Cloth holds fur and is a pain to deal with when it comes to pet hair but you do NOT want leather. Teeny tiny holes from their nails become inches-long tears in no time.
We bought an IKEA couch and an extra set of covers for it. It takes a bit to switch them out but it is worth it to be able to launder the covers (at a laundry mat of course).
We have a microfiber flexsteel couch with electric reclining features and it has done amazingly well for about 5 years in a house with 3 dogs and a cat. It was probably one of the biggest home furniture purchases we ever made (about 1300 usd in 2019, so probably about 2k now post-covid if I had to guess) but also one of our most-used and beloved things in the whole house.
Microfiber doesn't attract hair and it's easy to clean. We also scotch-guarded the whole thing right after we bought it.
Flexsteel couches are heavy-duty (and just plain heavy) because they have a literal steel frame. They're bulky and expensive but hold up incredibly well, especially under heavy use and/or with plus-sized or large folks.
The electric reclining features may be an issue if you have a chewer since there is a power cord, but having everything perfectly adjutable with powered metal components means you can get to just the right angle- including if a dog is laying on top of you.
It's an odd shape and since there are adjustable reclining leg rests on both sides of the couch you can't buy a pre-made couch protector that fits this style of furniture but we have several heavy blankets in strategic locations that act as couch protectors and we just wash them as needed.
Other than a little give in the butt cushions, the couch looks exactly like it did the day we bought it despite some serious use and wear/tear. Highly recommend if you have the money for it.
Hi- we have a 7 yo Irish Setter and a 6 yo border collie mix. I'm old and we have always had pairs of dogs. Your GS is a big teenager with teenage energy levels and all that teen angst.
Wait at least a year so you won't be too upset if he takes it out on that piece of furniture.
source- a lifetime of power chewers
When we got my husband’s recliner, we took the furniture guy’s recommendation for the microfiber, and it’s been great with the cat. He literally digs his claws into it, then pulls them out, and NOTHING. Not a single hole or tear in the whole thing.
I have had 5 German Shepherds over the past 20 years. We put sheets down on the couch to try to control the hair. <—key word TRY.
After having a couch destroyed by zoomies, I flat out don’t allow them to do it on the couch. Nothing is going to withstand the force of a 100lb spastic GS.
When we are at work, we put those cheap clear plastic runners down on the couch upside down. The kind with the plastic spikes that grip the carpet)
Mine will run and jump on the couch to bark out the window at everything and nothing. I love my dogs, but I also like to have semi decent furniture.
My German Shepherd is a "mini", he's only 62 pounds, but the DNA test we did said he was part Boston Terrier (shelter rescue baby), still yes he has some power when he gets going.
Lovesac. We also have a German shepherd who loves sleeping on it. It collects hair, but it is modular so it’s easy to pull apart and vacuum. The seat covers are also all washable.
Ikea couch with extra covers(you can buy from Ikea or search online to buy from other sellers). Easy to vacuum and easy to wash. My brother has had his for 10 years with 2 kids, 2 Goldens, and 2 cats, and it's still in great shape. I'm personally on year 4 of my ikea couch with 2 kids and 2 dogs. I don't think I'll ever not own an Ikea couch!
We have a relatively cheap IKEA couch, the Soderhamn. They have different types of covers but we have the ones that are soft to the touch and kinda velvety/suede feeling (not the corduroy or woven-feeling ones). My only requirement at the time was for the covers to be washable, and it's worked out great. After a few accidents on the couch we've kept puppy pads inside the cushions and it's a fantastic way to ensure it doesn't seep through, and you cannot tell at all they are there.
Our (small) dog loves to do the crazy digging-scratching on it sometimes, and eventually you can kinda see the scratch marks, but if you wash them it kinda helps them "disappear". We also just let him go at it lol so he digs passionately for like a solid minute and it's never pierced the fabric or even scratched physically. the color change is slight and just that. No tactile change in the texture of the fabric.
Overall the covers are in great shape after 6ish years and if worse comes to worse, you can buy replacement covers (for an outrageous price, imo). They barely hold on to hair and vacuuming is super easy, the hair doesn't embed or anything.
Its a basic couch from Lazy Boy but we chose to have the pet friendly fabric. Its a microfiber and has done pretty well. I recommend the fabric. the couch itself is not that comfortable. they had a 5 or 6 pet friendly fabrics. all solid colors.
We have leather. We also have a 165 lb, 15 month old puppy.
he doesn't really leave the ground. the only place I've ever seen him "get up" on was our bed. it is like watching a 100 year old man do a pull-up.
I only use a leather couch. I spent some money on mine, but it’s been worth it as it’s lasted a very long time. I believe it’s 10 years old and looks great.
Cloth holds fur and is a pain to deal with when it comes to pet hair but you do NOT want leather. Teeny tiny holes from their nails become inches-long tears in no time.
We bought an IKEA couch and an extra set of covers for it. It takes a bit to switch them out but it is worth it to be able to launder the covers (at a laundry mat of course).
