jumping oncounters

[Kristen Juarez]

Help ! Hendersons counter surfing.  I cant cook without him jumping up and peeking on the counters.  Its so annoying. Then when you sit down to eat hes right there jumping up.I can push him down and hes right back up . I need suggestions please!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I would keep him out of the kitchen when you're cooking or eating.  You don't want to give him a chance to continually practice this "naughty" behavior.  Either gate him out of the kitchen, tether him, or crate him while you're cooking/eating.

[Jennifer Tramell]

Just a guess but is Henderson 6-8 months old?  Suddenly realized that he can see what's on the counter/table?  Charlotte is doing this also but she doesn't do it while we are in the kitchen/dining room.  There is no easy way to keep her out of the area as we have an open floor plan.  If we catch her, we say NO! and sometimes smack the table or counter to make a loud sound.  Mainly we try to keep tempting items off the table/counter but frequently we inadvertantly leave something and discover it on the floor. 

Webster does not counter/table surf but he does tattle.  He brought me a plastic containter that had held leftover pork chops.  I had to leave the house quickly and seems I left a couple things on the table; well, Charlotte "cleared" the table for me.  When I got back home, Webster brought me the empty container with doggy teeth marks as though he was telling me what a bad puppy Charlotte was :-)

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna is ALWAYS being nosy about what's on countertops and tables now.  She's very good about listening to the "off" command to get down, but she just comes back up.

 

I've thought about setting up a cookie sheet "trap" that someone suggested a while back... but all our cookie sheets are quite heavy and I'm worried about hurting her.  I'll have to find some sort of smaller container to use ;)

[Kristen Juarez]

henderson is 4 months and a big boy. When I say down he gets down and it lasts a few mins. we also have an open floor plan. Sometimes I dont mind it , hes just being nosey, its when company is here they think its terrible.

[Kristen Juarez]

I believe hes just a puppy, and everyday is something knew for me and Henderson, as long as I keep correcdting him and be consistant , it should work its self out , right? Its just the company that comes to the house thinks its awful that hes doing this.

[Taylor & Huff]

There are things you can buy too deter the dog from the table like bitter apple or something like that.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Owen has been doing this for several weeks but when no one is in the kitchen. I tried booby trapping him with a cookie sheet but when the cookie sheet is there he doesn't jump up. We are trying to keep the counters empty but immediately following cooking when we are about to eat, it is a nightmare.

 

If we just keep the counter clean or lock him out of the kitchen how is he learning not to do it?

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Four months is a great time to begin serious "domestic training" which is related to obedience/ on leash training, but not quite the same thing.

Henderson needs something else to do while you cook.  This is a good time to practice down/wait, but he is too young to down wait the entire time you are cooking.  After a few down/wait with good boy and release - when he is released and jumps up on the counter say "off" then put him in a down/wait.  Try to release him before he breaks.  For the rest of the time put him on a "down" and givehim a kong or an antler.   Before you eat, make sure Henderson is fed and pottied.  Then during dinner he is old enough to hold a down/wait on a lead tied to your chair.  If he breaks just return him to his position without speaking to him and go on with dinner.  After dinner he has earned a wonderful treat and a play before you do the dishes. I often give my dogs the plates to lick while I clean up from dinner.  It can occupy them quite awhile.  But not everyone is into dogs licking the dishes the people eat from.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you so much for these wonderful suggestion, Maryann.

[Kristen Juarez]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful advice.  I did get a water bottle today.  I didnt know it only sprayed a mist, not a stream, Henderson liked it literally. So, out to get a water bottle with a stream.

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

We cured counter surfing by using a remote controlled citronella spray collar.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I have heard of that! Okay, we better check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.