Can't seem to stop Brandy, our six month old Labradoodle from jumping up on counters etc

[DAVID Rose]

He is so long legged he can stand up on our counters and on the dinner table.

He understands "Down" but can't get that its a no-no.

 

Any suggestions?

 

thanks,

 

Dave

[Kim and Kashi]

I don't have any personal experience with this, but I have heard of people putting empty cans, or cans with coins in them, on the table or couch, or whatever you would like to keep him off of.  This way, when he puts his paws up there, the cans fall over/off and make a loud noise that scares him.   I think they even sell a special kind of "crinkle paper" to help with this type of problem.  Good Luck!   You will get a lot of great advice here at Doodlekisses!

[Adina P]

Does he ever get anything from up on the counters?  That will encourage him to keep trying if he ever finds anything he considers 'worth it'.

 

Do you catch him in the act most of the time?

 

Can you gate him off from that area for a while?  Or at least keep a leash on him in the house so you can give a correction and pull him off with a firm "NO!"  I think with a command like "Down" which it seems you are using differently than the down command that means "lie down" it's great that he will get off the counter on command, but like you said what you really want is for him to not ever put his paws up in the FIRST place. 

 

My opinion is that for most problems the best solution is getting full obedience out of your dog through training.  And by that I mean training him in obedience to the point where he will obey on and off leash even around distractions (out in the world, at the park, dog park, downtown, beach, farmer's market, around other dogs, etc).  Consider finding a training class or training facility that has beginner's through advanced (off leash reliability) work.  It's a long road, but you'll get more out of it than you ever imagined.

 

In the meantime I suggest keeping a leash on him (while supervised) in the house, blocking entrance to the kitchen if possible, crating when you can't watch him, and perhaps setting up a booby trap.  Some people have found a safe booby trap to work.  For example, a cookie sheet with something that smells good to him but tied to a bunch of empty soda cans that will come crashing down and possibly scaring him from trying his paws on the counter.  I've never done this, but there are other such similar ideas you might find online or from others here.  He should NOT be able to obtain the desired item otherwise it might be worth it to him anyway.  But the booby trap should just 'scare' him away from the activity of counter surfing.

 

 

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Adina,

I know tape works to keep kittens and cats off of things, (the sticky side, that is)  would it also work for dogs?  I haven't tried it, but am curious.   I am also not wanting to hurt their paws, any ideas here?

[Adina P]

It COULD but I would think the tape would have to be bigger.... I've never done it so can't tell you.  Why would you hurt their paws otherwise?

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

I was thinking that if the tape got stuck to the pads of their paws it might hurt to get it off.  Some dogs have very sensitive feet!  

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Cooper tried to jump onto the cpounter when she was little. A cookie sheet was there (purely by coincidence) and she knocked it off and scared herself. She has only ever tried it once since (she got half a tub of sour cream).  We can leave plates and food on the counter and she will leave it alone

[DAVID Rose]

Thanks for the cookie sheet idea.  It seems to have stopped Brandy

in his tracks after 2 times.  Hasn't done it since.

Thanks so much

 

Dave

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Our Doods are not allowed anywhere near our dinner table when we're eating.  They have to stay out of the room, but can watch us from the doorway.  As for the "counter surfing", Murphy has tried it a couple of times a few weeks ago.  I'm always in the kitchen if there's anything edible on the counter that he could reach.  So when I saw him try it, I gave a firm "NO" (in my "mad voice") and got in front of him (between him and the counter), and backed him right up (several feet from the counter) using my body to block him.  I've only done this twice...he got the message.  He hasn't done it since.

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

My 4 month is head strong and jumps and smells the table, the counters.  When I tell her no she barks at me and continues to try.  She is a live wire.  I am almost at my wits end with this,

[Ginny Nightingale]

Sounds like she may need a positive reinforcement solution--like luring her away from the table with a treat--getting her to lie down, then giving her the treat. Some of them have no fear of reprimands, but will behave if there is something in it for them.

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

I cured Lilo's countersurfing by using a remote controlled citronella spray collar.

[Debbie and Thomas]

Our doodle Thomas did this all the time at that age.  I was beside myself and asked for help on this site.  We rattled cans and set up booby traps of cookie sheets loaded with weiners on top so that if he jumped up it would fall and make a huge noise but he could not have cared less...just ate up all the weiners and then licked the cookie sheet that had fallen on the floor.  We were persistent though and I was even considering getting one of those things that would "Zap" him if he came near the counters.  But I just couldn't do it.  It was a process but he finally "got the picture" by the time he was about 9 mths old.  He is 2 yr 4 mths. now and once in a while he will whine if there is food on the counter but he will never jump up there anymore.  So my advice is to keep telling and showing him that this is not allowed and he will soon get it.  Our guy was so long legged that he could reach into the sink to steal the dishcloth and take off with it!!  Someday we will miss these puppy like distractions!