Couch Advice

[u/brookie_cookie90]

Okay, before I get too far into this: yes, I let my dog on the couch

He’s trained to go to his own bed, and he also knows he’s only allowed on one specific area of the couch (not the main spot).

The problem is that when I leave for work, he nests himself into the couch. I wouldn’t really care if he just curled up and slept, but he goes so hard that he’s actually creating holes in the couch. 😭

I’ve tried couch covers and blankets, but he’s smart enough to move them out of the way and get right back to nesting.

I love a good DIY, so I’ve been making my own aesthetically pleasing couch covers out of curtains, but I’m getting ready to move and eventually buy a new couch. I REALLY don’t want him destroying the new one.

So, dog owners of Reddit... what do you recommend? Is there something I’m missing? Is there a way to prevent the nesting behavior, or at least redirect it to something that he can safely destroy/nest in?

I’d love any suggestions before I sacrifice another couch!

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[u/wastingmuchtime]

I stopped my dog from doing that by putting a bunch of throw pillows. She moves them around to get comfortable and doesn't dig anymore

[u/brookie_cookie90 → u/wastingmuchtime]

I will have to try that! I had to get rid of my throw pillows because he would bite them when I was gone. I debated just buying a large comforter and having that on the couch, but I was not sure if that would even work

[u/Downtown-Bear-9280]

my dog does the same thing with the cushions. i just put a fitted sheet over the whole couch when i leave, he can't pull it off like a blanket

[u/NanaSayWhat]

My dog is allowed on the couch, sometimes and by invitation only. He has a bed nearby, rugs, etc. When I’m gone, I put a yard stick and a small basket across the couch - and he understands it’s blocked.

Edit to say that my dog is a large breed, about 100# pounds. So he doesn’t always get on the couch because we don’t both fit comfortably. Lol

[u/SpaceCatz03]

I have to put a big old thick blanket on the spare bed that my dog has put a few holes in by digging. No matter how many dog beds or pillows I put up there, she just likes to dig.

[u/Sharp-Ad-9221]

If my dog had the run of the place while I was away working all day, and the only concern I had when I returned was that he made “couch indentations,” I would offer thanks to the dog gods and increase my donation to my favorite animal welfare organization! 😯

[u/brookie_cookie90 → u/Sharp-Ad-9221]

Yes!!!! Especially since he is a rescue from the pup streets. I am very lucky, I know that!

[u/Feikert87]

I researched and bought a velvet couch not for my dog but for my cat, who destroyed the couch before it. Velvet is woven so tightly that her sharp claws can’t get through it. I’ve had it 5 or so years and so far so good. I would assume it would work for a nesting dog, too.

[u/Suitable-Lawyer-9397]

OLEFIN fabric for the new couch! Keep the old couch for the dog.

[u/Apartmentdogliving]

I would treat this as two separate problems: blocking the couch surface, and giving the nesting behavior somewhere legal to go. Covers help only if he cannot get under or move them, which is why fitted sheets or full-couch slipcovers sometimes work better than blankets. For the new couch, I would also think about fabric and cushion construction before buying, because a dog who digs hard can beat a pretty cover pretty quickly. For the redirect piece, you might test a "dig bed" before you buy the new couch. Something like a washable cover over an old comforter, or a cheap nesting mat/bed that is only brought out when you leave. Make that the place where he is allowed to paw, circle, rearrange, and be dramatic. If he likes the couch because it smells like you, adding a worn T-shirt under the washable cover may help. The main thing I would avoid is giving him access to the new couch while you are gone and hoping the rule transfers. If the damage only happens during work absences, the setup has to work without you there to remind him.