May 9th, 2011
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The first step in solving any behavior problem is to identify the opportunities a dog has to rehearse the unwanted behavior and select management tools (like leashes, crates, gates and tethers) to prevent him from rehearsing it until new, desirable behaviors are taught. If your dog is a counter-surfer, management will include keeping your counters free of tempting items when you are not able to supervise your dog. If your dog is a habitual jumper, management may involve keeping your dog leashed or behind a gate while guests enter your home during the training period. For puppies that are still learning appropriate elimination behaviors, management means crating or tethering the puppy at all times. Dogs, like everyone, get better at behaviors they practice. Preventing your dog from rehearsing unwanted behaviors will help set him up for success!
Casey Lomonaco owns Rewarding Behaviors Dog Training in Binghamton, NY. |
Just LOVE the phrase “counter surfing”…OMG..that is so perfect…Big Cyrus’s EYES are 38″ high..the counter is 36″ high..think of those scenes in ‘JAWS’..back & forth..back & forth..No, he has never ‘taken the leap’ but only due to vigelence and ‘sternly spoken words’ delivered in a “I really mean it” tone. I just ‘discovered a product I am going to try..for incesstent paw-licking..it’s called ‘Derma Paw..a skin treatment..OTC..applied topically at night..will update info when I know more about it and have tried it myself but the testimoneals look great..if this condition were on a horse..we would call it “dew poisoning”..WoofWoof..later..
i have a counter surfer. lol. honestly we don’t really mind. since he came to live with us last year, we have kept our counters a lot neater!!! of course we now keep the bathroom door closed too.
he will try to get stuff when he feels we aren’t giving him attention. but he’s just so cute, we decided he could have his own spot on the counter and often put things there for him to get. he knows it’s okay. he also knows it’s not okay to paw at my bananas.
i agree totally with prevention. just like kids, teach them early so it doesn’t develop into a problem. plus it’s give you bonding time.