5 Tricks to Stop Your Dog From Destroying the Couch 🐶🛋️, by Woofly on YouTube. 1 min 19 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 19 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Watch your dog for a few days and note when the damage happens. Most chewing and scratching starts when a dog is bored, tired, home alone or short of exercise.
Give your dog a long walk or a hard play session before you leave the house or settle down for the evening. A tired dog is far less likely to attack the cushions.
Build a chew box with three or four different textures, such as a rubber toy, a rope, a chew stick and a stuffed food toy. Rotate them so they stay interesting.
When your dog starts nibbling or pawing the couch, say a calm no and swap in a chew toy straight away. Praise your dog when it settles on the toy instead.
Block the couch when you cannot watch your dog. Use a baby gate, close the living room door or put your dog in a crate with a chew toy.
Cover the cushions and arm corners with a heavy throw while you train. This removes the fabric your dog likes to grab and makes the couch less rewarding.
Spray a pet-safe deterrent on the corners your dog targets. Test it on a hidden patch of fabric first and read the label before using it near your dog.
Keep your dog's nails trimmed and offer a digging alternative if it scratches at the couch. If damage only happens when your dog is alone, build up time apart slowly.
Tips and common mistakes
Never give old shoes or socks as toys, because your dog cannot tell them apart from your good ones.
Do not scold your dog hours later, as it will not link the telling-off to the chewed cushion.
Freeze a stuffed food toy to make it last longer when you go out.
Sudden destructive behaviour in an adult dog is worth a check with your vet.
Questions
Why does my dog only chew the couch when I am out?
This usually points to separation-related behaviour rather than simple boredom. Leave a long-lasting chew and build up time apart in small steps.
Will vinegar stop my dog chewing?
It can work as a smell deterrent on some fabrics, but it will not fix boredom or anxiety. Test it on a hidden patch first and pair it with toys and exercise.
How long until the chewing stops?
Puppies usually mouth less once teething ends, around 6 to 12 months. With steady redirection and daily exercise you can often see a change within a few weeks.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
