My dog absolutely wrecked our old sofa. We bought a new leather one less than a month ago, and he’s strictly not allowed on it. When I’m out, I even put chairs on top of it to stop him. Up until now, there hasn’t been an issue; he doesn’t try to get up. But today, when I got home, I found he’d started chewing the corner of the armrest... Given how much it cost, I really don't want this sofa to be ruined as well. How do you lot protect your sofas? Are there any specific covers or guards for armrests? Thanks in advance!
Translated from French
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Hi,
First of all, I don’t really protect my corner sofa, other than putting some throws over it so the fur doesn't get onto the fabric. My dogs are completely allowed to get up, sleep, and play on the sofa, as long as they respect the furniture and get down when I ask them to. A dog doesn’t just destroy things for no reason—how old is he? And has he always done this? Does he chew other things (table legs, chairs, the edge of the coffee table...)?
A destructive dog is often struggling with behavioural issues or anxiety (if he only does it when you're out). Has he ever chewed a piece of furniture or the sofa right in front of you?
Firstly, you’ll find that after a while, putting chairs on the sofa will become a real hassle and you’ll get fed up with having to move everything back and forth. You might want to get some help from a dog behaviourist, because right now you’re just avoiding the problem; the chairs are on the sofa, so the dog isn’t chewing it, but the underlying issue hasn't been resolved. Is the dog getting enough exercise? Shar Peis need a lot of activity; if they haven’t burnt off enough energy, they can start causing damage and become a proper little destroyer. It's not the first time I've heard of a Shar Pei being destructive.
So, is he getting enough exercise? How old is he? Has he always destroyed things or tried to chew the furniture? Does he do it in front of you or only when you're away?
If he doesn't do it in front of you, it’s because he’s stressed while you're out and chews to cope with the stress. Try giving him several toys, including a Pipolino (the principle is simple: it’s a toy filled with kibble and/or treats, and the dog has to roll it around to get them out; however, it’s a very noisy toy, so avoid it if you have neighbours). The dog is probably anxious when you leave and isn't handling the separation well. This often happens when a dog hasn't been taught to stay home alone from a young age—perhaps because someone was always there and then suddenly they start going out—and the dog suffers from hyper-attachment...
I’ll wait for your answers to these questions. Other members might also be able to help and add to what I’ve said.
