If your dog jumps on furniture when you're not there to correct him, or if he strays into "forbidden territory" in the house when you're not looking, or if he scratches and leaves noseprints on your sliding patio door, you could probably really use a "ScatMat."
We decided we didn't want Lizzie up on the new leather couch, but it was impossible to correct her when we weren't present to see her leap up there. So I dug out the Scat Mat that Marianne Green gave me just before we left Yakima. She'd used it for her dogs and then didn't need it anymore.
I rolled out this gray vinyl mat, embedded with an electronic grid that is slightly "electrified" when you turn it on at the little control box at the end. (It runs on a 9-volt battery). I put it on the "low" setting and placed my hand on the mat. Ooh! A little tingle! And not necessarily a pleasant one! I cranked it up to "high" and walked off.
Lizzie has shown no interest in the couch since then. I don't know if she actually "experienced" the mat, or just got wary of its appearance. Either way, the mat's rolled up inside the coffee table again. I'll get it out if it looks like the problem is redeveloping, but for now it's fixed.
Scat Mats come in a variety of sizes to fit countertops (great for cats!), doorways, and furniture. They are very affordable (usually under $70, depending on size), and they are perfect trainers: they are consistent, they are not painful, and they correct at the VERY MOMENT the dog exhibits the incorrect behavior.
This is a wonderful product when used sensibly. You can buy ScatMats at just about any pet store, or through most online pet retailers. For more information, click here: http://www.contech-inc.com/products/scatmat/
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