Dog-proofing Your Furniture: How to Protect Your Couch from Your Dog

If you have dogs in your house, you’ve likely had to deal with some issues surrounding your dog and your furniture. The reality is that dogs are difficult to keep off furniture for several reasons. Not only can it be physically challenging, but we also cherish the bonding time spent snuggled up together on the sofa.

Dogs aren’t quite as gentle as us, though, so it’s important to make sure you dog-proof your furniture to prevent damage.

In this post, we’ll be going over the best way to protect your furniture from your dogs while also making sure that you can keep your sofas looking stylish.

The Quick Answer

So, how to protect your couch from dogs without having to change your furniture every few years? Here is a quick summary:

  • Invest in a Protective Cover—Nothing protects your furniture as well as a durable, high-quality couch cover does.
  • Groom Your Dog Regularly–Trimming the claws, brushing the fur, and washing your puppy regularly will minimize the risk of damaging your couch.
  • Keep Your Dog Busy–Either by creating a personal space or giving various stimulating toys, you should keep your dog entertained and away from the couch.
  • Set Clear Boundaries–Training your dog to stay off the couch or in a dedicated place will help in the long run.

Understanding the Problem and Finding Ways to Protect Your Couch from Your Dog

dog sitting on couch with couch covers

If you’ve experienced problems with your dog damaging your furniture, just know that you’re not alone. It’s a common problem that almost all dog owners face to some extent. We’re going to touch on some of the common problems you’ve likely encountered and provide you with effective tips on how you can protect the couch from dogs.

Dogs Scratching or Damaging Furniture

dog on sofa covers

When dogs scratch furniture, it can cause significant damage that can either be irreparable or expensive to repair. This can be incredibly frustrating for you. Luckily, we have some ways to help prevent the damage if your dog is a scratcher.

🐶How to protect the couch from dog scratches?

Chewing and scratching are natural behaviors for dogs, whether they’re playful puppies or full-grown adults. If you want to protect your couch from dogs, here are a few quick solutions:

  • Protect your couch with a durable and pet-friendly cover: A couch cover is an investment you won’t regret. It will cover the most vulnerable parts of your couch and protect it from scratches and other accidents.
  • Trim your dog’s claws: Groom your dog regularly and always keep your dog’s claws clean and short.
  • Entertain them with toys: Just like humans, dogs get bored—but instead of finding a hobby, they chew and scratch. Provide chew toys and mentally stimulating activities to keep them engaged.

Furniture Odor

You’ve invested in some nice furniture for your home, but now it’s starting to smell bad because of how much time your dog spends on the couch. Dogs can be dirty, and sometimes they shed a lot. When this happens, their fur and dirt get worked into the sofa fabric, causing it to smell bad. We do have a separate guide on preventing dog hair from taking over your furniture.

🐶How to protect the couch from dog odor?

No matter how many dogs you have in your household, there will be odor. Luckily, it doesn’t mean your house will stink because these solutions will certainly help you get rid of the dog smell on your furniture:

  • Regular cleaning: Vacuum or steam clean your couch frequently.
  • Use pet-friendly cleaning solutions: Apply baking soda overnight to absorb the smell off the couch.
  • Scent your furniture: Use a pet-friendly spray on problematic spots (e.g., vinegar mixed with water and pet-friendly essential oils).

Wet Couches from Dogs

dog laying on a sofa

Another common problem dog owners face is that their couches get wet from their dogs. This could be caused by dog slobber or could be caused by your dog jumping on the couch immediately after a bath. Either way, it’s not fun to clean a wet couch caused by your dogs.

🐶How to protect the couch from dog pee and other wet accidents?

If there’s been a wet accident, the first thing you should do is, of course, clean the spot thoroughly before you can think about preventative methods. Here is what worked for us and our clients:

  • Block access to the furniture: Set temporary barriers to restrict access to the couch, armchair, etc.
  • Have regular potty breaks: If your dog relieves itself on the couch, it may mean your potty breaks are not frequent enough. Walk your dog more often to prevent wet accidents.
  • Purchase a protective cover: Protect your couch from dog pee and other wet accidents with a cover that will keep the couch cushions fresh and clean.

💦Dogs won’t stop peeing on the couch? Read this helpful guide on how to stop it from happening ever again!


Accidents

Accidents happen, especially if you’re trying to train a puppy. Even though they’re expected, that doesn’t mean we like to clean them up. If your dog has an accident on the couch, it’s not only difficult to clean, but let’s face it, it’s not a fun job.

🐶How to pet-proof a couch from accidents?

