMT

[quote user="Tracey Louise Mullins RVN"]

have u got room to keep one of the old sofas or chairs and the dogs can have that. there very own sofa, they are obviously very fond of it already

[/quote]

Unfortunately not. House isn't very big. Even if we did I don't think it would keep Millie off the new one. She likes to sit with people. She is such a lap dog!

Re: New sofa

Tracey Louise — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:43:14 GMT

have u got room to keep one of the old sofas or chairs and the dogs can have that. there very own sofa, they are obviously very fond of it already

Re: New sofa

Kim Buckley — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:41:40 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

or you could accept that seeing as they have always slept on the sofa...you need to get a new throw..

[/quote]

If I had it my way then this would be the case but my mums bf (who is buying the sofas) isn't having any of it. My poor little deprived babies.

Re: New sofa

Kim Buckley — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:40:40 GMT

They have never been in a crate and being 14 and 9, I think it's a bit late really.

We normally do shut them in the kitchen in the winter when it's muddy because they run mud through the house but it's small and cold and Meg is quite arthritic now so get worried about her being cold.

Trying to think of there is a way we can shut them in the dining room. Might have to invest in a big baby gate or something.

Re: New sofa

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:39:22 GMT

or you could accept that seeing as they have always slept on the sofa...you need to get a new throw..

Re: New sofa

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:37:42 GMT

Mickey used to do a thing you could put on the sofa gave a mild shock have to look on their site see if they still do it.

or you could crate them

or lock them in the kitchen