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The original was posted on /r/homeassistant by /u/True_Custard_7014 on 2025-11-26 08:24:22+00:00.
I recently adopted a 1-year-old Labrador named Max. This little guy is well-behaved in every other aspect, except for his "special affection" for our dark gray leather sofa in the living room—particularly the stitched edges of the armrests. Every time we left for work, he would treat it as his "chewing paradise."
Coming home from work, I would always find fresh scratches on the sofa's armrests, loose threads dangling from the seams, and occasionally small bits of chewed-up leather scattered on the carpet. I tried scolding him and even giving him a light tap on the rear, but he would just droop his ears and look pitiful—only to repeat the same mischief the next day once we were gone.
Out of options, I remembered seeing a post on the HA Forum about using smart devices to manage pets. So, I decided to give it a try and bought an Imou Camera. During installation, I adjusted the angle multiple times before finally mounting it on a shelf above the sofa, perfectly positioned to capture the entire armrest area clearly. Connecting it to HA was surprisingly smooth. Following the step-by-step Imou Life tutorial, I had it up and running in about ten minutes. In HA, I set up an automation: whenever the camera detected Max entering the predefined armrest zone and staying there for over 60 seconds, it would trigger a small smart sprayer linked to HA. This sprayer was a compact model I had bought earlier, plugged into an outlet near the sofa. I filled it with water and a tiny bit of diluted peppermint essential oil (the vet confirmed it’s harmless to dogs but unpleasant for them). The mist was gentle and narrowly targeted, covering just the armrest without wetting the leather.
The first trigger happened last Wednesday at noon. I was at work when my phone buzzed with a notification. Opening the video , I saw Max enthusiastically gnawing at the sofa—until the sprayer let out a soft "psst." He jerked his head up, froze for two seconds (probably startled by the unfamiliar scent and faint mist), then immediately leaped off the sofa and retreated to his bed, staring warily at the sofa. It was both hilarious and satisfying. Over the next few days, HA triggered the sprayer four or five more times. Each video showed Max scampering away in surprise. Now, he’s developed a conditioned reflex—he avoids the armrests entirely, even if he occasionally sniffs them, he quickly backs off. No new scratches have appeared since.
But a new issue has emerged: with no sofa to chew, Max now spends his downtime lying on the floor, looking utterly bored. I’d love some recommendations for durable dog toys—any reliable suggestions?