Dr. Cliff Redford

You need to put a six, seven, eight foot leash on him anytime he's in the house for the next 30 days.

Because what you're going to do is anytime he's up on the couch, you're going to give him a command to come off.

He's not going to listen at first.

Well, then you can safely...

direct him off with the leash.

And then you get him to sit, you look him in the eyes, and then you tell him to go up on the couch.

And so he's gonna be learning, okay, I'm only allowed on the couch when dad says so, but if I follow dad's commands, and everyone in the family should do this, I get sort of rewarded because I get on the couch.

He also cannot dictate any of your behaviors.

Does he, when you're sitting at the table, does he come up and rub against your leg so you then pet him with your foot?

Adam's nodding his head yes.

Pet him with your foot or you lean down and you pet him.

Well, he's basically told you to pet him.

Right.

So you cannot do that anymore, at least for the next 30 days.

So if he comes and says, pet me, dad, and you didn't plan it, even if you want to basically say, sorry, dude, I love you.

How about you sit, look him in the eye and then pet him.

You have to be the one to give that command.

Adam, was this helpful?

But he's getting a treat when you do it.

So he's saying, I'm going to come over here.