Tips please to train you dog NOT to jump on the sofa!

[galaxy]

My 16 week German Pointer puppy is just not getting the message that he is not allowed on the sofa, either that or he just doesn't care what we think!

We have never cuddled him etc on the sofa

When he was tiny he used to put his front paws on the sofa. He was quite persistent, but eventually learnt what "off" meant and he all but stopped doing it, so he must have known he wasn't allowed.

Then he grew! And he realised he could climb onto the sofa! To begin with he only did it in the brief moments we walked out the room. When we discovered him we only had to say "off" and he would jump down. As the weeks past he became more persistent and we would have to physically remove him (we stay very calm, walk up, and drag him off while firmly saying off). Then he started barking at us as we approached, and growling and nipping at us as we take his collar. We have made every effort of ignore it and act not bothered, and continue to drag him off. I think once I said "enough" (which is what I say if he gets OTT normally), and he just got worse, so I went back to ignoring it. He has now even started jumping up on the sofa right next to us, so he's definitly not getting better!!

I've spoken to our dog trainer about it. She told me to encourage him to jump up by tapping on the sofa next to me. So tried that which resulted in him just barking at me and getting very excited, but wouldn't jump up when requested (but still when not!). So she then told me to physically put him on the sofa and then remove him saying "off". So tried that and it sent him into his barking, nipping mode. I persevered for a while, but I didn't see any improvement.... Seeing her again Monday.

So any other tips? He's training is going really well in nearly every other way. But I'm really banging my head against a brick wall with this and desperately trying to not let my frustration show!

In the time it's taken me to type this me he must have jumped up at least a dozen times!!!

 

[Spudlet]

Sounds like he's found a really fun game to play

You could consider using a house line temporarily to help you calmly remove him without needing to actually take his collar and risk getting nipped in the process. Once he's on the floor, tell him he's a good dog, and play a game with him, so he gets that the floor is a good place to be, while the sofa gets him nowhere.

Apologies if you've tried this already, it would be my first course of action though if not.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

I am trying to think - none of mine over the years would ever think of challenging me if I asked them to move (apart from Flick of course

but she is getting much better thankfully!) but I am not sure quite how I achieve that

I suppose I would use the command 'get down' and if I had no response then I would remove the puppy from the sofa and tap him on the backside (or use my voice to reprimand depending how sensitive he was) to enforce the command

 

[CorvusCorax]

Agree, sounds like a massive fun game. To be honest if he kept doing it, I would remove him very swiftly, firmly and put him on a spot on the floor/a normal dog bed, using a reinforcement word, but no other talking. Reward him the longer he stays in the new spot you have created for him.
If that did not work, straight out of the room for a few minutes and not allowed back in until he has calmed down and when he comes back, direct him to the spot and reward him there.
If he goes back to the sofa, put him out again, tough.

It sounds as if 'off' is not working and is identified with this cat and mouse behaviour, so I would change it to something else and start again.

I would not use 'down' at all - because that is a completely different command and something a lot of people do not realise - you say 'down' they will just go into a down on the sofa, because that is what you told him to do

You can also put something strange and proibitive on the sofa while you are not there/on it (a folded folding chair, wash basket etc)

If he tries to nip, put your hand over the top of his muzzle and hold his head still for a second with a 'NO', that is not behaviour I would tolerate.
Others here have suggested emitting a high pitched squeal when a pup nips but he may be too old and too bolshy for that at this stage.

 

[Patches]

I always use the word "dogshelf"

Dogs belong on the dogshelf, humans on the chair!

I have been known, in the past, to actually tip a chair up whilst sternly saying "dogshelf" in order to force the dog to jump off....upon which time he was praised immensely.

 

[Vizslak]

He really does sound as if he's taking the mick and trying to rule the roost. Little monkey!
I have never had mine challenge me either so I'm a bit stumped for suggestions other than changing the command word so you can start afresh as CC said and being much much more forceful with him about staying on the floor. If he doesn't listen the first time you ask, use your deepest, meanest voice you can muster (as well as physical removal if neccessary)! If he disappears sharpish and looks very sorry for himself then good! You should in theory be able to go back to asking nicely after a few times of upsetting him! HPR's are a stubborn force when they want to be...give em an inch and they will take a mile!
Good luck.

 

[CAYLA]

At this stage I would not mess around he is challenging you and if he wins now.....he will take it further re the nipping and aggression.
Use a slip lead(dont grab the collar) this way he cannot nip u, NO talk just slip it on drag him off and put him in the kitchen and give him time out for a good 5 mins, repeat this when he re-offends as many times as it takes, dont speak when you let him back in, give him a comfy floor alternative(nice big padded bed) and encourage him in by using command and placing him in the floor bed and treating him, whenever he attempts the chair point and tell him bed, if he ignored block his attempts to get on the chair if u can, if to late use the slip lead, as suggested when u are not there but things on the chair to prevent him getting on or crate him, if u cannot keep him out of the room.
The above is the nicer way, I would have welted his arse had he attempted to snack or bite and he would be severely reprimanded via my gob or he would literaly be tipped offf the chair.

 

[galaxy]

Thanks for all of your replies!

I totally agree with the consensus that he's pushing it!

I really like the idea of the long line... I'm definitly going to go and get one of those monday! That will make my life easier.

I'm also glad some of you said to get firmer with him, and maybe change the command. Will have a think about what to use. We already have "down" allocated!

He's just woken up and has put his paws on the sofa twice. Both times I marched at him being a scary as possibly and shooed him to the other side of the room and put him in "down". The first time when released he immediately bounced up at the sofa again, but the 2nd time didn't. We'll see. I may have seen a "moment of clarity" in his eyes.... But won't speak too soon!

My dog trainer has described him as a "thinker", which is great, but also makes him quite strong willed!

Any more suggestions welcome!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Good luck! Agree it won't hurt to be a bit firmer with him if he is pushing his luck, I think more of us need to find our 'scary' voices

As you say, thinking dogs are usually the hardest to stay on top of, I have two myself

My mother used to have great words like 'DESIST' and 'CEASE' but she has grown very soft and fluffy in her old age

 

[galaxy]

Thanks Cayla!

right, no more Mrs nice!! I was so busy trying to stay calm etc, maybe he didn't think I was serious...

His crate with his big bed in under our dining room table (it's a living room/dinner), he never fusses anymore when he goes in there. I can't feel like I can trust him to put him in the kitchen, becuase there is no door into our corridor, where all our shoes, internet stuff (and junk!) is stored. So difficult to use it as a time out, as he will steal shoes if not watched! Hence I've put him at the other end of the room from the sofas. If that doesn't work, I'll rethink the kitchen area....

He just tried again, and when put in down the other side of room, looked very worried and stayed there for ages! He didn't move an inch until I said ok, and he was left a few minutes. It's gonna improve the length of my Downs!

 

[TGM]

Excellent advice from everyone, especially Cayla, as always. I would just reiterate what she said about ensuring his own bed is as nice and comfy as the sofa. We had a Weimaraner who used to love getting on the sofa, but I think it was partly because he couldn't get comfy on a normal dog bed due to his bony elbows, so we gave him an old folded duvet to lie on, which improved the situation immensely!