Question:
We recently bought a new couch and the dog urinates on it. We covered it with plastic but she tore off the plastic and urinated on that too. Please tell us what to do.
Answer:
If your pet never urinates on anything else, we can rule out incomplete housetraining.
Many pets will anoint new pieces of furniture by urinating on them. I guess it's their way of showing interest in the new sight and smell. Here are some suggestions to try.
1. When you can't supervise your pet, confine her in another area away from the sofa. This will interrupt the habit.
2. Use an enzymatic cleaner to neutralize the odor so she won't return to her "mistake".
3. Booby trap the couch so your dog is startled when she jumps on it. You can do this by buying a motion detector. This is a small device that emits a loud sound when there is movement. Place the detector on the couch. Your pet will be surprised the next time she goes to "anoint" the couch.
4. Usually dogs will not "potty" in their eating area. Put your dog's food dish on the couch and sprinkle her kibble on top.
I'm betting that you'll end up with a clean smelling couch.Good luck!
Carole
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