Pet-proofing your furniture doesn’t have to be a big investment of your money and time. This is what you can do to avert accidents on time:

  • Wrap your couch in a cover: No matter how old your puppy is, you can never predict whether it will pee, scratch, or even tear your furniture by accident. To prevent it from happening, add a cover to your couch and only wash the protective layer whenever needed.
  • Train your dog from an early age: The earlier you start training your dog, the more disciplined it will be in your home, your friend’s home, and around other animals.
  • Clean pet hair daily: Another way to protect your couch from dogs is to clean it regularly. But if you don’t want to break your vacuum from large balls of fur, invest in a reliable pet hair remover.

Protect Your Couch in Style with Nolan Interior’s Sofa Covers

So, is there a single solution to how to keep the couch clean with dogs? As you’ve probably gathered by now, one of the best ways to pet-proof your couch is by investing in a high-quality protective cover. At Nolan Interior, we offer pet-friendly, ultra-soft, and highly durable sofa covers designed to withstand playful paws and accidental messes.

Whether your dog is still learning the house rules or simply loves to snuggle up with you during movie nights, our covers provide the perfect blend of comfort and protection—keeping your couch looking fresh and inviting.

We offer a wide range of washable couch covers that combine convenience with style, making clean-up after your pets a breeze. Here are the most popular choices to protect your couch from dogs:

Magic Sofa Covers

Miracle Sofa Covers

Magic Sofa Mat

Magic Sofa Blankets

How to Choose the Right Couch Protector from Dogs

removing sofa cover to wash it

Among so many options, how can you know whether a Magic Sofa Blanket would be better for your furniture than a Magic Sofa Cover?

The first thing you need to do when deciding which sofa cover to go with is to figure out what’s important to you. Write down your list, then find a sofa cover that checks all the boxes.

For example, here are some things that might be important to you:

  • Color
  • Style
  • Pattern
  • Washability
  • Durability

The biggest thing is finding the right sofa cover that fits your specific needs. Once you find that perfect sofa cover, you’ll be right on your way to protecting your furniture, while also maintaining a style that fits your home.

The Importance of Cover Material to Protect Couch from Dogs

Not all sofa covers are created equal. It’s important that you do your research on the materials used in sofa covers, and what that means for durability and washing capabilities.

Our sofa covers are made of soft, stretch jacquard fabric, 85% polyester, and 15% spandex. These materials allow them to be high-stretch, soft, wrinkle-resistant, durable, and long-lasting. They can also be washed in the washing machine, which is a big added bonus.

Maintenance and Cleaning

Getting ready to wash sofa covers

Even though you’ll have your sofa protected, you’ll still want to make sure you take proper care of your sofa covers. We make our sofa covers user-friendly and easy to care for. The biggest thing is making sure you keep them clean. After all, this is one of the biggest reasons sofa covers are so effective.

Vacuuming your sofa covers every few days is a great way to keep up with the dirt and hair that your dogs are leaving behind.

Another easy way to maintain the cleanliness of your sofa covers is to simply throw them in the washing machine. Make sure you put the washing machine on a light setting. Once they’re washed, tumble dry them or let them air dry, and then you’ll be good to go.

washing sofa covers

Real Life Case Studies

Here are some of the reviews from customers who have used our couch covers to dog-proof their furniture:

  • “We have 3 dogs and these work great to keep dog hair off the cushions” - Jill A.
  • “After buying endless amounts of covers, I finally found the perfect ones! Finally something that doesn’t look messy. They haven’t moved an inch since I put them on, not even with my 90 lb dog. I’m completely happy with these and I highly recommend them!” - Mary B.
  • “Just buy them, they are fantastic. I have 3 dogs, 4 grandchildren and they stay clean, dog hair does not get caught in them, they wash beautifully. Really you need these. My daughter has ordered them and I’ve  ordered another set.” - Monica B.

sofa covers

We have over 120,000 customers who love our sofa covers. Give them a try, we’re sure they’ll help you with your dog hair problem.

Conclusion

Tackling the challenges of maintaining your furniture with dogs around doesn’t have to be stressful. Embracing modern, durable and stylish sofa covers can revolutionize your approach. Not only do they protect your furniture from scratches, stains, and odors, but they also add a fresh aesthetic touch to your living spaces.

Coupled with regular cleaning and maintenance, our dog couch covers offer an effective, user-friendly solution. Just as our satisfied customers have attested, investing in the right sofa cover can truly mitigate the dog-furniture conflict while enhancing your home’s ambiance. Dog-proofing your furniture has never been more seamless or stylish.