Prevention/Solution

• Training should always be the ultimate goal, but even the best-trained dog might take advantage of the fact nobody is home to climb onto the couch for a nap. Not all dogs need to be crated during the day, and if the only thing your dog does wrong is climb on furniture, leaving the crate door open and putting a training mat on the furniture is a great compromise. The cost of a mat or two could save you hundreds in the lifetime of your couch.
  
  

Types

• There are two types of training mats. The most effective is a battery-powered clear plastic mat. Activated by touch, it gives the dog a mild but unpleasant electric shock as she starts getting on furniture. It usually doesn't take more than one or two attempts for her to give up the idea. The other type uses crinkly foil material as a deterrent, on the theory that most dogs don't like to lie on something that goes "snap crackle pop" every time they move. These can also be effective, but only for dogs that dislike the sound and texture. Some determined dogs may simply pull it off. Both types of mats are inexpensive and widely available in pet stores and online.
  
  

Misconceptions

• The electronic mats are very safe. They run on batteries, so there are no electrical cords to worry about. They will not harm a dog, or for that matter, even a small child. The shock is much milder than the shock a dog gets from an electric fence collar and feels more like a buzz or tickle. The foil mats are disguised as attractive throws to blend with any decor.
  
  

Considerations

• To make it an easier transition for your dog, at the same time you start using a training mat, get her a new bed or old quilt so she does not feel banished to the hard floor. Most dogs, especially older ones, appreciate a soft bed to lie on. When you are home, don't confuse her by allowing her on the furniture, because that is giving her mixed messages. Praise and reward her for going to her own bed.
  
  

Function

• You don't have to use training mats for the rest of your dog's life. Try putting a thin blanket or sheet over either type of mat when you leave. Since she's quickly figured out what the mat looks like and what it does, she'll also figure out that if she doesn't see it, she's safe. It might sound a bit sneaky, but if it's disguised and she gets on it assuming she's safe and gets buzzed, she'll decide that the furniture simply isn't a place for her to be, no matter what's on there. This way you can remove the mat once she's reliable.
  
  

Warning

• Don't be tempted to use potentially harmful deterrents, like mouse traps. This is not humane and can harm and unnecessarily scare your dog. There are deterrent sprays available but they are of limited effectiveness and many dogs don't mind them at all. They might be worth a try if you can't afford a training mat. Some people simply put things like cardboard boxes or a broom on a couch, to keep a dog from sleeping on it, although this is not the most decorative option.
  
  

Benefits

• The benefits of keeping a dog off the furniture are many. Your furniture will stay much cleaner, because even small dogs shed and can track dirt into the fabric. It will last longer, because embedded dirt in the fabric weave can become impossible to remove completely and repeated cleanings will fade and wear it prematurely.