When Jim and I got a new couch this past Christmas, we had a mutual agreement that Saigon would not be allowed up on it. This was easier than it sounds because Saigon is pretty much scared of anything, especially anything new. And not allowing him up on the couch from the beginning set a precedent, and this was much easier than trying to break the habit months down the road.
But then one morning, I came down the stairs and was greeted by this:
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| See how the pillows are all down? That used to be enough to deter him from going on the couch. |
He was so unfazed by being caught in action that he made no effort to get off the couch, (thus allowing me the time to get out my phone to take a picture).
Six months of Saigon staying off the couch and all of a sudden he decides it is the spot he wants to sleep! Clearly, the pillows weren't doing the trick anymore.
So, then we resorted to doing this before we left him in the house alone:
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| Big, scary, books! |
Did this work? Oh, for a few days, yes. But, then today, we came home to this:
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| DVD's pushed out of the way and drool on the pillows. |
Seems Saigon is getting braver. Well then.
No more playing games, we'll hit him where it hurts:
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| Saigon is severely scared of the swiffer. |
While I'd be pretty surprised if he tried to move the stool out of the way, I have a feeling we might come home to this one day:
Aww ... that is TOO funny! We used to put chairs on the couches to keep the dogs off, but then we just let them up. NOW we just got new couches and they don't seem to be all that interested in them. We put up a blanket on the big couch just in case Bailey decides to go up but I haven't noticed any sign of her being on it. We just make sure there are lots of dog beds on the floor and the dogs seem to like laying on them!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the battle! :)
Haha, thanks! It's not like he doesn't have other comfy places to sleep, lol! He's got his double padded dog bed, his OWN couch upstairs and he's still allowed on our bed if he chooses to go up on it (which he usually doesn't). Um, spoiled? It would just be nice to have one less piece of furniture to clean and a few less blankets to wash! ;)
DeleteLMAO! It is hilarious.....and he just gets braver....week by week!
ReplyDeleteJim says it's all our fault (as in you, and me!)...because we were "pat-patting" the couch to encourage him to come up lol.
DeleteHahaha I seriously cannot stop laughing! He is so funny. Reminds me of the years growing up with Jake and mom having to block off the leather couches and he would still find a way on.
ReplyDeleteHaha, oh Jakey. Saigon is just spoiled. Is it not enough that he has his double-decker bed, his OWN couch upstairs and our bed should he want to go on it?? ;)
DeleteSmart dog! We briefly contemplated not allowing ours on the couch but that only lasted until his first thunderstorm with us. He was shaking so badly that we couldn't bear to watch it any longer, so tucked him up on the couch with us. The rest, as they say, is history...
ReplyDeleteHe's still not allowed on any other furniture in the house though. And strangely (so far at least!) he seems to get that.
Seems we have the opposite issue! Saigon is allowed up on all the other furniture in our house (the couch upstairs has even been declared "his couch"!). I do miss cuddling with him on the couch though, that's for sure, but it's nice not having to wipe the couch down and/or constantly wash the blankets we would use to protect it. So far, the swiffer is turning out to be a good deterrent!
DeleteOMG! You should see the makeshift barriers I have all over my house. The more I hear about Saigon, the more I think he's just a toddler in disguise.
ReplyDeleteHE IS! Except worse. Because I can't "reason" with him lol.
DeleteHAHA, that is so cute and funny! Hopefully it'll actually work though!!
ReplyDelete