How to Keep Pets off the Furniture
Wonderful companions, pets have the ability to make a house feel like a home away from home. However, there are situations when pets might grow possessive of furniture or leave fur all over a bed or couch that has been recently cleaned. It is essential that you instruct your pet to avoid climbing up on furniture so that you can avoid these kind of problems in the future. If you are able to break these harmful habits, you will be able to train your pets to avoid climbing on furniture for the rest of their lives.
Providing Alternatives
1- Make sure your pet has a warm and cozy place to sleep
Before you can successfully train your dog or cat not to sleep on the couch or bed, you will first need to provide your pet with an alternative sleeping option that is comfortable. If you don't provide your pet with an alternative activity, you shouldn't expect to have much success in keeping it away from your furnishings. In point of fact, due to the discomfort of lying on the floor or the pain caused by arthritis, certain animals find it more comfortable to sleep on upholstered furniture. The use of a dog or cat bed can make it easier to give your pet a pleasant place to sleep without creating any additional hassle for you.
2- Provide your cat with a home of its own
A cat room is one of the greatest solutions you can offer your cat if it is continuously climbing on furniture and causing you trouble. If this is the case, you should consider providing your cat with one. Cat condos are multi-level buildings that provide cats with the opportunity to climb, jump, and sleep in one of the "rooms" or on one of the platforms. Cats can also play on the structures. Your cat will be able to exercise and climb thanks to the inside structures that are provided for them, and they will also have a comfortable area to sleep.
3- Make sure your pet has their own special piece of furniture
Consider designating a piece of your furniture as a pet-friendly spot if you find that your animal companion does not enjoy sleeping in a dog bed or cat bed. It may be an old chair or sofa that you no longer use; it could be anything that your pet enjoys having around the house. However, it is essential that you make it clear to your pet that it is not permitted to climb on any of the other furniture in the house.
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It may be difficult for certain animals, especially at first, to comprehend why one item of furniture is acceptable while others are not, especially if they have only encountered one type of acceptable item. Maintaining consistency is essential. If you see your pet attempting to climb onto a piece of furniture that is labeled "humans only," gently guide him off of the offending piece of furniture and into the chair that is specifically for him.
4- Make tasty rewards available as an incentive
It is possible that you may need to train your pet to use the alternative, "pet-friendly," furniture that you have provided for them after you have first provided them with human-only furniture. Treats have the potential to be quite useful in this regard. If you want your dog or cat kennel, cat condo, or other piece of furniture that is pet-friendly to become really desired for your pet, leave treats on it. When you see that your pet is attempting to climb onto a piece of furniture that is reserved for humans only, remove it from the room and toss a treat at the item of furniture or bedding that you specifically bought for your pet.
5- Crate or otherwise secure your pet for the night
If your dog or cat is in the habit of trying to get into your bed at night, you should probably give some thought to securing your pet in a crate or relegating it to another room before going to sleep. As long as you provide your pet with a soft bed or blanket to sleep on within the crate or room you are locking them in, simply closing the door and keeping them out of your room can also be successful.
6- You should put certain restrictions on your pet's access right away
If you have recently welcomed a new pet into your home or are planning to do so in the near future, it is essential to restrict your pet's access to furniture from the very beginning if being on the furniture causes you any kind of trouble. This is especially true if you have a dog or cat. It will be more harder (but not impossible) to eliminate this tendency once your pet learns that being on the couch, chair, or bed is acceptable, which is why it is essential to start correcting this behavior at an early age.
