Off the couch game

[tanza]

@Quercus:

Digging. I teach them "stop it". If they start to dig, I say "stop it" and GET UP…GO OVER, and either redirect them, or if they won't redirect pull them off the couch while saying "off". That being said...we do have a few rips here and there in the cushions, but not actually where they dig...more on the seams.

I do that too, when I am home and see them digging… of course they don't seem to have their "selected" hearaids on all the time!

[ciarasmom]

Digging: my couches are covered with blankets and pillows, which while they dig they scatter all over the room. Seems to satisfy their reason for digging with (knock on wood) no damage to sofa.
Periodically I make a half-hearted fuss "oh my, look at this, pillows everywhere" which I then put back on the sofa for them to knock off again.

[JazzysMom]

Our couches are leather {nice leather} , which we did worry about before bringing B's into the house. We were a bit concerned that they'd try to chew on them. It's never been a problem, though.

{Why do I feel a very strong need to knock on wood?}

[Quercus]

@JazzysMom:

Our couches are leather {nice leather} , which we did worry about before bringing B's into the house. We were a bit concerned that they'd try to chew on them. It's never been a problem, though.

{Why do I feel a very strong need to knock on wood?}

Yes…knock!

So, we were thinking about doing leather next time, because we have had folks tell us that it holds up much better to dogs and scratching nails than fabric...but I doubt it will hold up to teeth...though also knocking on wood, ours haven't ever chewed the couch.

We also do the throw blanket and cushion thing like Brenda....that does seem to help with the digging and arranging.

[tanza]

We have leather and have "knock on wood" never had a problem…. and like I said I do have throws on them... and yes cushions all over the place...gggg... and it does seem to help with the re-arranging... as Brenda said..
They have never tried to chew on them even raising a litter of pups!!!... now table and chair legs (wood) are another story...

[vstripe]

Do basenji's usually chew on sofa's and table legs???

[drummamamma]

Wow there is nothing better than having my basenji on the couch with me. I agree tables or counters absolutely not but he has a blanket they he will lay on on the couch if it is not there he wont go up so when there are visitors over the blanket comes off.

[Quercus]

@vstripe:

Do basenji's usually chew on sofa's and table legs???

Sometimes, if they are bored or have even a little separation anxiety. I would say over half of most young basenjis would chew on furniture if you leave them unattended in a room for more than a short length of time. But that percentage isn't that much higher than puppies of any breed, IMO.

[tanza]

@Quercus:

Sometimes, if they are bored or have even a little separation anxiety. I would say over half of most young basenjis would chew on furniture if you leave them unattended in a room for more than a short length of time. But that percentage isn't that much higher than puppies of any breed, IMO.

I agree, given the opportunity all puppies might….. and puppies really don't know any better... as far as table legs or chair legs, for me it was that they would be laying close to them and just as a matter of teething would reach out and use the closest thing as a "chew" stick.... mostly without even thinking about it...

[JazzysMom]

Wow there is nothing better than having my basenji on the couch with me.

I do hold them on my lap while I'm on the couch; that is a very cozy, snuggly, cuddly time. But they're not getting directly ON the couch; and they don't mind a bit.
That was one concern dh had before we brought Jazz home. Every where we went, everything we'd read talked about how they love to sit on the furniture. I reassured him that I'd teach them not to, and it wouldn't be a problem. And it hasn't.

[Tayda_Lenny]

I used to let Tayda and Lenny on the couch as much as they wanted until the hair drove me so nuts I couldn't take it anymore. My solution was to move their crate next to the couch and put a dog bed on top of it. They now use the couch just to jump up onto their bed. And they still get to be next to me! I also sit on the ground with them if they want to snuggle with me, or I'll have one of them in my lap and the other one at my feet.

A leather couch would be nice! Maybe next time!

[Nexa]

We ended up pushing the ottoman against the couch, everyone seems happy now:)

[jys1011]

Awww she's too cute

[nala121498]

Adorable!!! Great compromise!