Leather Couches and Dogs

Featured item: Leather Couches

Should Dog Owners Avoid Leather Sofas? | Cielo

There are no two ways about it: buying a leather couch can be a big decision, even an emotional one—kind of like getting a new pet. And it only gets more complicated when you’ve already got a member of the paw patrol waiting at home. The questions start racing through your mind. Will my new investment be ruined within the month? Is a leather couch the best option? Will I have to return to my childhood obsession with fish and hamsters?

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In fact, leather is, hands-down, one of the most pet-proof upholstery choices around. Simply keeping a few pointers in mind when you’re shopping, and encouraging some basic ‘petiquette’ at home, you can make sure your leather couch is an investment that will be there to love you for the long haul—just like your four-legged friend. 

Featured Leather Couch: Emerson Leather Couch

The advantages of leather couch

There’s probably a hundred reasons why quality leather furniture is a great choice. But here are our top 5 that should matter most to pet lovers:

1. It’s low maintenance. Obviously, you’ve got enough going on with a house full of humans and furry wannabe-humans. Who has time for cleaning the couch, or washing cushion covers? With leather, a quick wipe with a damp cloth or some soapy water is usually enough to take care of whatever your gang can throw, mess, deposit or barf on it.  Plus, unlike most fabrics, leather won’t attract dog or cat hair. 

2. It’s (just about) stain-proof. Sure, you’ll want to avoid the scenario where Foo-foo makes your couch her permanent potty. But compared to fabric, good quality leather is much less vulnerable to stains and clingy odours.

3. It’ll stand up to paws and claws. While you will want to dissuade Mr. Bigglesworth from launching a daily scratching or chewing assault, the right quality leather will be able to hold its own against general scuffing from your pet climbing or jumping on and off. In most cases the odd scratch can be buffed out using a soft cloth. And if you opt for a vintage-aged leather couch, scratches will only add to the stylish weathered look.

4. It goes the distance. There’s no beating leather when it comes to durability. Compared with fabric, all leather lasts at least four times longer. The best quality leather couches can last 20 years. And the best part is, the more use your leather couch sees over time, the better it looks.

5. It offers great value for money. While quality leather is more expensive, it’s the kind of investment that just keeps paying off – did we mention point 4? 

Featured Product: Edison Leather Couch

What type of leather is best?

There are a host of leather upholstery varieties out there, from full-grain, split-grain, corrected grain and top grain, to nubuck and bonded leathers, not to mention all the different finishes that can be applied to achieve a specific look. Of course, each type and combo comes with its own bag of pros and cons, and it can get pretty technical - we’ve boiled it down to everything you really need to know about leather if you want to read more. 

When it comes to durability in general, most full grain and top grain leathers will stand the test of time. But when you’re adding pets to that test, we recommend sticking to full-grain, especially the vintage-aged look which can take those paws and claws in its stride. 

While you may be tempted by the soft, velvety caress of suede and nubuck leathers, beware that they’re more prone to stains and marks from dirty paws, oil, drool and anything else your pets are ready to cough up. You’ll also want to avoid bonded leather, which is an artificial product that only incorporates scraps of genuine leather.  While these faux leathers offer a cheaper price tag and easy cleaning with harsh chemicals (pets beware!), their advantages are only skin deep. Besides being less ‘breathable’, the surface is often easily damaged, and even without paws and claws in the mix, it can start to peel, tear or crack after a few years.

The most important thing is to know what you’re buying. There’s no getting around the fact that leather exemplifies the old maxim, ‘you get what you pay for.’

Couch ‘Petiquette’ & damage control

Even the best quality leather couch will start taking some damage with repeated scratching, clawing, biting or smelly deposits.  It goes without saying that prevention is better than cure. But that doesn’t mean you have to forego couch-time cuddles with Fluffy if that’s your thing. For dog and cat lovers, here are a few simple tactics to keep the damage control to a minimum:

• Offer alternatives – your pets don’t have to be couch potatoes. A snuggly bed, or even just a pillow on the floor, can offer a happy alternative that gives your couch a break. Be sure to offer encouragement with a strategically placed favorite toy, and reinforce with praise and affection when your buddy’s in his own happy place.  

• Get a scratching post – here’s another great alternative for Mr. Bigglesworth to turn his revenge upon, and keep those little weapons in mint condition. Of course, you can also try nail caps, or attempt a regular nail clipping session, if you dare!

• Use couch covers – if you’re really worried about your couch taking some hits, a washable cover is an obvious way to go. For puppies and kittens, a temporary throw is probably going to be a must, if only for your sanity. And when your little pee machine has learned some petiquette - voila! - you get to reveal a ‘brand new’ leather couch.   

• Don’t say it, spray it! - If you want your little critters to keep clear of the couch altogether, then give your voice a break and leave it to the professionals. There are plenty of non-harmful sprays on the market to deter unwanted paws, claws and teeth.

The bottom line is, leather couches and dogs (or cats, or whatever you’re into) can live a peaceful co-existence, where no one has to end up in the dog box.

Check out Cielo’s wide range of leather couches to enjoy all the benefits of quality leather at the best prices, with complete peace of mind.