We once had a dog who was - let us put this mildly - a furniture killer. He would eat anything from cushions to table legs to armchairs and - we're still not quite sure how he managed this - the top of the kitchen door. Keep reading to learn how to prevent this. As anybody with a pet will know, they can be a complete menace when it comes to your furniture. It might just be shedding fur or pet smells in your cushions, but the truly unlucky owner faces little short of armageddon. According to surveys, owners pay out over £700 per year for damage that isn't covered by insurance policies. So how do you pet-proof your furniture? In most cases, the problem lies with boredom. This is particularly the case where owners spend the day out at work leaving pets to have the run of the house with little to do. This is especially the case with younger animals, with little idea of their place in the domestic "pack", so it's down to owners to train them in right and wrong, rewarding them for staying off the sofa and in their own bed. Younger pets and newcomers try to push the boundaries to see what they can get away with, so a firm hand and steady training with rewards reaps the benefits in the future. Your choice of furniture is also a great help. Fabric covers on seating is like a magnet to dogs and cats, particularly those that like to scratch. If a cat hasn't got a regular scratching post, then the accommodating arm of a sofa is as good a substitute as any, with devastating results! If you're choosing furniture with pets in mind, then wipe-clean leather seating is something to consider, if only to make it easier to clean off unwanted fur. If you really want to keep pets off, there's some simple things you can try which appear to work: - Keep them out of rooms where you don't want to cause damage. Baby stair gates work really well, right up to the moment they learn to jump over them - Use a spray deterrent to keep them off the sofa - If pets don't respond to training, cover your furniture with a throw. At least that way it's washable - Sticky-side-up masking tape creates an uncomfortable area for your pet. They apparently hate this on their paws and will soon learn not to jump up. Disadvantage: Going out in public with masking take stuck to your bottom. We're a nation of pet-lovers, and we usually bring it upon ourselves by encouraging our animals to sit on our laps in the first place. But if you want your furniture to last, a few simple steps will work wonders.