For someone with dogs, best brand/material for a living room set?

[Jeanne B]

After 10 years I'm finally going to break down and buy a new couch and recliner but I have three shih tzu's and want something that will hold up well. One of my shih tzu's is always digging (like she's digging a hole in the dirt, lol) and over time the few spots where she always does it now have holes.

I don't really care for leather even though I know it would probably hold up well, keep the odors out and would be easy to clean...does anyone here with animals have any good suggestions? I really like the looks of the microsuede and I've heard that's good to have with kids and pets because it's easy to clean.

 

[crz4mm2]

Leather. Sorry you don't like it much though.

Ours looks brand new still. Have had it about 4-5 years.

 

[The Princess]

I can only tell you that we have leather and I love it.

 

[golfgal]

Microsuede is a pet hair magnet. I don't know that there is such a thing as pet friendly furniture. Even with leather their nails scratch it up. We just vacuum on a regular basis. As for the digging dog, any chance there is something that got stuck down in the cushion that she is trying to get at?

 

[DawnCt1]

I have had non shedding dogs but they still walk outside and so I keep a towel, the same color as the sofa on the couch. That way I don't have to worry about dirt, etc. I just throw the towel in the wash and take them off when I have company. I have an off white sofa that is 14 years old and it is still in fairly good condition.

 

[Jeanne B]

As for the digging dog, any chance there is something that got stuck down in the cushion that she is trying to get at?

No, she's always dug in the same two spots on the couch and the same two spots on the chair, I think she has OCD, lol. I was thinking about looking at leather even though it's not really what I want but I hadn't thought about her digging habit scratching up the leather, and leather would be even more of an investment. I've never been able to break her of the habit so I don't see it changing, although who knows, maybe just different furniture would be enough to throw her off and she would suddenly stop (wishful thinking probably!!).

Thanks for the input everyone!!! Maybe I should just find a set I like, leather or not, and use the towel method.

 

[airhead]

...There OWN fluffy beds ON THE FLOOR! As a dog trainer and a dog daycare owner,I can tell you the floor is the best place for your animals. Not only will it prevent you(and your company) from getting ticks,tapeworm and other lovely bugs,it sends a clear message to a dog their rank in the pack.
Sorry,I know a lot of you want to believe your animals are clean and bug free but truth be told,they DO carry "critters" in with them,jump up on your couch(and bed) and shake them off for you! LOL

 

[Jeanne B]

...There OWN fluffy beds ON THE FLOOR! As a dog trainer and a dog daycare owner,I can tell you the floor is the best place for your animals. Not only will it prevent you(and your company) from getting ticks,tapeworm and other lovely bugs,it sends a clear message to a dog their rank in the pack.
Sorry,I know a lot of you want to believe your animals are clean and bug free but truth be told,they DO carry "critters" in with them,jump up on your couch(and bed) and shake them off for you! LOL

Great post, I needed that.

My shih tzu's have always slept in my bed with me but I just recently started leaving them out in the living room at night, they're used to it now, only cried the first few nights, and I discovered that I sleep so much better now!!! I know trying to keep them off the couch and chair would be more of a challenge though...but I do remember my vet at one time telling me to not let them sit higher than us, such as the back of the couch, because it puts them above you so that goes along with your statement about their rank in the pack, and what they think it is, and what it should be, lol.

 

[yoopermom]

For the furniture, I would definately suggest leather (sorry, not what you want to hear, I know). For the digging, you need to put it on cue, aka when she starts to dig, act like a crazy woman encouraging her "dig dig dig" in a cheery voice. She will look at you like you're nuts. After awhile of this, when she starts to dig, you can tell her "NO dig", distract her with something ("sit" good dog treat), and eventually she will stop, because the alternative is better. Do NOT let it become an OCD behavior, our rescued Boston is on doggie prozac, and will be for the rest of his life, because his former owners encouraged his obsessions . It's a light dose, but still...

Good luck!
Terri

 

[Jeanne B]

For the furniture, I would definately suggest leather (sorry, not what you want to hear, I know). For the digging, you need to put it on cue, aka when she starts to dig, act like a crazy woman encouraging her "dig dig dig" in a cheery voice. She will look at you like you're nuts. After awhile of this, when she starts to dig, you can tell her "NO dig", distract her with something ("sit" good dog treat), and eventually she will stop, because the alternative is better. Do NOT let it become an OCD behavior, our rescued Boston is on doggie prozac, and will be for the rest of his life, because his former owners encouraged his obsessions . It's a light dose, but still...

Good luck!
Terri

Thanks, I'll try that, I can be pretty good at acting like a crazy woman, lol.

 

[Micca]

Try to find something made of fire hydrant. Sure the dogs are attracted to it but it rinses right off

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We ended up replacing our living room furniture because of doggy damage with leather and it's been great. It's held up much better and can be wiped easily.

 

[DMickey28]

I have been told leather repeadly. We just bought new furniture for our living room (being delivered tomorrow!) We prefer Microfiber. Sometimes our dog will get up on the couch but the new furniture is too high for him so I am not worried about that. We have two cats and I find that the microfiber is best for their scratching. We currently have a microfiber couch and while we catch them trying to scratch every once in a while it has yet to have a mark on it. It cleans easily with the toddler which is a plus! I know leather would be best but I don't care for it and it's too expensive. We just bought a 90' sofa with a recliner on each end and a rocker/reclining love seat with fabric protector/warranty and delivery from Jordan's furniture for under $1200. We figure if it lasts in our main room for 2-3 years and we move it to the play room we get our money worth!

 

[yoopermom]

I know you have more than one, so I wanted to mention that if you have a "smart dog" (s.d), you can use their pack mentality to break the digging of the naughty dog(n.d.), also. What you do is start a new habit: EVERY time n.d. starts digging on the couch, you hold up the best treat in the universe (little piece of chicken or hot dog or whatever) and say "sit" from somewhere else in the room (doesn't matter where, you just want everyone to get off the couch). The trick is that ONLY the dog who gets there first and sits get the treat! This uses the pack mentality to change n.d.'s behavior. Before you know it the s.d. will connect the digger's behavior with treat coming and eventually n.d. will catch up. When n.d. finally comes flying off the couch and "wins" the sit contest, you jackpot him with a bajillion treats all at once.

I used this with my n.d., who would fly to the door and bark at absolutely nothing. As soon as she did this, I would say "sit" and the other two s.d.s would fly to me and sit. Now (a few months later), n.d. will start towards the door, the gears in her head will start to turn, she'll stop midflight, and run back and sit at my feet (at which point she gets big treats).

Probably more than you wanted to think about!

Terri

 

[Jeanne B]

yoopermom - You've had some great suggestions!!! But in this case, unfortunately my naughty dog is also my smart dog.

DMickey28 - You must be sitting on your new furniture by now!! Is the microfiber the same as microsuede?

I'm hoping to do some more furniture shopping this coming weekend, so far I haven't seen anything I like but I've only checked my two local furniture stores. I'm going to be open-minded and look at the leather along with microsuede (or maybe I'm mixing that up with microfiber ).