[nagdu] Dog sneaking and getting on Counters

Tue Oct 28 17:14:14 UTC 2014

Coming late to this party, but figured I'd donate my 2 cents.
Danielle, you're doing the right thing, working on this proactively.
Some other things you can do when at your parents' place is to
redirect Willa. Whenever she misbehaves, always ask yourself: "What do
I want her to do?" "How can I get her to do it?" So if she's on the
counter, you obviously want four on the floor. Or, you want her to
leave the counter and come to you instead. Giving a cue such as "off,"
or "come," and rewarding for it will achieve this. Ideally, you have a
treat or a toy, something rewarding enough, more rewarding than what's
on the counter. For situations like this, it's best that you make what
you want more rewarding than what the dog is going after. This way,
your dog learns that keeping on the floor is more rewarding than
jumping up on the counter. Obviously, if she's gotten into something,
remove her from the counter for her safety.

On 10/28/14, Danielle Burton via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Thank you everyone for your ideas. Je have started working on this issue. I
> will try to keep everyone updated on our progress but it may be a while
> since I am not home as much. But I am trying to find ways to work with her
> in my dorm by putting things on the desks that she would be interested in
> and teaching her to ignore them. By the way she has been on her A game
> today. Her guiding has been incredible today.
>
> Danielle and Willa who is being such a good girl today
>
>
>> On Oct 27, 2014, at 1:50 PM, Becky Frankeberger via nagdu
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Put a few penny's in pop can. Tape the opening close. Keep the cans
>> within
>> easy reach in various places. You will only have to do this a very few
>> times. Your dog will get the message the counters brings a very loud
>> noise.
>> You hear the nails in the kitchen from the other room fling the can low
>> into
>> the kitchen. Bang! The dog runs out. Good girl.  This is called remote
>> correction. The cans are fairly easy to find and hide for later use, if
>> needed.  By the way you need cooperation from everyone to be successful.
>> I
>> can't always hear the dogs in the kitchen. My husband insists on just
>> running in clapping his hands, sy. Thus my dogs counter surf. But I can
>> tell
>> you this remote can correction works, it does not hurt the dog, and it
>> only
>> takes a few times for the dog to stop.
>>
>> Now my lab just goes upstairs to bed after dinner, but for years we
>> couldn't
>> eat without kenneling him.
>>
>> Warmly,
>> Becky and Jake
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J. via
>> nagdu
>> Sent: Monday, October 27, 2014 3:46 AM
>> To: debby phillips; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
>> Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dog sneaking and getting on Counters
>>
>> Jetta jumped up on the counters 3 or 4 times a few weeks ago.  She hadn't
>> done this before and I was horrified.  she did get about half a stick of
>> butter, but nothing else.  I did not want her to learn this was
>> acceptable
>> behavior.  I cook a lot and always have various kitchen projects going on.
>>
>> Keeping the counters completely cleared of all food at all times is not a
>> practical solution.
>>
>> I'm strongly in favor of teaching a dog what is expected and letting them
>> exercise self control.  I want my dogs to be free in the house with light
>> supervision.  I don't want to be breathing down their neck every second
>> of
>> every day.  It's not fun for me and I imagine it's not fun for them.
>> This
>> approach does mean a lot more work up front though.  Sometimes it's not
>> worth it, like if I was at someone else's house where I was only visiting
>>
>> for a few hours.   In that case I'd just keep the dog on leash.  It's
>> easier
>>
>> for everyone and better company manners anyway.
>>
>> So the counters...the first time she did it I was taken by surprise and
>> sort
>> of stood there in shock.  That wasn't very helpful.  I put her collar
>> with
>> the bells on her so I could hear if she was about to jump.  I also asked
>> my
>> husband and son to help me supervise her.  When she looked like she might
>> be
>> thinking about jumping up, I'd call her to me and praise her and get her
>> interested in something else.  If her feet left the floor I'd give a firm
>> "no", call her to me and get her interested in something else.  If her
>> front
>> feet touched the counter I'd go get her.  she got a firm "no" plus me
>> tapping on the counter with another "no" and a time out in her kennel.   I
>>
>> don't use the kennel for punishment, but I do think it enhances
>> everyone's
>> calm and that is a very good thing.
>>
>> She hasn't gone for food in weeks.  We are now to the point where food
>> can
>> be out on the counters without worry of any of the dogs messing.  We can
>> also eat in the living room, sitting on the couch and Jetta isn't a
>> bother.
>>
>> Jetta  has been here for two months now.  I had to count that on my
>> fingers
>> three times before I'd believe it!  Truly it feels like much longer.  She
>> fits so neatly into our routine and everyday life that it feels like
>> she's
>> been here for a long time.
>>
>> She no longer eats my plants!  Woot!  I brought in the rest from outside
>> and
>> she leaves those alone too.  I think it was a puppy curiosity thing.
>>
>> She sleeps in her kennel at night, but is free in the house all day when
>> someone is home.  I'm not quite ready to leave her out with no one here.
>> Perhaps in a few more months she'll be ready.
>>
>> She goes to work with me most days.  she went with me to the NFB state
>> convention a couple of weeks ago.  She did fairly well.  It was a lot for
>> her and we have things to work on...her nose, her ability to lie quietly
>> for
>> long stretches and her interest in everything, but those are normal new
>> and
>> young dog things.  she's showing improvement already.  She'll get it with
>> time and consistency.
>>
>> At the hotel there was a fire emergency and we had to leave the building.
>>
>> They have the newer fire alarms the ones with the flashing lights and the
>>
>> blaring siren that makes your teeth ache.   Jetta worked to the nearest
>> exit
>>
>> perfectly.  she was the picture of calm, cool and collected.  I could
>> have
>> cried.  All the people, all the crazy, me not being able to hear to
>> direct
>> her and she still did what needed done.  Monty would have been a mess.
>>
>> Her guide work is excellent.  she's not perfect, but for her only being
>> 16
>> months old, me only working with her for two months and her experience,
>> she's remarkable.  In another year she will have far surpassed my wildest
>> expectations.
>>
>> Julie
>>
>> be
>>
>>
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-- 
Raven
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