If you’ve had your pup for any length of time at all, you probably already know about something I call the dog-furniture-destruction-equation.
This refers to the inverse relationship between the length of time you’ve owned your dog and the condition of your furniture. Of course, this equation doesn’t apply to clever owners, who purchase and use couch covers – protective sheets of fabric that slip over your couch.
We’ll share five of our favorite couch covers and point out some of the things you’ll want to look for when making your choice below.
Best Couch Covers and Sofa Shields: Quick Picks
- #1 Orvis Grip-Tight Furniture Protector [Best Overall Couch Cover]: A premium couch cover that is available in a variety of sizes and designed to stay in place, protect your furniture, and look great.
- #2 PureFit Super Stretch Couch Cover [Best Stretchable Couch Cover]: Need COMPLETE couch coverage to protect your furniture? This slip-on, stretchable cover is the perfect choice (and it tends to stay in place!).
- #3 Elegant Comfort Reversible Couch Cover [Most Affordable Couch Cover]: Protecting your furniture doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and this budget-friendly model can help you save money in the long run.
Why Use a Dog Couch Cover?
Simply put, couch covers, uh, cover your couch. They form a sort of protective barrier between your four-legged family members and your sofa.
Couch covers are certainly a good idea for high-impact dogs, but you aren’t required to have a destructive dog to benefit from protective couch covers.
My Rottie is relatively well behaved and doesn’t chew on furniture or other off-limits items, but you can still see claw scratches and hair on everything I own – especially the couch. I finally started using a cover, but I wish we had started doing so earlier.
Little dogs that pee when over-excited can also compromise couches. You’ll be glad that you can simply remove and wash your couch cover, rather than having to have the couch cleaned, the next time you experience a pet accident on the sofa.
The Best Dog Couch Covers for Families with Dogs
It can be a little difficult to sift through all the couch covers on the market, but we’ve gone ahead and detailed five of the best options below. Give them a look and pick out the best one for your family’s furniture.
1. Orvis Grip-Tight Dog Sofa Cover
About: The Orvis Grip-Tight Dog Sofa Cover is a throw-style furniture protector made of textured polyester for lasting, comfortable coverage. And because it features weighted flaps and Orvis’ grip-tight back, you can be sure it’ll stay in place. Best of all, it doesn’t include any crazy snaps or buckles, so you can just drape it over your sofa and enjoy.
This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more
Orvis Grip-Tight Dog Sofa Cover
A premium cover that’s equipped with Orvis’ grip-tight, non-slip backing, weighted flaps, and a water-resistant membrane.
Features:
- Weighted ends and grip-tight backing keep the cover in place
- Water-resistant internal membrane protects your furniture from pet messes
- Available in loveseat, sofa, and X-large and three colors: Wheat, Tweed, and Shale
Pros
- Owners loved the durability and reported that it is super water-resistant.
- The cover materials are much more comfortable than most other options.
- It’s easy to clean and machine washable (just be sure to hang-dry it).
Cons
- It’s not fitted, so it leaves a few areas unprotected.
- More color options would be nice since it’s basically offered in three shades of beige.
2. PureFit Super Stretch Slipcover
About: PureFit’s Super Stretch Slipcover easily slides into place and stays put, thanks to its elastic bottom and no-slip foam anchors. Additionally, this cover provides complete coverage, unlike some other protective covers that leave some portions of the couch exposed. Stretching between 66 and 82 inches (depending on size you pick), this cover works great with most three-seater sofas.
This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more
PureFit Super Stretch Slipcover
A comfy, snug-fitting, slip-on cover that’s easy to clean and provides complete couch protection.
Features:
- Made from super soft, stretchable polyester
- It’s machine washable, making it easy to keep looking great
- Available in 21 solid colors and three sizes: Large, X-Large, and XX-Large.
Pros
- The cover fits very well and doesn’t sag like some other covers.
- The company offers a 6-month guarantee on all slipcovers.
- Most owners were quite impressed with the cover’s durability.
Cons
- A few owners reported that the foam pieces that keep the cover in place can slip out.
- The fabric tends to collect pet hair, making it a poor choice for super shedders.
3. Elegant Comfort Reversible Furniture Protector
About: The Elegant Comfort Furniture Protector is a plush dog couch cover that is as comfortable as it is durable. The reversible design provides you with two different color options to suit your home best, and the very affordable price tag means it won’t bust your household budget.
