Off the couch game

[Nexa]

We've had Nexa for 1 month, and she has never been allowed on the couch. In the last 2 days she has decided that jumping on the couch is a big game. She stopped listening when we say "no, off the couch". Most of the time it takes us getting up and moving towards her before she jumps down, waits a few minutes, and does it again. (tail wagging 100 miles an hour because it's so fun!) Is a squirt of water our best option? Anyone have a better solution? Don't feel bad for her, she has a HUGE 8' x 6' bean bag that's all hers, usually one of us lays on it with her.

Dan

[Quercus]

Yeah…my solution is let the poor girl on the couch A beanbag is nice, but she most likely wants to sit WITH you...not just on the couch

Anyhow, that is only suggestion number one! sounds like she is playing this game because she is wanting you to come and get her. You need to keep her from being ABLE to jump on the couch. The best thing I have found for training dogs to stay off of furniture is to use a house line clipped to her collar and use it to keep her off the furniture... you would step on it when she attempts to jump up. Another thing you can try is putting something on the couch that will either keep her from jumping up (boxes) or something unappealing (upside down plastic carpet runner, with the pokey little spikes up). EVerytime you give her attention to get her off the couch, she is being rewarded. It is best if you can keep her from getting up there with no interaction from you.

Personally, I know VERY few people that require their basenjis stay off the couch...I can't really think of any. Curling up on the couch is one of the great joys of owning Basenjis. It might be a nice compromise to train her that she may come up when you invite her...but get off when you ask. And she may not come up when uninvited. That is definitely possible with any dog...but personally, too much work for me...I let them lounge where they want.

I prefer not to use squirting for most things because the dog is still getting your attention for the naughty behavior. And also they can predict your behaviors that lead up to squirting..so they will think "I will keep doing this until she reaches for the bottle, then I will stop" Also, they will always do the behavior that brings on the squirting when you leave the room, because the threat of punishment is gone.

[dash]

I can't think of anything. I think it would be difficult to do since they are so darn fast. Dash goes where he wants except the kitchen table. He has yet to try to get up there. good Luck.

[lvoss]

It sounds like she is doing this to get attention. Maybe instead of just "no, off the couch", invite her to do something else. Is she doing it at a certain time of day? If so, you may be able to avoid the behavior by starting a play session with her before she starts the jumping on the couch game.

[Quercus]

@lvoss:

It sounds like she is doing this to get attention. Maybe instead of just "no, off the couch", invite her to do something else. Is she doing it at a certain time of day? If so, you may be able to avoid the behavior by starting a play session with her before she starts the jumping on the couch game.

As Lisa more concisely put it…this behavior is about attention seeking...I went off on a couch tangent. Her suggestion is ideal...catch the dog before the behavior starts and do a little play session.

[jys1011]

Andrea..you're hysterical I'm with you I let them lounge where they want to except the the counter tops & tables LOL Last night they decided they wanted to sprawl out froggy style by our feet under the dining table while we ate dinner :eek: so weird these furballs!

[Quercus]

@jys1011:

Andrea..you're hysterical I'm with you I let them lounge where they want to except the the counter tops & tables LOL Last night they decided they wanted to sprawl out froggy style by our feet under the dining table while we ate dinner :eek: so weird these furballs!

Ha, ha…yeah...no lounging on the counters or tables allowed...though the top of the toybox is FINE! When we did our remodel a few years ago, we put in a bay window with a platform that would be behind the couch...just so the dogs would have their own space. The love it, needless to say...they can survey their yard while reclining on their throne. It also just happens to have a heat/AC vent blowing right on it I think our contractors thought we were nuts!

[lvoss]

I just thought I should add that basenjis find human attention very rewarding. They really want to be with their human pack. They want to curl up next to you so they are in contact with you. There are times when just being in the same room is good enough and then there are times when they really have to be touching someone. Sometimes that means curling up at my feet when I am on the computer, sometimes curling up on my lap, sometimes just leaning against me. They also love the attention they get from play or training. They want to know they are an important part of your pack.

[Nexa]

Although it really didn't take much convincing, we'll see how she does on the couch.:) Is there any way to deter the dig to china? I'm just assuming she'll dig on the couch like she does anywhere else she lays down. I appreciate the input.

Thanks,

Dan

[JazzysMom]

Personally, I know VERY few people that require their basenjis stay off the >>couch…I can't really think of any

Well, you know one... ME!!

We have never allowed dogs of any breed on our furniture -- no couch, no chairs, no beds, etc. The dogs stay on the floors.
The only time they are allowed on the couch is if dh or I pick them up and hold them in our laps.

I don't want...and I don't want my guests...to have dog hair and yard dirt on everything I wear. I like to keep the furniture clean w/out having to actually deep clean it terribly often.
It's never been a problem. When they move in to the house, the first time they jump up or even put their feet up on the couch, we say, "Off" and move them. They catch on fast, and don't seem to be bothered by the fact that they can't get on our furniture.

They do have blankets and pillows, and they are allowed to sit in little camp chairs that belong to our sons. And they are allowed in the outside patio furniture. That's it.

[tanza]

WOW…. In our house you are lucky if the Basenjis will let you share the couch or chairs, let alone the bed...gggg And I have to add that I have had 4 to 5 B's for the last 15+ years with an occasional litter rasied here and there has never been a time that anyone that has visited our home, walked in and if they didn't see the Basenjis even knew I had dogs... Also very few dog hairs, except this time of year that they are blowing coat... I do have a throw blanket on the couch that I wash every other day or so, but that is it...

As far as the digging to China... NOPE.... that is a Basenji.. and you know that is usually the reason the "stuffed" furniture gets destroyed... from the digging, they get one little piece or string of the material and the party is over

[Vanessa]

Nexa,
Trust me…I KNOW how you feel! The couch game is a never ending battle with our litte guy. The past few days he as decided to be a little devil. The moment I start walking towards the couch he makes a mad dash towards it and stands right there where I want to sit. I used to just move him but then he would take his paw and swat me back! Now I just sit. Sit on em and then he gets a clue and will move but then....oah then I get the nuzzler. He changes from "im not going to listen to you" to now I am going to nuzzle you to death by trying to get as close to me as possible. First its the little lean up against me but then.....slowley....little by little.....he takes over me and flopps himself on me to take back over the darn couch!

[tanza]

Nope, go to the dog bed and that is where he will want to be….ggggg

[Quercus]

@JazzysMom:

Personally, I know VERY few people that require their basenjis stay off the >>couch…I can't really think of any

Well, you know one... ME!!

you know…you did enter my mind when I wrote that....but I figured I don't actually KNOW you

It is funny about the hair...I have never noticed Basenji hair coming off on my clothes from the couch...but as I look over at our couch, I notice a bunch of *my hair collecting on one of the cushions

[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.

[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...