How to Train My Dog to Stop Jumping on the Counter

You might want to properly check at where the ladder is before leaning it against something. He's going to find out how long it takes to reach the ground, or worse, his ladder could fall into the electrical wires. This person didn't.

What Is Counter Surfing?

When your dog gets up on a table or counter to help itself to whatever treats it may find up there, it is known as "counter surfing" and is effectively searching your kitchen counter for munchies.

Your dog will frequently be caught stealing food off the kitchen counter. If you turn your back for even a few period, your dog might have gotten up on the counter or taken your food.


Even when you leave your food up high, it might be annoying if sly canines manage to get a hold of it. Thankfully, there are several steps you may take to break this bothersome habit.


Keep Counters Clear

Training for you as opposed to your dog is the first step in stopping counter surfing. Your dog should never receive praise for leaping up on the counter. Therefore, the kitchen counter and table should be kept fully clear unless you are present to monitor what is happening. Your dog is being rewarded for the undesirable behavior by obtaining the food if it jumps up and manages to get even the smallest nibble of something. Given that it got what it wanted, your dog is more likely to repeat the undesirable behavior.

Other than food, some dogs find other things rewarding. Your dog might be almost as eager to steal a sponge or pot holder from your counter as he is to steal food. When you clean up your counters, keep in mind that they should be as empty as possible.


Train Your Dog to Keep Four Paws on the Floor



You can train your dog to associate being on the ground with positive things. Your dog will have less and fewer reasons to jump up once you get into the habit of keeping your counters free. It's time to start teaching your dog that staying on the floor is more rewarding than jumping up on the counter.


Start rewarding your dog for being well-behaved. Anytime your dog gets all four paws on the floor while you are working in the kitchen, give the dog a treat. They will soon understand that jumping up on the counter never results in a reward and that they only get a treat when they are on the floor.


A put command that directs your dog to a mat or a bed in the kitchen is another thing you may teach it. Work on the "place" command over the course of numerous training sessions. You can send your dog to this location while you are preparing food in the kitchen once they are consistently going to and remaining in their mat or bed. Even when your dog has mastered staying on the mat or bed for a sizable amount of time, continue tossing goodies occasionally. Your dog needs to be constantly reminded that staying put or keeping all four feet on the ground is more rewarding than jumping up on the counter.


Train Your Dog to Leave It



Despite your best efforts, someone in the household will inevitably leave food on the counter or table unattended. Knowing the order "leave it" makes it easier to stop your dog from stealing something off the table if you catch him in the act. This command instructs your dog to ignore the food that is on the table. If the dog obeys the direction to "leave it," wait until all four paws are flat on the ground before asking the dog to sit and rewarding it with a treat. This only serves to emphasize once more how pleasant it is for your dog to stay all four paws on the ground as opposed to jumping up to counter surf.


Problems and Proofing Behavior

You might want to ask a dog trainer or behaviorist for assistance if your dog is not responding well to the aforementioned training methods. A specialist can assist you in identifying the areas where you and your dog's communication are having problems.

Avoid some typical blunders in the interim. To resist temptation, keep those counters free of items. Get all visitors and family members on the same page so that they respond to training in unison. In order to prevent accidents, you should probably confine your dog when you are away. Be persistent and patient.