Suitable Furniture For The Home Of The Dog - Page 1

I realize this is not a very important issue for the gang here, but the wife wants me to ask your advice. We will soon build a new home, and of course with a new home one often purchases a few new furnishings for the living area-namely a couch and a pair of chairs. I want something that has an upholstered surface that is easy to clean yet not a dog's idea of a good chewing toy. I know that leather is easy to clean and care for, and of course so is Naugahyde, a vinyl blend. The Naugahyde costs much less than the leather and requires virtually no upkeep save for an occassional wipe with a damp cloth.

I prefer fabric coverings, which is what we have owned for many years due to its breathability. But it gathers hair, is easy to soil, and absorbs odors that are difficult, if not impossible to remove. I realize that leather can be damaged by a dog's nails, as can Naugahyde. But, Naugahyde costs far less when it is time to recover it. I know that dogs will chew exposed wood sometimes, but I usually don't have that problem. I know that surfaces can be sprayed with bitter apple and this deters a conditioned dog from placing his mouth on the upholstery.

So, I know a few things, but my experience with these other materials is virtually nil. I appreciate any guidance the gang can give me.

Best Regards,

Bob-O

Suitable Furniture For The Home Of The Dog

1.  Anything from a garage sale/thrift shop.

2.  Anything family members want to hand down to you.

3.  Anything you can find on the side of the road with a "free" sign.

4.  Dog crates.

Congrats Bob-O!  Enjoy your new home.

Stephen

Bob-O...

I've had two couch loving sheps before and I had a fabric couch and a leather one.

Pro's/Con's.

Fabric doesn't rip as easily if it's a tougher fabric, and you could get stain resistant material.

Con's - Nothing is stain resistant really when it comes to accidents, and I've gone thru more then a few vaccums in my day!

My choice is leather or pleather (naughyde).  It's easy to clean up spills, stains.

One thing to consider is a leather sofa and two "fabric" chairs.  You could always block off the chairs when you leave.  I used to put dining room chairs on them upside down to deter the dogs getting up on them.  It worked and they just took over the couch.

I made the mistake of moving my couch in front of the front window...Don't do it.  Took me about a week to realize that every time someone came to my door, like the mailman, the dogs jumped up on the couch with their paws on the top side of the back and were going crazy.

They literally destroyed the couch in one week.  I have a new leather sofa, not by the windows which works fine. 

Also you may want to invest in a "movers blanket", the kind they wrap furniture in, just to throw over the couch when you are not there.  It will save you the hassle about scratches.

And of course, keep those nails trimmed!

I saw an article on the web just this week about furniture for the pet lover's home. One thing they recommended was slip covers to protect the good furniture. Hardwood floors, are, of course, better than carpet. I would never have wall to wall broadloom in a home with pets. All my rugs are area rugs, and I send them out to be cleaned.

OF course, linoleum and ceramic tile are even more dog-proof. The finish on hardwood eventually does get damaged by the dog's nails, but there are certain finishes that are more resistant than others (don't recall the names the article gave. You'd have to ask an expert.)

I know several breeders who have indoor-outdoor carpet in the pet area of the house, as ceramic and linoleum are too hard and slippery for puppies that are just learning to walk.. It has the advantage of being cheap enough to just throw out when it gets too soiled and worn.

Not long after moving into my house, I saw just how much dirt the dog (only had one at that time) was getting on the carpet, so I had my sister-in-law's brother install two french doors so I could keep the dog out of the living room. The cat also tended to scratch the finish on the wood furniture when playing, so I wanted to keep him out as well. Most of the farmhouses I knew as a child has similar arrangements: the 'parlour' was off limits to pets (and kids!) Might be something to consider. I also don't allow my dog in the basement, which has wall to wall carpet. Lugging a vacuum cleaner up and down a set of steep stairs ain't my thing!

Congratulations on the new house!!

Stephen, it's good to hear from you and I hope that you and your family are doing well and that you are flying as often as you want to these days. The next house will be virtually a copy of the house in Fayetteville, save for a few minor changes. Sunsilver, I agree on the hardwood floors as I had those as well as ceramic tile floors in the Fayetteville house and they were very easy to maintain with a heavy dog presence. Carpet is a no-no, unless it is in a area where baby puppies are kept and I did use pieces of new scrap carpet in those areas so I could toss them when they were soiled. The compound applied to finished hardwood to make it more scratch-resistant is aluminium oxide; added to the polyurethane laquer.

It was just a question that I recieved at breakfast this morning, hence my post. So far I have suggested Naugahyde upholstery to the wife due to the lower initial cost and easy maintenance and repair, but of course leather lasts a very long time if it is kept clean and oiled. I know that dog nails will scratch leather if they are not kept smooth, and I always kept four (4) crates in the living area for those times when the dogs needed a "time out". For the past eleven (11) months or so we have been living in a much smaller house pending the sale of the Fayetteville house, and it is harder to clean, if you will believe that. I also do not have the room in this house for the crates, but in the next one I will.

Thanks to everyone for their input thus far, and I will continue to check back on this post. MI GSD, thanks for the humour, and there is definitely some truth in everything that you said!

Regards,

Bob-O

I've had it all - and my dogs are allowed on the furniture.  Starting out with thrift-shop or garage-sale stuff, when my dogs were young - so if they chew something it's no big deal.  I also have nice antiques inherited, so I do keep an eye on any youngsters that are in the house - they are either in a crate, in the yard, or with me at all times.

All of my furniture that dogs get up on, are covered with throws.  I get big Native-American style colorful throws, good-looking and are easy to wash in the washing/drying machines.  So it's no biggie when the furniture gets hairy - just throw the throw in the wash and voila - clean furniture again. 

I just got a leather couch and chair from my dad who was changing things around in his house - I LOVE it.  Still has throws on them, they slip off of the leather somewhat but so does the hair!  I expect all it would take to clean the leather is also a wipe with damp towel once in a while. 

The main problem is chewing - you have to simply not let the chewy dog out of your sight for a moment if you like to keep your furniture 100% unchewed.

molly

Definitely leather or pleather (naughyde). It's easier on their teeth!

I had chrome-tanned leather for years. Its easy to clean, doesn't gather hair, and if you are even alittle bit "alpha" in your home you can make it clear your furniture is YOURS... not chew toys for your dogs. Mine never got a scrtach on it in some 15 yrs. I am probably doomed to second hand junk for awhile, but when I get a chance I will replace with leather again.

Just don't tell me you're going to furnish your nice new house with those ugly, puffy Laz-E-Boys recliners. UGH!!! The only good things about that s*#t are that it burns easily when your wife throws it out on the front lawn and pours bbq starter on it because you spend all your time in it ignoring her and never sit with her anymore, and once the fire goes out there is almost nothing left to clear away into the dumpster.

SS