Ask Pamela Reid
Q: My dog is not allowed on the furniture but the minute I'm not present, she's up there lounging. How
do I stop her if I'm not there to catch her? - Richard, Hull, QC
A: Dear Richard, I'm pleased that you didn't say: "My dog knows she's not supposed to be on
the furniture but she's sneaky." I prefer a less anthropomorphic account-dogs tend to learn
exactly what we teach them.
Think about what happens from your dog's perspective. When you are present, getting up on
the furniture spawns few rewards because you shoo her off. But if she tries out the sofa when
you aren't home, she discovers that sans you, she's able to relax and enjoy herself on your
divine divan. In learning theory terms, your presence/absence has become a "contextual cue"
indicating to your dog if her behaviour will be rewarded.
In order for your dog to master the lesson you really want her to learn, you have to ensure that
she never enjoys the furniture.
One option is to make the furniture inaccessible when you're not at home. Maybe upend some
chairs on the sofa. An alternative tactic is to use a booby trap. A low-tech example is a
pyramid of empty soda cans perched precariously on the back of a chair-the dog jumps up and
the cans fall down around her. A high-tech version is a commercial product, such as a Sofa
SaverTM. This is a pad that contains a shrieking alarm that sounds when it is compressed. You
lay it across your couch, your dog jumps up, and the next thing she knows, the couch is
screaming.
Before orchestrating something like this, you must be confident that your dog will not be unduly
traumatized. And always provide acceptable alternatives, like a soft dog bed.
- See more at: http://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/keep-your-dog-
couch/390#sthash.Qbk6P3JE.dpuf
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