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.

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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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