How to Train Your Small Dog to Stay Off the Carpet

Place a leash on your dog and introduce the area you would like your dog to avoid while on the leash.

If your small dog knows how to heel, have him do so while on the leash as you walk towards this carpeted area to introduce him to the space he should avoid.

Walk past the carpeted area with your small dog on the leash next to you. Do not let him go onto the carpet and once you have passed the carpet, give him verbal praise and a treat.

Block off the carpeted room or area while your small dog is training to stay off the carpet. You can use chairs or a baby gate to block this area off to your small dog. Just during this training should this area be blocked off to create a visible border for your dog.

Walk past the carpeted area with your dog on the leash several times before you allow your dog to walk without the leash.

Once your dog has walked past this carpeted area on the leash and has been rewarded for avoiding the area, do the same walks with your small dog off leash. Watch your little guy closely as you walk by and as long as he avoids the carpet, give him a treat.

You can condition your dog to understand the boundary with repetitive training and avoiding the carpet as well as rewarding him when he stays off the carpet. When you notice your dog heading toward the carpet, redirect him by placing him off the carpet again.

After a few weeks of repetitive training, remove the barriers - the chairs or baby gates blocking off the carpeted area or room. Watch your small dog carefully so you can correct his behavior if necessary and so you can reward him when he does well without the visible barrier.

Keep practicing each day, reminding your dog of the rule to stay off the carpet. Be sure to provide a safe and comforting area for your small dog off the carpet so he has an alternative to the carpet you’d like him to avoid. Keep rewarding your little guy for staying where he belongs.

Put your small dog on a leash. Have your treats ready to reward for good behavior when he is tempted to walk on the carpet but cannot.

With your small dog on the leash, walk towards the carpet but do not cross the threshold to the carpet just yet.

Stop at the carpet line and give your dog a treat.

Walk your little guy away from the carpet and repeat the steps above again treating him once you get to the line.

After some repetitive practice on the leash, take your small dog over to the carpet line off-leash. Just as when he was on the leash, give him a treat once you reach the carpet without crossing the line.

Keep practicing this rewarding method for not crossing the line. Once your small dog is used to staying off the carpet with you next to him, cross the line yourself and give him a treat from the carpet side.

Continue to practice testing your small dog by crossing onto the carpet yourself but not allowing your him to cross. Each time he stays where he belongs, give him a treat.

Your carpet has a defined line where it meets another floor surface. This is your defined line.

Take your small dog to the line and cross it yourself.

When your small dog tries to cross the line, tell him "no" and place him back on the other side of the line.

Once your small dog is on the correct side of the line, give him a treat.

Continue to practice crossing the line yourself and testing your small dog. When he begins to stay off the carpet without testing the boundary, you’ll know he’s understanding the rule of staying off the carpet.

When your little guy is well rehearsed and stays off the carpet, give him a treat each time you walk on the carpet and he does not follow. Keep practicing together and avoid becoming complacent thinking he understands without little rewards.

Anytime your small dog crosses the line to the carpet, gently take him off and let him know with a calm voice he is not allowed on the carpet. Focus your training on rewarding his positive efforts.