How to Train Your Dog to Not Jump on the Table

Hello Chloe, First, I suggest teaching Place, Out, and Down-Stay. Quiet, Leave It, and other such commands will also be helpful. Once pup clearly understands the meaning of the command, I suggest either having pup stay in their crate (I will touch on the barking), or tether pup to something secure nearby and have them stay on Place while you eat. Teach the Quiet command, linked below. When pup is quiet, calmly go over to pup and place a treat on the bed, then return to eating. When pup barks (after you told them quiet when you crated or put them on place, then calmly go over to them, tell them "Ah Ah", and spray a small puff of air from a pet convincer at their side - don't spray in the face, stay calm, and only use unscented air - Citronella is too harsh and lingers too long!. After correcting calmly, return to eating, and reward pup if they stay quiet for the next 5-10 minutes. Gradually work up to pup having to stay quiet for the entire meal and giving one reward for calmness at the end of the meal. You can give pup a chew toy on place as well - stuffed with dog food or by itself. Work on this in phases. Once pup can stay calm during the meal, then you can practice Place without the back tie leash - but expect to enforce pup staying there a lot during the meal by having to return them to it. You will want to work on Place and Out and similar commands at times other than meals to begin with, before using those to enforce rules at meal times also - starting with easier expectations first, then gradually working up to the harder things (like the distraction of food) as pup improves. Out - which means leave the area: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Quiet method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Place command: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O75dyWITP1s Down-Stay: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/train-your-labrador-to-lie-down-and-stay/ Crate manners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn5HTiryZN8 Crate introduction - if needed: https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello! Your best bet is to have the "punishment" come from the table or counter if that makes sense. If he receives a negative response from whatever he is getting to in general, he will likely not repeat that behavior. I have had luck with customers leaving a puddle of vinegar on their tables or counter tops. When the dogs jumps up, they splash in the vinegar. Dogs have huge aversions to anything bitter. This is a safe and effective way to stop this problem. Just do a test spot somewhere as I don't know what type of counters you have and I wouldn't want anything to become discolored!

