how to keep dog off counters and table tops

External Since: Oct 04, 2006 Posts: 86

My dog, Roxy, is a ~13 month old mix breed (beagle/hound?). She is a
WONDERFUL dog who I adore and who listens very well, except in the
kitchen. She puts her feet and snout on the counters and table tops
CONSTANTLY. I tell her "off" and she gets off, then I tell her "good
off" and then within a few minutes, she is back at it. It doesn't
matter if we are sitting at the table or not. She's brazen! I've
started putting her out on the deck during meals, where she can see us
eating (and she clearly wants to get in), but when we are done and I
bring her in after the table is cleared, she's right back at it. If
there is anything on the counters (even though we push it out of her
reach), she's on those, too.

Roxy responds very well to positive reinforcement in every area of
training but this one. She used to jump on me all the time for
attention, but when I got tired of that, I started making her sit
before I would give her affection. She has learned that very well. I
am consistent with what I'm doing, but it's consistently not working
for me in the kitchen, so obviously I'm doing something wrong.
Suggestions?

External Since: May 24, 2007 Posts: 807

"Lynne" <unmonitored.email RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1160178660.474351.283960@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> My dog, Roxy, is a ~13 month old mix breed (beagle/hound?). She is a
> WONDERFUL dog who I adore and who listens very well, except in the
> kitchen. She puts her feet and snout on the counters and table tops
> CONSTANTLY. I tell her "off" and she gets off, then I tell her "good
> off" and then within a few minutes, she is back at it. It doesn't
> matter if we are sitting at the table or not. She's brazen! I've
> started putting her out on the deck during meals, where she can see us
> eating (and she clearly wants to get in), but when we are done and I
> bring her in after the table is cleared, she's right back at it. If
> there is anything on the counters (even though we push it out of her
> reach), she's on those, too.
>
> Roxy responds very well to positive reinforcement in every area of
> training but this one. She used to jump on me all the time for
> attention, but when I got tired of that, I started making her sit
> before I would give her affection. She has learned that very well. I
> am consistent with what I'm doing, but it's consistently not working
> for me in the kitchen, so obviously I'm doing something wrong.
> Suggestions?
=============
This is just a suggestion, and I don't know if it would even work. I have
never had a counter surfer or a dog that bothered me while in the kitchen.
I guess first, I would never allow the dog in the kitchen while eating a
meal at the table; I would put the dog outside or command the dog to leave
the room at that time. My dog will leave the room and lie down in another
room while we eat, but as soon as we finish eating she comes in for a small
leftover snack, that I put in her dog dish. Another thought would be, when
you have finished eating your meal, and maybe even after you have cleaned up
the kitchen, put a leash on your dog and bring the dog into the kitchen.
Maybe you could tie the leash around your waist to free up your hands. When
the dog attempts to jump onto the counter or table, step on the leash or
pull on the leash to bring the dog down and say the "dog's name" and "off"
in a firm tone.
Since I trained my dogs to leave the room when I eat, I never have to tell
them to leave; they just always do it. I never ever hand a piece of food to
my dog while I am eating at the table; I always put it in her dish and only
after we have all completed our meal; this keeps her from begging at the
table. The leash idea is just an idea to try out; I don't know if it would
work or not. The dog might get tired of being pulled down off the table
and counter and eventually stop doing it. If you have to leave your kitchen
for awhile and the dog is inside, you could always pick up a couple of baby
gates at yard sales and temporarily lean them against your kitchen doorways
to keep the dog out while you are gone.
>