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.

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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,

Socializing your Animal

We had a houseguest this weekend. His name is Riley the Bichon, and he's pretty cute:

I am thankful to have an animal who tolerates, and even enjoys other animals. We have lots of other people's animals coming in and out of the house from time to time, so it's nice that I don't have to worry about any type of aggressive behavior or possessiveness on Sawyer's part. 

I cannot stress the importance of socializing your dog from a very young age. I have seen too many pet owners who are dictated by a dog who isn't the most friendly around other animals. That all could be solved with proper socialization.

The best way to socialize your puppy, is to expose them to other animals in a controlled environment. Remember those walks Sawyer and I take every day? Well, there are tons of other people out there with their animals as well. All are on leashes. Here is how you conduct a proper meet and greet.

1. Make your animal sit (nothing is going to get accomplished if your dog is lunging, barking or otherwise out of control when you approach another animal).

2. Ask the other pet owner if their dog is friendly. If so, ask if your dog can say hi. Keep your dog in a firm sit during this exchange.

3. Let the two animals sniff each other. Don't let either of the animals jump on each other, and pay close attention to their body language. Make sure tails are wagging and that their fur isn't standing on end.

4. Above all else, remain calm. Your animal feeds off of your energy. If you are tense or nervous, your dog will pick up on that immediately and might even act out of fear or nervousness. Take a deep breath and calm down. 

Hope this helps,
  

Sawyer's Friday Picks

Happy Friday- we made it through another week. I don't know about you, but this week has been filled with fun and lots of work for me!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @kmt678 for some additional pictures of Sawyer. 

Here are Sawyer's Friday Picks:

1. Petco

They have been doing their 7 Days of Deals and will continue through tomorrow. Get online to check out some of their specials. And bonus, they are doing free shipping with NO minimum if you can't make it into the store. Promo code: august. That is for TODAY only. I know I need some more of these:

  2. A Bath

Don't forget how much we love our Mauro dog shampoo. Get it HERE. Sawyer is about due for a bath this weekend, so we will be using one of our all-time favorite products.

3. Iams Lifelong Rewards

Sawyer and I are both fans of Iams dog biscuits. They are a nice treat for Sawyer, and they do not give him allergies.

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 We recently joined the Iams Lifelong Rewards program for special offers and coupons on your favorite products, a newsletter and customized advice. Join today- it's free.

4. Petsmart

They are having their biggest sale of the year. I always try to stock up on some necessities during this time. Rawhides, chew toys, whatever we might need. Right now you can save up to 30% on some of your favorite products. If you are ordering online, you can receive some additional savings of $5, $10, or $15 depending on how much you spend.

I'll be stocking up on these- they are a great price:

5. A good ball.

Sawyer isn't a huge ball fan, but he'll play with one for about ten minutes each day. He can destroy a tennis ball in about ten seconds flat, so I needed a sturdy one. This Kong ball is the best one I've has so far. It's very dense and perfect for a large animal!

Get it HERE

Happy Friday, ya'll!