Dogs and Furniture

 If you're anything like me, you probably don't want your 80-pound animal on the couch. I initially let Sawyer get on the couch ( big mistake) and quickly discovered it wasn't worth the mess - or the bad couch manners. If you are one of those who enjoys having your dog on the couch-more power to ya. It just isn't for me.

via

Sawyer is large, and was putting some unnecessary wear and tear on the furniture. On top of that- our roommate Husky, Huck, started using the couch as his launch pad (not cool). Not to mention the countless amount of time I spent vacuuming the couch to get that dog hair off. And on top of all of that, Sawyer thought anyone sitting on the couch was there to pet him- and would harass non-stop.
So, we decided it would be best to train those animals to stay off the couch.

Yeah. Right. Easier said than done. It took some constant reinforcement. So how did we get the dogs from this?

Sawyer on "his" couch!

to this?

Sawyer's bed- exactly where he belongs!

The dogs were totally confused- understandably so- when we first decided to train them to stay off the couch. Our first tactic was to try to discourage them by making the couch much less comfy for the dogs. First trick- foil.

1. Foil

We place sheets of foil on the couch. Sawyer didn't like the noise or the texture, so it kept him off. Huck found a way to push the foil off the couch. Not an excellent deterrent, but it kind of helped. We didn't need something that only "kind of" helped. So we moved on to magazines. 

2. Magazines

We would seed the couch with magazines. If they tried to get up on the couch, our hope was that the magazine would cause them to slip- or wouldn't provide enough comfortable space. That also kind of helped. Also, not very realistic. After all, humans needed space to sit, and we couldn't continue placing magazines on every surface of the couch every time we left.We needed a long term solution.

3. Creative Pillow Arrangements

A bit of creative pillow arranging can definitely deter the animals. Until they figure out how to knock them off the couch..... On to the real training techniques.

4. Leash Training

 This definitely took some effort, and it's still an ongoing learning process for both dogs. We put a drag-line (shorter indoor leash) on both dogs. When they got near the couch- or if they even ventured to put a paw on the couch- they got a correction. I even walked both dogs around both couches, and they received a quick leash correction if they looked at the couch.

After those training sessions, we would sit on the couch, and direct the dogs to go to their beds (also in the living room). It's all about repetition. Sawyer would get out of his bed. I would get up and put him back in his bed. Repeat times 10. At the end of the day, he knew his place was supposed to be the bed. After that... it's all about tip number 5.

5. Constant Reinforcement
 
Yep- thats right. The reinforcement doesn't stop. Especially if you have some stubborn dogs. The dogs are much better about not getting on the couch these days. That doesn't mean they slip up sometimes. It's all about making sure they know where their place is. For our dogs- it's their dog beds in the living room. When Sawyer started going straight to his bed, I even started giving him a dog biscuit for being so good.  And while it can seem like more trouble than it's worth. The peace of mind of not having to vacuum constantly, worry about furniture tears or scratches, and not have to worry about your 80-pound animal trying to sit on top of your guests- the effort you put into the training is SO worth it.

Try it today and let me know if it works. And if you have had anything else you've tried that has worked, please pass along the tips!

Happy Monday,

3 things you Need to Know About Crate Training Your Dog

It all depends on how you look at it. I've heard the argument for both sides - pro-crate, as well as anti-crate. And I get it. Now before I get into this article, I want you to know exactly where I stand on the topic of the crate. Myself and Sawyer are both very "pro-crate." I mean, how can you deny a dog his own high-rise? In all seriousness, puppydog L.O.V.E.S. his "room."

I'm going to give you three tips about crate training your dog. In case you are in need of some more, here is a great article I read about the ins and outs of crates. But first, the story behind this photo. We were getting ready to move from Austin to Houston, so packing was in full-swing. Sawyer didn't want me to forget him- or his crate, so he decided to position himself exactly where I couldn't forget him :)

Sawyer on his "high-rise"

1. Don't deflect your "crate-hate" to your dog

For all you "crate-haters" out there, you have got to stop thinking of the crate as such a negative thing. Repeat this: It is NOT a torture device. It's there to help by creating a comfortable environment for your dog. The second you feel any sort of negativity toward the crate, your dog is going to pick up on it. When used correctly, the crate can be an excellent way to make your dog feel safe and secure. Sawyer much rather prefers to sleep in the crate (with the door open), than anywhere else in the house. It's a great travel tool as well. When I know I'm going to be spending the night at a new place, I always take the crate with me, and Sawyer recognizes that he is supposed to sleep in his room. It brings a sense of normalcy to an otherwise new situation. Finally, the crate is a great tool to use if you have a ton of company over. Sawyer, for the most part, does very well with company (food stealing is another issue), but if he is overly excited- or there are young children around, which he could potentially knock over, I'll put him in his room for some quiet time, while he calms down. I'll put him in there with a chew toy or a bone, and 15 minutes later, he can be reintroduced to the situation- with a much more calm demeanor. So, please, stop the crate-hate.

