Dog question: Can dogs be taught to go on the furniture in some rooms and not in others?

Ir would be hard to make them understand that, but you could try. In the living room, say, they are not allowed on the furniture, but in the den, they are. Use treats to reward good behavior.

@marinelife Those are exactly the rooms I was thinking of.

I would say that choosing ONE, acceptable piece of lounging furniture would be fine, but multiples would be confusing I think.
I would pick one item, couch, chair, bed, and make that his place.
If you want him to sleep with you I would choose your bed. If not, then maybe lying with you on the couch or in a large chair and the rest of the time he has a special bed or crate that he knows is his very own space.

My old dog had a comfy bed on the landing of our staircase and he knew that was his place. Of course he was a big dog so he took up the entire couch or bed, so he was not allowed.
Of course he was sneaky at times, they are crafty little ( or big ) guys.

Maybe you can try smell related training? Treats for using it on the furnitures with scent x only. You come up with that scent and smother those furnitures with it.

Of course. My dog has designated ‘good dog’ spots on specific furniture. We use blankets as a guide for her, it works!

My son trained his Great Dane to only go to the den and use the “dog sofa”, they used a bedspread on the sofa to mark it. The dog would share with anyone that would sit down next to him, he might put his chin on your lap.

Depends on the dog, but some dogs can be taught to play rough outside and less so inside, so discrimination in furniture should not be beyond some dogs. ( not my dog, unfortunately! )

Yes, definitely. Just be aware he might “try out” all high spots he comes across in the future. Means when visiting people, you may have to show him he is not allowed to jump on any couches while over there. I don’t think that should be a problem. My dog has been able to understand different rules her entire life, ranging from her having one couch to jump on, to none, to all of them. She always “asks for permission”, though.

Milo here; That was a short honeymoon, I must say.

My sister used long pieces of wooden sticks, 1.25” x 1.25” and of various lengths, that she laid across the seats of tabu sofas and armchairs. It was easier using a physical obstacle rather than long and arduous training.

When company came, she simply removed the poles and stacked them in a corner.

@Gailcalled We used newspaper on off limits areas & they hated the crinkle noise under their paws lol

@gailcalled Reminds me of all the years that I propped open an umbrella to keep Marwyn out of the garage. haha
He was scared of umbrellas.

As long as Willow has lived with me (ten years now), she has only been allowed on one couch in the cellar / TV room – and that only rarely – with me and “by invitation only”. She has the run of the upstairs all day and every day, and could easily climb onto my bed if she were so inclined while I’m at work for 8–10 hours per day. But she never does. (And I would know, because she sheds hair everywhere she goes, and I’d notice.) So she’s almost never on the furniture here.

However, in the past two winters, when I’ve lived (with Willow) at my uncle’s place while he needed company, he allowed her onto a leather couch in his living room, where he spent all of his time. It’s where she slept every night while we were there, too, and she really liked that couch.

But both times we moved back to my house, she went back to the original arrangement, and she makes her bed in more or less the same place/s on the floor all of the time.

It didn’t take any particular training to accomplish all of this, either.

For the furniture you don’t want them to get on.. find where they lay or sit and cover with a sheet of aluminum foil then lessen the size of it slowly until you can toss it. For the furniture you want them to use (or just don’t care) then do nothing.. Peeing in certain places can be prevented by lightly spraying vinegar around the area.. this gives them the belief that it belongs to another animal.. do this until they end up where you want them to go.. tid bit rewards always work.

He seems to be getting better and better with everything. “Nos,” treats and Bitter Apple seem to be working pretty well.

Now I need to get him to stop lunging after cars….