This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more
Elegant Comfort Reversible Furniture Protector
An affordable couch cover that’s also reversible, essentially meaning that you get two covers for the price of one.
Features:
- Features extended back section to help keep the product in place
- Made from soil-resistant polyester to ensure it’ll look great for years to come
- Available in 14 different colors and patterns to match any home décor
Pros
- This cover’s affordable price makes it easy to protect your most expensive piece of furniture.
- This cover comes in more colors than most other options on the market.
- Owners report that this cover is easy to clean, and the reversible nature is a nice bonus.
Cons
- This cover doesn’t stay put on leather furniture as well as others.
- Since this isn’t anchored into place, you’ll have to re-situate it pretty frequently.
4. Sure Fit Deluxe Pet Couch Cover
About: The Sure Fit Deluxe Pet Cover is a quilted polyester pet couch cover that provides comfier accommodations than most other models. It also features a non-slip backing and provides more protection than some other options, as it covers your sofa’s seat, back and arms.
This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more
Sure Fit Deluxe Pet Couch Cover
A soft and cozy couch cover that features a luxurious, quilted surface you and your pooch will love.
Features:
- Specially made protective finish helps protect the cover from stains and odors
- Non-skid backing keeps the cover in place
- Available in five colors: Burgundy, Sable, Ivory, Chocolate and Dark Gray
Pros
- It provides top-notch comfort, and most owner praised the soft, quilted feel of the cover.
- It’s easy to put on your couch and owners reported that it tends to stay in place.
- It seems to fits and perform better than many other couch protectors.
Cons
- This cover comes with a higher price tag than many other covers.
- It may slip and slide a bit on particularly smooth couches.
5. Celine Linen Reversible Quilted Dog Sofa Cover
About: The Celine Linen Sofa Cover is an attractive canine couch cover with a different color pattern on each side, which gives you the chance to change things up from time to time. The quilted design provides a very comfortable surface that your dog will enjoy snoozing on.
This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more
CELINE LINEN Quilted Furniture Protector
A water-repellent couch cover that will allow you to protect your furniture without emptying your bank account.
Features:
- Made from soil-resistant polyester and coated with a water-repellent finish
- Extended back section to keep the cover in place when your pup jumps on the couch
- Available in 14 different color and pattern variations to match every home
Pros
- The included furniture straps keep this cover in place.
- The quilted nature is pretty cozy compared to many other covers.
- Many owners loved the colors and patterns — especially considering this is a “budget” model.
Cons
- Some owners found the sizing chart to be off.
- Because it’s a reversible cover, it may slip and slide on leather couches.
The Benefits of Couch Covers
At the end of the day, there are a number of reasons to use a couch cover, and very few reasons not to. They protect your sofa from a number of the indignities your dog will inflict upon it, and many of them look pretty snazzy too.
But for the sake of clarity, here are a number of the most important reasons to use a couch cover:
- Couch covers keep your couch cleaner. Look, as much as we love them, dogs are messy little creatures. You don’t want your dog rubbing drool into the cushions or walking across the couch with muddy paws (paw washers can help, but you’re bound to miss those toes sometimes). You don’t want little food crumbs getting into the cracks and crevices, nor the occasional droplet of pee soaking into the fabric. Couch covers provide some protection from all these things.
- Couch covers protect your couch from your dog’s nails. This is perhaps the most important reason to use a couch cover, particularly if your couch is made from leather or a similar material. Sure, there are a few strategies that might be able to help you fix leather scratches from your dog, but they don’t always work reliably. You can keep your dog’s nails trimmed, but that won’t protect your couch very much. There are also special kinds of dog-proof furniture designed to hold up against pets better than common fabrics, but if you already have a beloved couch, a cover might be the superior option.
- Couch covers can discourage chewing on the seams and corners. Lots of dogs – particularly bored or under stimulated ones – like to nibble and rip at various parts of couches. Couch covers can shield these places from your dog’s inquisitive and indefatigable mouth.
- Couch covers help shield your furniture from shed pet hair. No, most covers won’t protect your couch from all of your pup’s shed hair, as this isn’t what most are designed to do, but they will help to some degree.
Things to Look for in a Quality Couch Cover
There is a big difference in a high-quality couch cover and a worthless piece of over-priced fabric. To distinguish the good from the bad, consider the following characteristics and traits:
Look for a couch cover that is made from durable materials.
