Trainers Help...

[squirtsmom]

;) Ok, Miss Baby the Great Pyr puppy, is big enough to get up at the table and counter which she does anytime we are cooking or eating. It is annoying, or she will take her paw and smack you with it. Doesn't sound like much I know, but she has a big paw. How do I correct her when she does it?
Squirt used to just sit quietlly at your feet, but Baby is rowdy. Any help is appreciated, because she it j ust going to get bigger.

[LuvsDogs]

I sympathize with you, I have a kitten that won't stay off the counters. It should be easier to train a puppy. Thr easiest solution would be to keep him out of the kitchen.
Use food treats to reward him for sitting quietly with all 4 feet on the ground. If he goes to jump up lean towards him & take up his space. Don't push him down. Lure him into a sit instead & reward.

[Doberluv]

Good advice from Luvsdogs. We think alike, I see. This is kind of the details of how I went about it, although I am not consistant anymore because they've learned the cue word and the behavior. Usually, they don't bother me at all in the kitchen and I don't mind them "helping" me cook. I kind of enjoy their curiosity and being there with me. However, that's not everyones cup of tea so it's just individual. They aren't too bothersome. But I don't like them right close or under the table if I have guests over for dinner. And there are some partcular times when I don't want them hanging out close by in the kitchen so then I cue them "away."

Show her a rug or dog bed to go lie down on. From where you're standing, cooking or whatever, take her a treat. Show her how great it is to stay out of your way. She can be taken to different locations as long as she's not bugging you. Try to start her off away from you. In other words, try not to wait until she's already in the midst of the behavior you don't want. Just show her how much more profitable it is to stay away. If she does come over and you don't intercept her in time, just go ahead and bring her over to her rug. Be persistant and consistant. Don't give in, even once. Reward and make a fuss over her when she's out of the way and don't let her get reinforced for bugging you. Reinforcement includes talking to her, looking at her, attending to her other than leading her over to show her her rug. As you lead her away and you've done this several times, give a cue word as you're leaving the area. You can use what you want but keep it the same. "Out" or "away"....whatever. Don't forget to make it worth her while to stay out of the way.

You decide what the boundaries will be...how far away? on a rug? in a different room? in the same room but 10 away from the counter?

Reinforce very, very frequently every few seconds...as long as she is staying on her rug or staying away....whatever you decide to do. Reward her before she gets a chance to come back close to the counter whenever you can. A rug or dog bed helps mark a spot for her....makes it easier.

If you were to tell her to lie down and "stay" when she gets to her rug, then stay means in that very position. You may not want to use that cue. If it's to be a relaxed thing where she might stand up, turn around, walk in the other room to lie down, just so long as she's not near you, I'd use something just for that, like "go settle" or just "away." I tell my dogs "away" and that means they can do what they want, but just go away from my immediate vicinity. It's not very specific.

But whatever you want her to do, if she does it, even for one second, reinforce (praise/treat) If she starts to wander over too close again, calmly show her again what you mean. Be patient. It can take several repititions over a couple of weeks maybe. Stay with it.

Are you doing other skills with her? Basic stuff....or does she know some of that already? Practicing other obedience helps her to get use to learning and the process itself of learning becomes easier.

Anyhow, that's basically how I taught my dogs to stay out from under the table or within 8 feet of the table when and if I use the table for meals. When I have someone over for dinner, they're really cute. The Chihuahuas, by default just automatically go over to the rug by the sink which is about 6-8 ft away from the table. They lie there perfectly side by side and watch us, tails are wagging the whole time. They actually don't get bored in the one position. I don't even make them stay there. They just do because that's how we started out.....a long down/stay. LOL. (gee....wonder why.) It's gotten so they do not get treats frequently anymore for staying away. They actually have to wait through the whole dinner time. But at the end of the meal, they get some stupendous goodies. Lyric and Toker usually go in the adjacent livingroom and just go lie somewhere. But they all know that hanging out too close to the table isn't going to work for them at all. But staying away will.