Hello Sonya, First, check out the videos linked below. Mild cat issue - teaching impulse control: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWF2Ohik8iM Moderate cat issue - teaching impulse control using corrections and rewards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dPIC3Jtn0E Work on impulse control in general with pup, by teaching things that increase impulse control and calmness - such as a long, Place command around lots of distractions. Practicing the command until you get to the point where pup will stay on Place while you are working with the kitty in the same room. You can also back tie pup while they are on place - connecting a long leash attached to pup to something near the Place just in case pup were to try to get off Place before you could intervene. This keeps kitty safe while practicing and reinforces to pup that they can't get off the Place. The leash should be long enough that pup doesn't feel the leash while they are obediently staying on the Place because it has some slack in the leash. Place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omg5DVPWIWo Below are some other commands in general you can practice to help pup develop better impulse skill/self-control - impulse control takes practice for a dog to gain the ability to control herself. Thresholds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-w28C2g68M Heel article - The turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Down-Stay: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/train-your-labrador-to-lie-down-and-stay/ Leave It: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Out - which means leave the room: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Work on Out and Leave It especially, for the cat and for counter surfing. Practice Leave It with food while present, but also booby trap the counter to help pup learn it's off limits when you are out of the room. You can do that a few different ways. Set up a camera to spy on pup in the kitchen, such as a tablet or phone with Skype on mute. You can place some safe food on the counter and use something like a Scat mat or Snap Traps with napkins gently over them to hide them. The Snap Traps are like mouse traps, that snap and jump when triggered but they won't actually close on pup so shouldn't be dangerous. You can also stack some metal pot lids and pans and tie a string through those, with the other end tied to a piece of safe food like a bagel, and the entire thing back tied to something secure so that they will crash onto each other making noise, but won't actually fall all the way off the counter onto pup due to the back tie. Set up your booby trap, add a temptation like a bagel, and watch pup from the camera in another room. When pup sets off the trap, return and remove the food before pup goes back to try again, or grabs it off the floor if it fell - you don't want pup to get the food or they may decide it's worth the risk. Set the trap several times over the course of the month until pup will no longer attempt to jump up. Use different foods to tempt pup so that pup avoids everything on the counter. When you aren't training, keep everything off the counter, and confine pup in another room or crate when you aren't around. Allowing pup to steal food successfully at other times will undo the training, so management in the meantime is important too. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello! Here is information on jumping. Jumping: Teach your dog that they receive no attention for jumping on you or anyone else. Teach your dog to do something that is incompatible with jumping up, such as sitting. They can't sit and jump up at the same time. If they are not sitting, they get no attention. It is important to be consistent. Everyone in your family must follow the training program all the time. You can't let your dog jump on people in some circumstances, but not others. Training techniques: When your dog… Jumps on other people: Ask a family member or friend to assist with training. Your assistant must be someone your dog likes and wants to greet. Your dog should never be forced to greet someone who scares them. Give your dog the "sit" command. (This exercise assumes your dog already knows how to "sit.") The greeter approaches you and your dog. If your dog stands up, the greeter immediately turns and walks away. Ask your dog to "sit," and have the greeter approach again. Keep repeating until your dog remains seated as the greeter approaches. If your dog does remain seated, the greeter can give your dog a treat as a reward. When you encounter someone while out walking your dog, you must manage the situation and train your dog at the same time. Stop the person from approaching by telling them you don't want your dog to jump. Hand the person a treat. Ask your dog to "sit." Tell the person they can pet your dog and give them the treat as long as your dog remains seated. Some people will tell you they don't mind if your dog jumps on them, especially if your dog is small and fluffy or a puppy. But you should mind. Remember you need to be consistent in training. If you don't want your dog to jump on people, stick to your training and don't make exceptions. Jumps on you when you come in the door: Keep greetings quiet and low-key. If your dog jumps on you, ignore them. Turn and go out the door. Try again. You may have to come in and go out dozens of times before your dog learns they only gets your attention when they keep all four feet on the floor. Jumps on you when you're sitting: If you are sitting and your dog jumps up on you, stand up. Don't talk to your dog or push them away. Just ignore them until all four feet are on the ground. Please let me know if you have additional questions. Thank you for writing in!