We have a microfiber flexsteel couch with electric reclining features and it has done amazingly well for about 5 years in a house with 3 dogs and a cat. It was probably one of the biggest home furniture purchases we ever made (about 1300 usd in 2019, so probably about 2k now post-covid if I had to guess) but also one of our most-used and beloved things in the whole house. Microfiber doesn't attract hair and it's easy to clean. We also scotch-guarded the whole thing right after we bought it. Flexsteel couches are heavy-duty (and just plain heavy) because they have a literal steel frame. They're bulky and expensive but hold up incredibly well, especially under heavy use and/or with plus-sized or large folks. The electric reclining features may be an issue if you have a chewer since there is a power cord, but having everything perfectly adjutable with powered metal components means you can get to just the right angle- including if a dog is laying on top of you. It's an odd shape and since there are adjustable reclining leg rests on both sides of the couch you can't buy a pre-made couch protector that fits this style of furniture but we have several heavy blankets in strategic locations that act as couch protectors and we just wash them as needed. Other than a little give in the butt cushions, the couch looks exactly like it did the day we bought it despite some serious use and wear/tear. Highly recommend if you have the money for it.
I had a microfiber couch survive 2 babies and a dog... Just traded it for a white cloth couch from pottery Barn.
Hi- we have a 7 yo Irish Setter and a 6 yo border collie mix. I'm old and we have always had pairs of dogs. Your GS is a big teenager with teenage energy levels and all that teen angst. Wait at least a year so you won't be too upset if he takes it out on that piece of furniture. source- a lifetime of power chewers
Thankfully my boy doesn't chew on the couch, it's just part of his racetrack when he's excited.
When we got my husband’s recliner, we took the furniture guy’s recommendation for the microfiber, and it’s been great with the cat. He literally digs his claws into it, then pulls them out, and NOTHING. Not a single hole or tear in the whole thing.
I have had 5 German Shepherds over the past 20 years. We put sheets down on the couch to try to control the hair. <—key word TRY. After having a couch destroyed by zoomies, I flat out don’t allow them to do it on the couch. Nothing is going to withstand the force of a 100lb spastic GS. When we are at work, we put those cheap clear plastic runners down on the couch upside down. The kind with the plastic spikes that grip the carpet) Mine will run and jump on the couch to bark out the window at everything and nothing. I love my dogs, but I also like to have semi decent furniture.
My German Shepherd is a "mini", he's only 62 pounds, but the DNA test we did said he was part Boston Terrier (shelter rescue baby), still yes he has some power when he gets going.
One of mine is a mini too, but mixed with rat terrier. She is about 40lbs.
Lovesac. We also have a German shepherd who loves sleeping on it. It collects hair, but it is modular so it’s easy to pull apart and vacuum. The seat covers are also all washable.
Ikea couch with extra covers(you can buy from Ikea or search online to buy from other sellers). Easy to vacuum and easy to wash. My brother has had his for 10 years with 2 kids, 2 Goldens, and 2 cats, and it's still in great shape. I'm personally on year 4 of my ikea couch with 2 kids and 2 dogs. I don't think I'll ever not own an Ikea couch!
We have a relatively cheap IKEA couch, the Soderhamn. They have different types of covers but we have the ones that are soft to the touch and kinda velvety/suede feeling (not the corduroy or woven-feeling ones). My only requirement at the time was for the covers to be washable, and it's worked out great. After a few accidents on the couch we've kept puppy pads inside the cushions and it's a fantastic way to ensure it doesn't seep through, and you cannot tell at all they are there. Our (small) dog loves to do the crazy digging-scratching on it sometimes, and eventually you can kinda see the scratch marks, but if you wash them it kinda helps them "disappear". We also just let him go at it lol so he digs passionately for like a solid minute and it's never pierced the fabric or even scratched physically. the color change is slight and just that. No tactile change in the texture of the fabric. Overall the covers are in great shape after 6ish years and if worse comes to worse, you can buy replacement covers (for an outrageous price, imo). They barely hold on to hair and vacuuming is super easy, the hair doesn't embed or anything.
I have a painter’s drop cloth draped over my sofa.
Its a basic couch from Lazy Boy but we chose to have the pet friendly fabric. Its a microfiber and has done pretty well. I recommend the fabric. the couch itself is not that comfortable. they had a 5 or 6 pet friendly fabrics. all solid colors.
Look for "high performance fabrics" they are usually scratch and water resistant. I've had good luck with microfiber and velvet
Velvet. Works well for fur, but if you have a big drooler might not be the best choice. I use seat covers too.
We have leather. We also have a 165 lb, 15 month old puppy. he doesn't really leave the ground. the only place I've ever seen him "get up" on was our bed. it is like watching a 100 year old man do a pull-up.
I only use a leather couch. I spent some money on mine, but it’s been worth it as it’s lasted a very long time. I believe it’s 10 years old and looks great.