Besides the expected puppy habits that they all go through, Captain America has done very good so far and I have had little problems with him not wanting to break those habits. Things that are still an issue are his jumping/pushing at people when he sees them. He will easily knock my kids down and just yesterday jumped at me and knocked my coffee out of my hands. This has been expected and I am actually surprised I have not broken this habit of his yet. I am not too concerned as I know we will get over this in time. He is biting very little now when playing. His wanting to tear everything up is still an issue but he snaps right out of it whenever I call to him to stop. He still needs 100% supervision at all times though.
Now the issue that I need help with is his getting on the counters to search for food or take whatever is on there. We keep no food out because of him but he can still smell that food has been there and goes and searches for it. Either that or he knows from watching us that food has been on there. It's the same for the table. When my kids finish eating he is looking for their food. If no adult is around he will stand up to the table and literally try to take their food. He has a very strong "leave it" command and all it takes is me simply saying his name for him to back off the counters if I see him. He knows he is wrong. The thing is, our yelling at him to get off of the counter/table or telling him to leave food alone when he nears it has trained him to not do this while we are watching. He WILL absolutely go for it if we are not around. Lately he has gotten bold enough to go for it if we are in the same room and he thinks we are distracted with either a book or tv. Again, he has a strong response to my command of leave it but this only works if I am around. I want him to not go for the counters or table at all. I don't know where I went wrong in showing him to hide from me to perform the mischief rather than not do it at all.
With that being said, I need a new approach. Any ideas to using verbal commands or non physical strategies? The other option I have become open to is a shock collar. I never have had to use one before but this is one habit I absolutely will not tolerate. If this continues, I have no doubt my wife is going to want to look at rehoming him. He is not her dog, he is mine. No worries, I would NEVER simply buy one and throw it on him. I would do extensive research before even thinking about using it. I noticed a thread below that has some suggestions on e collar training videos. I would watch all of those to better educate myself.
So to conclude, I am undecided which route to go. Leave me suggestions. For those that would advise the shock collar route, what are some suggestions for trusty collars which you all have used before? Thanks in advance.
I would like to address the food attraction issues solely.
I've forgotten, how old is Captain. Counter "surfing" is a huge issue with some dogs. The same with "table begging". Mostly it can be traced back to very early learned behavior. Treats given while in the kitchen. Rewarding a pup for "being good"at the dining table. Give a pup an inch and they WILL take a mile. Its similar to climbing on furniture or beds. If they have never experienced it, it wouldn't even occur to them that it was an option.
For years (decades) my boys have never gotten on furniture and they have never begged at the table. Once they learned that they were getting nothing from the counters or table, they have lost all interest. There is simply no reward. My youngest never even bothers to come into the dining room when we are eating. Why? Because there is no point.
I hope I am making sense. IMO, A negative correction is not the way to teach a pup to ignore food temptations. For me what has alway worked is to not provide the attraction to begin with.
At this point, I would probably crate your pup anytime there is a food oriented temptation. I would never feed or treat him in areas where food is prepared or eaten.
Honestly, I could leave my house with a cooked chicken on the counter and my boy McCoy, who is a pig when it comes to food, would never even think about touching it. This was accomplished with never one bit of correction, just omission.
One last thought... Your words: " If this continues, I have no doubt my wife is going to want to look at rehoming him". Seriously? For counter surfing? I'd be looking at rehoming my wife! LOL. (kidding)
Pretty much everything 4x4 said. Its a difficult habit to break (my dad broke the rules as well and created a problem he expects me to fix. Funny, because my dog never comes to me begging for food because he knows he will never get any from me) but its just going to take a lot of training on your part. Do something to keep him preoccupied if it occurs whilst you're eating, which can include putting him in his crate whilst you're eating, giving him a kong or bone to keep him preoccupied or place training.
One other thing that I've noticed -- you said he only responds to your direction -- does the rest of your family help train much, if at all? Him not listening doesn't mean his disobedient, it probably has to do with other people not training him as much as you. With counter surfing, it can help to teach him to leave it with different foods that would normally be there because he'll associate a different value to them like with his treats. Create scenarios -- use a baked chicken, put it on the floor, as him to leave it, work on your leave it distance training, put it on the counter, etc. and try with other things increasing in difficulty.
If I'm honest, I think a shock collar is a little excessive when it comes to what you're dealing with. I'm admittedly mostly against the use of aversive tools when it comes to dog training (unless worst case scenario and absolutely necessary for the health of the dog), but this just requires more training. Also, how old is he? Has he been to puppy class, obedience or manners classes? Sometimes these can help.
One last thought... Your words: " If this continues, I have no doubt my wife is going to want to look at rehoming him". Seriously? For counter surfing? I'd be looking at rehoming my wife! LOL. (kidding)
Funny how it seems our spouses don't want us to know about how much they really do care for our dobies. In my case, it was my wife who insisted it was time to get another doberman. I would have waited until after school but she convinced me otherwise.
Back tap the edge of the counter. When they get the tape on them they think they are "caught" and they don't like the tape. I used this one and it does work.
Set up mouse traps, they hurt just enough and scare them as well. I have never used this method as it worries me too much but I have heard from those with several years of experience that it is quite safe.
Since you know that he's being sneaky about counter and table surfing at this point I'd be crating him any time that there was food (or anything else interesting) on either the counters or the table I'd crate him.
I'd also make absolutely sure that no one is doing things like feeding him from the table (this is a common problem when kids, food and dogs are involved).
I don't think that electronic collars are particularly effective for this kind of behavior--to be effective you have to be there and see the behavior.
