My 6 month lab will not stay off the couch. He has a comfortable dog bed, i have rewarded him 10,000 times i say off the couch to his bed. he listens to the command..once done rewarding him he goes back to the couch.. any suggestions.
Hi @Stretch75 If I understand you properly you have inadvertently taught him a chain of behaviours--automatically jump on couch, listen to cue to get off and I get a treat. You will have to prevent him from getting up on the couch in the first place. One way is to block his "passage". Simply put upturned kitchen chairs on the couch where you are not sitting. Over time you will succeed in fading the automatic jumping on the couch and can then just use the "off" to get him down from the couch. If you are feeling adventurous you can try teaching him a boundary line. 1 Get two pieces of furniture, say very small coffee tables, nested tables or whatever suits your desire (eg two lounge chairs). 2. Place the two pieces along an imaginary line the length of the couch say 0.3 metres away from the couch. 3. Walk to the couch over the imaginary line and wait for your dog to follow you over the imaginary line. Turn and face the dog. 4. Stand straight arms slightly outstretched from your body and walk into your dog's space, moving your arms forward to motion the dog back. You can use a cue like "back". 5. Repeat this process until the dog remains just on the other side of the imaginary boundary line and then cue the dog to sit or down. Calmly give the dog a food treat. 6. if your dog tries to dodge around you, repeat the process until he gets the idea of going back to be just on the far side of the imaginary line. 7. Once the dog is sitting or down along the edge of the boundary line, walk back to the couch and if he follows you, repeat the process until you are able to sit on the couch without the dog following you. Remain calm. It will take some repetitions for the dog to learn what you want. Avoid using the word stay. You want the dog to avoid crossing the line even when you are not there to give a reminder in the form of that cue. .
