Protecting leather couch from dogs (4 Tips!)

If you’re like me, then you consider your leather couch to be a precious possession. Unfortunately, if you have pets, it can be difficult to protect your leather furniture from their claws and teeth.

Dogs in particular like to scratch, chew and lick leather, which ruins it and leaves unsightly marks that can be expensive to repair. Luckily, there are a few simple things we can do to dog-proof the couch and minimize the risk of damage.

If you have a leather couch or chair that your dog likes, you will find the following tips for protecting your leather couch from dogs extremely important.

Tips for protecting your leather couch from dogs

To protect your leather sofa or couch from dogs, you will need a cover-up, couch cover, or slip cover. These will protect the sofa from scratches, stains, and dog hair. Also, trim your dogs’ nails regularly and train them not to jump on furniture.

There is no doubt that leather couches are built to last but they might not be resistant to damage and scratches from pets.

So consider the following 3 tips to protect your furniture from their claws.

1. Trim the dog’s nails regularly

As a pet owner, I know for sure that dog nails are the biggest culprit that causes damage to fabric or leather sofas with pets. This is why I’m recommending trimming your dog’s nails regularly is my first tip.

It’s a good idea to keep your dog’s nails short and well-filed to help prevent scratches on your leather sofa.

Long nails can cause your dog discomfort and lead to them scratching or clawing at things they shouldn’t, like furniture or people.

There are a few ways you can trim your dog’s nails yourself. You can use nail clippers, a Dremel tool, or even a file. But, if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, you can always take your dog to the groomer or vet to have them trimmed professionally.

2. Use a protective cover

A lot of people who have dogs, I included, have a protective cover placed over their leather furniture to help to catch any dirt, oil, pet hair, or spills that might otherwise damage the leather.

The protective cover also protects the leather furniture from cat and dog nails. In case of any scratches with a couch cover in place, you only need to replace the protective cover instead of having to remove the scratches on the leather seat or replace the whole sofa.

Many types of protective covers are available for leather couches, and they’re not expensive.

For example, you can get an affordable throw blanket or a slipcover at any home improvement store or from online retailers. Alternatively, you can also use one of your bed sheets to cover the couch when your dog is around.

Whichever option you pick, remember to cover up any areas that are particularly susceptible to scratches, like the cushions, corners of the couch, or the armrests.

3. Keep your dog off the couch

Dogs like to scratch furniture because it feels good, and they can also mark their territory by leaving their scent on objects.

So to prevent scratching, you should try to keep your dog off your leather sofa. You can do this by training your dog with a command such as “no” or “off”, and providing it with a toy or bone to chew on instead.

If you can’t keep your dogs completely off the couch, at least make sure they aren’t allowed to jump on it or place their paws on the leather couch.

Alternatively, provide them with a comfortable place to rest that isn’t on the furniture.

A dog bed or mat for instance will help discourage them from Jumping on the couch and reduce the risk of scratches.

4. Clean up spills right away

Having a leather couch especially white is not a bad idea, but if you have pets, it will need more maintenance and cleaning.

So, it’s important to clean up any spills as soon as possible to prevent your dog from licking the leather couch.

An easy way to clean up spills on leather is to blot the spill with a dry cloth or paper towel and then, use a clean cloth with mild soap and warm water to gently clean the surface.

If your dog has an accident on the couch, clean it up immediately using a leather-safe cleaner to get rid of the urine smell.

Remember, dogs like to mark their territory by leaving their scent behind so the urine odor will make them want to spend most of their time on the couch.

Conclusion 

A lot of people have dogs, and a lot of those people also have leather furniture. So there’s a pretty good chance that if you are a dog owner, you’ll need to know how to protect your leather sofa from dogs.

Some of the things you can do are; trim your dog’s nails on a regular basis, use a couch cover, and keep the dogs off the couch as much as possible. If there are any spills or accidents, clean them up immediately.

These tips are easy to follow and won’t require any expensive products or special tools.

If you have any other tricks up your sleeve, we’d love to hear them in the comments section below.