2. Make it positive experience 

Sawyer in his "room"

Turn the crate into a positive experience. Personally, I don't like the word "crate." It seems so.... not fun. So, I changed the word "crate," to the word "room." Doesn't that sound so much better? Sawyer would have no idea what I was referring to if I told him to "go to his crate." But when I tell him to "go to his room," he is all about it. Make it a positive experience. I bought him a bed specifically for his room (another HomeGoods purhcase), and it made it that much more comfortable. I also put a couple of his favorite toys in there. When we were first starting out, I would give the command "go to your room," and reward with verbal praise- and a dog biscuit. Once inside his room, I would verbally reward him again, by telling him what a good boy he was being. If any barking were to happen- simply ignore the behavior- reward your dog for being quiet. It takes some time up front, of course, but the benefits you can reap from a crate-trained (or in Sawyer's case- a room-trained) dog, can be endless.

Side note: Other dogs have watched Sawyer's love affair with his room, and have taken his lead, by jumping right on in there with him. It's amazing how they pick up on each others behaviors. 

3. Don't use it as a form of punishment 
 Do NOT use their room as punishment. Never ever put your dog in his room to "lock" him up. The crate is not a jail cell. Remember? It's there to create a comfortable environment for your dog.

Using the dog's room as a form of punishment will only create confusion. The dog will have no idea why you are shoving him in his crate after he just ate the cat's food. Since we want our dogs to love their crates, we don't need to be creating any confusion.  


I'll be back tomorrow with some crate-training tips- i.e. how to get your puppydog to L.O.V.E. his room.

 

Leaving your Dog Home Alone

I've been absent because I've had a pretty hectic work schedule the past 12 days. Luckily, I do have a roommate who also has a dog (a rescue Husky named "Huck") to keep Sawyer company. When I first got Sawyer, I did experience some dog-mom guilt for having to leave him alone while I went to work. Here are some tips I've learned along the way to make the process as easy as possible for owner and dog:

Sawyer and his "roommate" Huck

 1.   Walking and Exercise is not only important for humans, it's equally as important for animals. It helps keep the dog focused, eliminating any anxieties or stress they might feel. I always take Sawyer for a walk in the morning before I go to work, as well as our normal walk in the afternoon (more on dogs and heat a bit later this week). I've found that getting him out, and having him focus his attention on a walk, seems to distract him from the fact that I'll be leaving for work shortly. When dogs have anxious energy pent up from lack of exercise, they can often translate that same anxious energy into bad behavior inside the house while you are gone. Again, our morning walks are relatively short - about 15 minutes, with a longer (1-1.5 mile walk in the afternoon).

2. Have a Special Place for Your Dog: We have wood floors in our house, which is great during the summer, but doesn't translate into the most comfortable space for dogs (who aren't allowed on the furniture). Sawyer has his crate (I need to do a post on crate training in the near future), with his own bed inside his crate. But, I figured I needed to get him his own space for during the day when I am gone. See below:

Sawyer in his bed

 This was a great find from Home Goods, which I found relatively inexpensive ( I think it was about $25-$30). Bonus- it matches my living room furniture!!! They actually have a really great pet section in general. This bed was perfect for Sawyer because he loves things he can curl into. Whenever I leave the house, I make sure to put him in a "down" command into his bed. No problems! Nothing is destroyed or out of place when I get home from work, and he knows he has his own "spot!"

3. Leave for Short Periods of Time and Make it Positive Experience When you Return: When I first started leaving Sawyer at home out of his crate, I would leave for very limited periods of time. I.e. a short trip to the grocery store, a quick walk to the mailbox. Just so he would know that I will return every time. I also wasn't 100% sure that he would leave my house alone, so I didn't want to go far in case my couch needed rescuing. As he began to earn my trust, and as I began to trust him more, I would begin leaving him for long periods of time. And I always made my coming home experience a positive one. Since I work all day, and he and Huck are alone for a good chunk of time, I always try to incorporate a little bit of play time when I get back. That way, he gets my undivided attention while we play, and then we get to go on our walk.

Sawyer and his Kong

Now, I know some of you have written about dogs that have severe separation anxiety, or even dogs that you don't quite feel comfortable leaving with free reign of the home. I'll be back this week to address some of those issues.

For now, Happy Monday! We have a short work-week ahead and will be headed to Belton, TX this weekend to have some fun on the water!