How to Train Your Dog to Stay Out of a Room

Hello Stilyan, I recommend teaching Out and Leave It to pup first. 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 I would daily walk pup past the grape area on a 15 foot training leash, commanding Out whenever pup gets in range of where the grapes can fall. If pup moves away from the area, toward you, praise and reward with a treat. If pup doesn't move away (which they probably won't at first in that new setting), then either reel pup in with the leash, away from the grapes, or get between pup and the grape area and walk toward pup, making pup back out of the area, until pup is away, like you herded pup away. Sometimes herding pup out of the area helps pup understand the lesson better than the leash being reeled in when you can do so in time. Practice this really often to teach pup that the entire area is off limits. You can also plant some of the grapes on the group intentionally (not more than a couple just in case pup eats them anyway) and try spraying them with something pup will dislike, like lemon juice, white vinegar, bitter apple, or something else your dog dislikes that is safe to ingest. Some puppies will find that repulsing and avoid the sprayed food, associating that type of food with that taste always, if you regularly practice this too; others, don't care and will eat it anyway just for the fun of eating even if they don't love the taste. It depends on the puppy. Whenever you aren't actively training, you need to keep pup away from that area too until pup is fully trained. I personally find that using some temporary fencing, like the type used for chickens when you move them around the yard to forage, or the type used to protect plants from wildlife, works. These products are often called things like chicken wire, field fence, tenex, welded wire, steel mesh, ect.. Just make sure it's safe and not barbed, and the holes are small enough pup won't get their body tangled in it. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Thaleia, First, work on the Leave It command from the article linked below for surfing that happens when you are present. Leave It method- the first part of that method that involves food. Gradually work up to pup leaving harder foods alone - like kibble - treats - chicken - hotdogs - until pup can leave food on the floor alone when told that command while you are there to enforce it and prevent pup from grabbing it. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite For surfing that is happening while you are out of the room, I recommend creating an aversion to jumping on the counter itself. There are a few ways to do this. You can place something like a scat mat on the counter and put a food temptation further back on the counter just out of reach - when pup jumps up the mat gives a static shock - nothing harsh but its uncomfortable and surprising. You can also set up Snap Traps covered lightly with unfolded napkins. When pup touches them on the edge of the counter, they will jump up and make a snapping sound - startling pup. These are designed for this type of purpose so won't actually close on pup like real mouse traps would - don't use real mouse traps because of the risk of injury. You can also stack metal pot lids and pans precariously on the counter. Tie a strong string like twine through all of them and back tie the whole contraption to something secure so that when they fall they can't fall all the way off the counter, then tie another string to the lip or pan that's supporting the precarious set up and tie the other end of that string to a safe food booby trap, like a whole bagel sitting on the counter. The idea is that when pup jumps up and grabs the food, they will pull the objects over and create a loud crashing noise that will surprise them. Because of the back tie string the objects should not fall on pup though. With all of these setups, you will need to set up a camera to spy on pup from the other room and be ready to run in and remove any food left on the counter or floor, so that pup doesn't return to the scene of the crime once things are calm and eat the food anyway - otherwise they may decide that its still worth it to jump up. You will need to practice this setup often with pup in different parts of the counter and with different foods. Don't use any food that could harm pup if they were to eat it - like chicken bones, grapes, chocolate, xylitol, nuts, garlic, or onion. When not practicing the trap, keep counters clean and pup confined away from the area or tethered to you with a hands free leash until pup has thoroughly learned the lesson - jumping up and not being surprised and potentially grabbing food, will negate your training efforts - you want pup to think that the counter is always suspicious now so they give up on jumping up. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden