My parents got a gorgeous set of new couches for the living room. It’s no surprise that they don’t want the three dogs climbing up on the couches! My dad blocks the couches by putting folding chairs onto the cushions, blocking the dogs’ access to the new upholstery.
There is an easier way to keep your pets away from the things you want to protect! Deterrent sprays can help teach your pets that a particular thing is off limits — even when you aren’t home.
There are lots of different sprays out there; you may have heard of bitter apple spray before. That one seems to be the most popular. Other sprays use citrus scents like citronella or orange peel. Deterrent sprays are especially good if you are trying to stop inappropriate chewing. The spray not only smells bad; it also leaves a bad taste in the dog’s mouth. Don’t worry — a deterrent spray shouldn’t make your dog sick.
Just like with any other training, practice and consistency is key. You need to use the spray every day for two weeks (sometimes more) before your dog will make the association that he is not allowed on the couch or not allowed to chew that shoe.
- Keep the dog out of the room while you spray. This way, his nose won’t get overwhelmed when the spray is fresh.
- Open some windows for ten minutes or so. This allows the scent to dissipate from the room (it will stay on the object, but again, your dog won’t be confused by a whole room smelling badly).
- Provide some sort of alternative to the object. If you are trying to keep the dog off the couch, make sure he has a soft bed or blanket of his own. If you don’t want him to chew your electrical cords, make sure he has a delicious treat, rawhide, or stuffed toy.