How To Stop Your Dog From Jumping On The Furniture

Be firm with your dog. Whenever they jump on the furniture - or even put their paws up onto it, say “off” in a stern voice. Being consistent with your command and tone of voice will make it clear to your dog that this behavior won’t be tolerated. During the early stages of the “off” training, use treats to reward the desired outcome. You can feed your dog a treat after they jump off, or lure them off instead by throwing one or two on the floor. If you have a stubborn pup who refuses to move, you might need to pick them up and gently place them on the floor.

A ‘positive interrupter’ is a noise you can make or create to get your dog’s attention, but isn’t too jarring that it causes any distress. The best way to utilize your positive interrupter is to make the noise as soon as your dog jumps on the furniture, then, once they land on the floor you click your fingers and offer a reward. Over time, your noise of choice will be a sufficient tool to prevent any furniture jumping.

Being consistent is essential for training your dog not to jump up. This goes for everyone in the family, or at least whoever lives in the same house, including the dog sitter. Make sure the rules are clear and that everybody sticks to the same formula. Not only will this make life easier for you and speed up the training process, but it will also be easier on your dog, who won’t be confused by erratic instructions.

The primary reason your dog wants to jump on the furniture is because they want to be snuggled up and cozy next to you. Rather than banishing your furry friend to the floor, consider offering them the next best option — their bed. Put the bed next to whichever piece of furniture they’re most prone to jumping up on, then coax them into it by scattering treats and saying “into your bed”. Offering the bed to your dog is a great way of being close to each other without breaking any housekeeping rules.

The last thing you want is for all of your hard work to be undone when you’re not home, so make sure you invest in some useful equipment to keep your jumping doggy at bay. Consider a gate to block off a room, or even a crate to keep them in. If not, just be sure to keep doors closed to any spaces that might prove tempting.