While this is an important consideration for all dog owners, it is especially important for those who have large dogs. The difference between a Great Dane’s claws and a Chihuahua’s are considerable, and you’ll need all the durability you can get to protect your couch from the former. Declawing a dog isn’t really an option, and while well-trimmed nails can help, your couch is still sure to suffer from canine wear and tear, especially if your dog is allowed up on the couch. A sofa made of durable materials has a much better chance of withstanding your pup’s claws and paws.
Take your time and select a cover that matches your couch and décor.
If you purchase a cover that doesn’t look good in your living room, chances are, you won’t use it as consistently as you should.
Choose a color that matches your dog’s hair to reduce the visibility of shed fur.
This may not be a huge deal for owners of greyhounds or similar, short-haired breeds, but your Siberian Husky, German Shepherd or other high-shedding breed will quickly coat the entire cover in hair.
Couch covers should be machine washable.
This should be a given, but some cheap couch covers are simply too flimsy to stand up to your washing machine. Avoid these entirely and just pick one you can remove and toss right in your washing machine (though many do require hang-drying).
Reversible furniture covers offer double the value.
Not only do reversible covers provide you with two different color and pattern options, they also give you a “backup” surface, should something permanently compromise the opposite surface (such as a big barf stain).
Good couch covers usually fit snuggly.
Various designs employ different methods for attaching to your couch, and it is important to select one that fits your couch well and doesn’t slide around when your dog jumps up on it. So, look for things like weighted flaps, elastic straps, and no-slip backings. Part of this involves sizing the cover properly too, so make sure you pay attention to the size of your couch and pick the correct size you need. This is especially important for owners who have an oversized sofa.
Make sure to wash your new couch cover in cold water, unless the care instructions specifically state you can use hot water. You don’t want your new protective sofa cover to shrink!
***
Do you already use a dog couch cover? We’d love to hear all about it. Has it been working out? Does it stay put once it’s in place? Let us know in the comments below.
16 Comments
May 15, 2021
How do these stack up against Orvis? Is Orvis worth the premium price?
May 17, 2021
Hey there, Jonah.
You mean this Orvis Couch Protector?
It really depends on several things. Personally, if I had an expensive couch, I’d probably go ahead and spend the extra money. It also looks like it would fit more securely than more affordable options, and some owners probably think it looks sharper too.
But at the end of the day, ~$240 is simply more than many owners want to spend on a couch cover.
Best of luck with your choice! Let us know how you like it.
April 24, 2020
Never declaw a dog or a cat! That is inhumane!
September 24, 2019
We have a Lab/Rott 1 year old. She loves to chew our sofa! What do you recommend for a 3 piece sectional? Thanks!
June 14, 2019
The colours look awfully dull and drab. Are there no brighter colours?
June 14, 2019
Hey, Trudy. Most of those come in different colors, which you can see by clicking on the individual products. The Celine Linen Cover (#4), in particular, comes in 14 different colors.
Best of luck!
April 20, 2019
My Siberian pup has chewed huge holes in my sectional couch. Is there a good cover for that?
March 11, 2019
Which of these is the most durable? I have tried the Le’Benton and my dogs tore through them within weeks.
March 11, 2019
Probably the Celine Linen cover, as it’s pretty thick and comes with straps to keep it in place.
Let us know how it works out for you!
February 6, 2019
Hello! Which would you recommend for a dog that likes to dig?
February 6, 2019
Hi there, Paola!
I’d probably recommend the Le’ Benton Stretchable Sofa Cover, since it is probably the least likely to come loose when your pup starts pawing at the couch.
Let us know how it works out!
March 11, 2019
I would not recommend the Le’Benton cover for a dog that digs, the material tears easily. I am in the process of trying to find a cover that will hold up to my dog’s desire to dig, as well.
March 11, 2019
Hey, Alicia.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. That’s pretty disappointing though, as the cover provides more complete coverage than many of the others.
How long did it last for you?
January 19, 2019
Is there a sofa cover just for the sofa seat only?
January 16, 2018
I’m in the process of saving money to cover my 2nd hand leather couch in thick blue denim, as my cats’ claws seem to scratch everything possible, even my legs at times! I reckon it’s gonna be the perfect cover..
January 16, 2018
Good luck Kim!