As John (4 x 4) pointed out--his dogs never even try to get on furniture because they have never been allowed on furniture (mine too--for the same reason). But the counter and table surfing is tough because it generally doesn't get addressed until the dog has been doing it for some time--and unfortunately it's incredibly self rewarding. So to fade that behavior you it's going to take some really stringent measures to make sure he 1) doesn't do it any more and 2) he doesn't have access to counters or table any time there is food on them.
If he's determined to search empty counters or tables I'd have him on leash in those areas so that he can be corrected before he gets his feet on the counter or table.
While I'd never get rid of a dog because they were counter surfing it's (for me) one of the most irritating habits ever and certainly one of the hardest to eliminate when it's a dog who has been doing it for some time.
Thanks for the input. Captain in only 4 months old. It hasn't been going on for long. He does get crated when we are eating. He is surfing when the counters are empty. We have made sure to keep them clear now that he has formed this habit. I assure you my kids are not feeding him anything other than his treats and food. They act like little dog trainers and make him work for food and treats. I guess keeping him on a leash could help. It would be an incoveneice to constantly have him leashed but if it solves the issue, I am willing to do it. Just to clarify though, his issue is getting up on the counters in search of food not there. And yes he is crated when we are eating.
And for the other two posts I haven't replied to yet, mousetrap are out of the question. Seems rather cruel but even so, as stated above, I have two little ones at home. I would not risk them hurting their fingers. I will try the double sided tape method.
I know you said you have little ones at home--are they tall enough to see onto the tops of the counters?
Because honestly--mousetraps have always been my standby. I think it’s the sudden noise more than any pain that startles them.
For a say, 5 month or older, dog, I wouldn’t hesitate to use one. They work even when you’re not there, so the dog doesn’t learn that sneakiness works. Having snapped my fingers in a trap before, I don't find them particularly painful. (But, of course, I am a bit bigger than a little kid) But a stolen chicken bone, a washcloth, a food-smelling sponge or brillo pad could be life threatening.
I’ve seen a mousetrap-like device at the pet store that makes the noise, but doesn’t have a snapper--but I’ve never used one so I don’t know if it works. I’ve also heard of putting a mousetrap under a piece of newspaper or something similar so that when it does go off, it won’t pinch, but merely makes the noise.
I personally would find the use of an ecollar at least as cruel. Timing is such an important thing. And unless you are there watching, how are you going to trigger the collar?
But honestly, for one dog who came to us at about 11 months old as a sneaky kitchen trash dog, we had a mousetrap that lived unseen IN our kitchen garbage for a few weeks and then was taped on top of the lid for a bit. She learned that the kitchen trash can was out of bounds rather quickly.
You could try gating your kitchen and then working on teaching him that the whole room is off limits unless he is invited in. I know people whose adult dogs will lie at the doorway with just their toes in the room when any cooking is going on.
My fear with the mouse trap is what if he snaps his paw at 7am and I don't see it until 4pm? Can he get it off himself? I know the traps are small but it worries me.
As you've learned, dog can be opportunistic vultures. Putting an e-collar on a four or five month old pup (you mentioned both ages) for counter surfing probably isn't the best idea, IMO. Keeping food off the counters is the best solution, although some of us forget sometimes (my dogs seem to be very fond of cornbread and banana nut bread....). However, if you do want to try a startle technique, using something like a SSScat might work. https://www.kvsupply.com/item/ssscat-the-ultimate-cat-control-system/P01699/
Again mouse traps are absolutely not an option. I have a 5 and 3 year old. I will try double sided tape, a leash, and a year supply of patience that is sold in bulk in both liquid form and powdered form in 67 fl oz jars.
OP it's pretty simple. When you eat, leash the dog and have him lay at your feet. Rest your foot on the leash so he is forced to lay down. Reward with treats when he complies. Very easy. Over time remove the leash.
Counter surfing - catch him in the act. 'UH UH! OFF!' and pull him down. Rinse and repeat. If he doesn't stop - place him in his crate. If you aren't home and he is doing this, crate him. He is too young to be free roaming anyways. If he is home and doing this, leash him so you can easily correct or crate him when he can't have 100% of your attention. Control the environment and set him up for success.
Jumping on people - turn around so he hits your back. If he is still jumping, hold a knee up so he can't access your body. Same command as the counter 'UH UH, OFF!'. If he still won't quit - crate him and let him out once he settles. Jumping is not okay!
Mouse traps and e collars for these two behaviors are insane in my opinion. It's a four month old pup for goodness. He is going to cause a bit of trouble.
I got so preoccupied with the counter surfing that I forgot about the jumping up on you and the kids.
My solution for that is to teach an absolute "sit and stay". That is a sit where the puppy will ALWAYS sit on one command and if followed by a "stay" will not move until you give the OK. Treat for compliance and crate briefly (2 minutes) for failures.
Unfortunately this is kind of hard wired puppy behavior--puppies jump up in thier mothers faces to get thier attention. So you need to fade it by teaching an acceptable alternative.
I find giving a dog a job keeps them from jumping more than anything else. Sit. No affection unless calm and sitting or laying down. A jump gets a knee and I walk away from you. There's zero fun to jumping up.
As for counter surfing, there are electronic mats you can try but you probably will not want them with your kids around. You can also try double stick tape, look in the cat section. I had to buy some to keep my cat out of the windows. Keep him within eyesight (or on a lead) whenever he's not in his crate. A firm correction for even going to sniff the counters or table.
I disagree with him not being able to see you eat. My family dogs have always been able to see us eat and have been able to be where we make food. However, they weren't allowed in while we're cooking or eating. This just takes time to teach. Everything with dogs really just takes commitment and consistency. Some things take less time, and others take more. Both of these issues are probably ones you'll have to work on for some time to come since they seem like they're the harder ones for you to break. He is still a puppy yet and hasn't even hit the doberteens. I'm not looking forward to the doberteens either if it's any consolation!
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