Dog on couch and won’t get off.

[GIDEON SMITH]

Hi,

I have a 7 month Rottweiler who gets on the couch whenever he wants and won’t get off even when told. 
 

when I lure him off the couch to his bed for example and give him a treat he thinks it’s a game and then runs back to the couch and waits for me to tell him off or pull him off and then either waits for a treat or just runs straight back onto the couch. 
 

My roommate (who has just moved out) always let him on the couch when I wasn’t home knowing I didn’t want him on the couch so I need to untrain that behaviour but not sure how to. 
 

Thanks for any help in advance!

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi there! Welcome to the forums!

To break up this habit and stop your puppy from thinking it's a game, it helps to place some bulky stuff on the couch for the time being.

These can be boxes full of big books, folded chairs or laundry baskets. Other options are covering the couch with a plastic carpet runner turned upside down so the hard points are facing upward to make the couch less appealing  or plastic mats with spikes that dogs instinctively avoid wanting to walk over or jump onto. These plastic mats with spikes work without the unwanted side effects of shock as some of the older versions of scat mats offered.

You can still sit on the couch, but will need to ensure there's no space where he can squeeze into during the training period. 

In the meanwhile, you want to make your Rottie's own sleeping area extra appealing by providing goodies there so that he associates it with great amenities. You can keep his bed/mat nearby you, against the couch so that he can enjoy relaxing/ sleeping nearby you and  can still feel part of the family.

Choose a comfortable bed that will make the couch look poorly in comparison. As he gets into the routine of spending more and more time on his bed, you can start gradually removing the bulky stuff one by one from the couch and see how he does. If you need to get him off, provide a long lasting treat (like a stuffed Kong, bully stick, Kong Wobbler) on his bed so that he's not tempting to go right back up. 

Below is a picture of the setting I used to train a young English setter to stop going on the couch. This  also helps prevent the dog from rehearsing couch jumping when you are not around to supervise. 

[Adrienne Farricelli]