Hello! While this is fairly common for dogs her age, you are right in the sense that she is getting older and it sounds like this is becoming a habit, it is no longer a playful puppy phase. I am going to send you information on the nipping/biting, as well as jumping. Both of these behaviors are attention seeking/play engaging behaviors. The best you can do for both is to completely ignore. But I am sending information with much more detail than that! Nipping: Puppies may nip for a number of reasons. Nipping can be a means of energy release, getting attention, interacting and exploring their environment or it could be a habit that helps with teething. Whatever the cause, nipping can still be painful for the receiver, and it’s an action that pet parents want to curb. Some ways to stop biting before it becomes a real problem include: Using teething toys. Distracting with and redirecting your dog’s biting to safe and durable chew toys is one way to keep them from focusing their mouthy energies to an approved location and teach them what biting habits are acceptable. Making sure your dog is getting the proper amount of exercise. Exercise is huge. Different dogs have different exercise needs based on their breed and size, so check with your veterinarian to make sure that yours is getting the exercise they need. Dogs—and especially puppies—use their playtime to get out extra energy. With too much pent-up energy, your pup may resort to play biting. Having them expel their energy in positive ways - including both physical and mental exercise - will help mitigate extra nips. Being consistent. Training your dog takes patience, practice and consistency. With the right training techniques and commitment, your dog will learn what is preferred behavior. While sometimes it may be easier to let a little nipping activity go, be sure to remain consistent in your cues and redirection. That way, boundaries are clear to your dog. Using positive reinforcement. To establish preferred behaviors, use positive reinforcement when your dog exhibits the correct behavior. For instance, praise and treat your puppy when they listen to your cue to stop unwanted biting as well as when they choose an appropriate teething toy on their own. Saying “Ouch!” The next time your puppy becomes too exuberant and nips you, say “OUCH!” in a very shocked tone and immediately stop playing with them. Your puppy should learn - just as they did with their littermates - that their form of play has become unwanted. When they stop, ensure that you follow up with positive reinforcement by offering praise, treat and/or resuming play. Letting every interaction with your puppy be a learning opportunity. While there are moments of dedicated training time, every interaction with your dog can be used as a potential teaching moment. Jumping: Teach your dog that they receive no attention for jumping on you or anyone else. Teach your dog to do something that is incompatible with jumping up, such as sitting. They can't sit and jump up at the same time. If they are not sitting, they get no attention. It is important to be consistent. Everyone in your family must follow the training program all the time. You can't let your dog jump on people in some circumstances, but not others. Training techniques: When your dog… Jumps on other people: Ask a family member or friend to assist with training. Your assistant must be someone your dog likes and wants to greet. Your dog should never be forced to greet someone who scares them. Give your dog the "sit" command. (This exercise assumes your dog already knows how to "sit.") The greeter approaches you and your dog. If your dog stands up, the greeter immediately turns and walks away. Ask your dog to "sit," and have the greeter approach again. Keep repeating until your dog remains seated as the greeter approaches. If your dog does remain seated, the greeter can give your dog a treat as a reward. When you encounter someone while out walking your dog, you must manage the situation and train your dog at the same time. Stop the person from approaching by telling them you don't want your dog to jump. Hand the person a treat. Ask your dog to "sit." Tell the person they can pet your dog and give them the treat as long as your dog remains seated. Some people will tell you they don't mind if your dog jumps on them, especially if your dog is small and fluffy or a puppy. But you should mind. Remember you need to be consistent in training. If you don't want your dog to jump on people, stick to your training and don't make exceptions. Jumps on you when you come in the door: Keep greetings quiet and low-key. If your dog jumps on you, ignore them. Turn and go out the door. Try again. You may have to come in and go out dozens of times before your dog learns they only gets your attention when they keep all four feet on the floor. Jumps on you when you're sitting: If you are sitting and your dog jumps up on you, stand up. Don't talk to your dog or push them away. Just ignore them until all four feet are on the ground. Please let me know if you have additional questions. Thank you for writing in!

Hello! Your best bet is to have the "punishment" come from the table if that makes sense. If she receives a negative response from whatever she is getting to in general, she will likely not repeat that behavior. I have had luck with customers leaving a puddle of vinegar on the table. When the dogs jumps up, they splash in the vinegar. Dogs have huge aversions to anything bitter. This is a safe and effective way to stop this problem. Just do a test spot somewhere as I don't know what type of tables you have!

Hello Emma, For the begging, I recommend teaching an Out and Place command, and working on pup going to their Place when they are begging to go out but you know they don't need to go potty. You can also give pup a dog food stuffed chew toy to chew on while on their Place bed when they are bored. Place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O75dyWITP1s Out - which means leave the area: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ For the whining, I would teach Quiet for barking initially, then begin using it when pup is whining too, catching pup when they stop whining for a second and rewarding the quietness with a treat to help them generalize the Quiet command to whining also. If pup is whining while fixated on something like the door to go out, I would also work on Leave It to help pup disengage from what they are fixated on, and provide something else for them to do instead, like stuffing kongs with part of their dog food and feeding portions of their meals to them that way as an activity to help with boredom or nervous energy. Quiet method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite When pup may need to go potty outside, I would take them on a leash right now, walk them around slowly and keep the trip calm, so that potty trips are simply potty trips and not play time outside. I would use a different command for asking if they need to go "Potty" vs. "Play Outside". Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden