Furniture Scratching

Author

Deni D.

Position

Founder & CEO

Furniture scratching is a common behaviour among dogs, but with patience and consistent training, you can discourage this habit effectively. Here are some tips to help protect your furniture.

Why check out this article?

Our Top 10 Tips for preventing furniture scratching

Provide Alternatives: Offer appropriate scratching outlets for your dog, such as scratching posts or pads, to redirect their scratching behaviour away from furniture.

Use Deterrents: Apply deterrents, such as double-sided tape or commercial sprays with unpleasant scents or tastes, to furniture surfaces to discourage scratching.

Trim Nails Regularly: Keep your dog's nails trimmed to reduce the damage caused by scratching and minimise the urge to scratch.

Cover Furniture: Use furniture covers or blankets to protect vulnerable areas from scratching damage while you work on training your dog to avoid furniture.

Positive Reinforcement: Reward your dog for using designated scratching surfaces with treats, praise, or toys to reinforce the desired behaviour.

Provide Distractions: Keep your dog mentally and physically stimulated with toys, interactive games, and regular exercise to reduce boredom and excess energy that may lead to furniture scratching.

Supervise and Redirect: Supervise your dog's behaviour very closely and redirect them to appropriate scratching surfaces if you catch them in the act of scratching furniture.

Be Consistent: Consistency is key in training. Maintain consistent rules and expectations regarding furniture scratching to avoid confusion and reinforce desired behaviour.

Seek Professional Help: If your dog's scratching behaviour persists despite your efforts, consider seeking guidance from a professional dog trainer or behaviourist for personalised advice and support.

Be Patient: Changing behaviour takes time and patience. Stay calm and consistent in your training efforts, and celebrate small victories along the way towards curbing furniture scratching habits.

From the experts: Ensure that your dog's nails are trimmed regularly. Long nails can contribute to more damage when they scratch, so keeping them trimmed helps reduce the impact on your furniture.

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