Correcting bad behavior in a puppy

I'm about at my wits end with our pup and hopefully someone might have an idea for something that might actually work.  Chewing and all that weren't ever really a problem with him but jumping up is getting to be more and more of an issue.  I don't mind the "excited to see you" bit when you come home... but the climbing up to get at things on the counter or table....I really have a problem.

This morning it cost me biscuits that were on the very back of the stove cooling while I ran an errand and my crock pot.  The crock pot shards were among what was supposed to be stew scattered all over the kitchen floor when I walked in the door.  And for the record, it was on the very back edge of the counter also.  

He also tries to snatch food out of my daughter's hand when she has it, or off her plate as she is going to the table so I'm getting more and more frustrated with him.  Our beagle, never ONCE did any of this.  Help?

Telling him no or down doesn't seem to help.  And squirt bottles he enjoys so that's backfired.  Not running my errand wasn't an option either.  I'm really at a loss.  And I'm a little baffled at how he got any of it because it's not like he's a great dane lol he's just a lab mix.  Bigger then the beagle but he's not huge!

I'ts kind of drastic--but you might try a shock collar--I have 2 male dogs that fight if you are outside with them.  It got to be a health issue for them --I was afraid one of them would be hurt badly or killed.  The final straw was when one of them snapped at the other --I reached to stop it--I got bit instead and it broke my wrist!  I went and got a dual shock collar and sat down in the back yard with them and every time they even looked at each other wrong I would shock them both.  I started off at a high level and reduced the strength as they began to figure it out.  Now I only have to give them the "tone" and they stop their growling.  Every once in a while I have a problem--but nothing like it was.  You could basically use the same technique with your dog--but you have to catch him in the act for it to work.  You might use it to keep him from even entering the kitchen area.  You might also get a sky kennel and lock him down if you have to leave the house--or put him outside when you leave.

Kennelling definitely works well!  The dogs actually like their "den".  I had never used a kennel until our last dog (a lab mix), and it helped him/us a LOT!

Put him in the kennel when you leave the house, and you will never come back to this again.  You can even give him a rawhide or something to keep him occupied in the kennel.

If he doesn't respond to water sprays, you can also use a cola can with a few pennies in it, or even a plastic sack.  My dog HATES noisemakers.

First off sorry for giggling...I am a HUGE Marley and Me fan and that kind of reminded me of it! 

Do you own a crate?  Perhaps you can crate train him when you can't pay attention to him - like for an errand and that type of thing.  My Dad put his dog into the crate when they ate supper and now the dog just goes there - the door isn't closed but he knows to go in there when they sit down to eat. 

He should never be allowed to jump - when you walk in the door and he's all excitied it's best to ignore him completely - in Cesar Milan's words, no look, no talk, no eye contact.  Do not pay him any attention until he is sitting nicely - then you reward that behavior!  I have also heard to turn your back to them when they jump.  You can also keep him on a leash, and step on it when he tries to jump - make him sit then again reward him for when he is doing a good thing! 

You have to always be calm and assertive - it will make him respect you more as the alpha - always make him stay behind you when going down stairs or outside - alot of times dogs are actually dominating us without us knowing it - and they won't listen to you if they think they are dominant over you!!! 

The puppy stage really doesn't last forever - he will calm down eventually!  I bet he is absolutely the cutest thing to look at!!  ;)   Good luck!  Oh and check out the Cesar Milan the Dog Whisperer - he is brilliant!! 

Oh, yeah, for the jumping - if you have any warning at all, put your knee up so that he jumps against that. 

My dog did not clue in to "subtle" training, and he was big enough to knock you over fairly easily.

Is the pup afraid of loud noises?  You could tie a low value food (something he's likely to steal but not super duper yummy) to some empty cans.  When he pulls it down the cans come with it and makes a big racket.  Or you could leave some food out that has hot sauce on it, but some dogs like hot sauce.

The best thing to do is management.  If food is out and he will be alone, crate him.  Give him a kong or a bullystick while he's being "good."  And boundary train him so he will not go into the kitchen if you're there. 

It's dangerous in there.  He could have turned on your stove and burned your house down when he nabbed the biscuits.  Or seriously injured himself if the stove was still hot.

He's not being dominate no matter what whack job Ceasar tries to sell you.  This is a VERY self rewarding behavior.  He is doing it because it the food smells and tastes good.  Absolutely 100% nothing to do with the outdated dominance theory.

For the jumping - if it's really bad -, grabbing their paws and walking forward usually takes care of that.  Saying DOWN or OFF then ignoring them (turn your back on them) will usually work too.

Original Post by bighmontana:

I'ts kind of drastic--but you might try a shock collar--I have 2 male dogs that fight if you are outside with them.  It got to be a health issue for them --I was afraid one of them would be hurt badly or killed.  The final straw was when one of them snapped at the other --I reached to stop it--I got bit instead and it broke my wrist!  I went and got a dual shock collar and sat down in the back yard with them and every time they even looked at each other wrong I would shock them both.  I started off at a high level and reduced the strength as they began to figure it out.  Now I only have to give them the "tone" and they stop their growling.  Every once in a while I have a problem--but nothing like it was.  You could basically use the same technique with your dog--but you have to catch him in the act for it to work.  You might use it to keep him from even entering the kitchen area.  You might also get a sky kennel and lock him down if you have to leave the house--or put him outside when you leave.

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We actually don't own a crate so that might be something we're getting next paycheck.  We're working on a lot of things with him (like the leash...he gets frantic on one for some reason) but loud noises don't phase him in the least.  The food thing has to stop especially around my daughter.  She is not giving it to him, he's flat asserting himself and taking it.  So getting him to understand that when we feed him (or treat them) ok.. but snatching is a no go.

I actually don't keep my knobs on the stove, forced habit after a daughter that used to turn them (it's electric) and now just something I'm used to.  So we're lucky that he can't turn on the stove.  The door gets basically lukewarm when the stove is on so he can't burn himself, unless in some odd chance he got the door open... but... I don't want that chance.  Knowing my luck that 0.000005% freak accident will happen here.

He jumps the baby gate or just bulldozes it so I guess the crate might be the best for all of us.  Is there something out there stronger then a kong? anyone? we go through those a little too fast even if I stuff them.  Need something a little more durable lol.  He doesn't really chew things (lucky for us) or I'd really be in trouble! 

Do you have the black kongs or the puppy kongs?  If he is destroying the black kongs....holy crap!  I don't know of any food toys that are stronger than the black kong.

Glad he can't turn the stove on. 

How solid are his commands?  Sounds like a real food hound, so clicker training would be a snap with him.

Work on sit/stay or down/stay.  Have your daughter work with him too. 

Once he understands sit/stay have your daughter eat something across the room.  Reinforce his sit/stay with something really yummy (freeze dried treats, cheese, hot dogs, anything that is super yummy).  The bigger the distraction the better his reinforcement has to be.  Once he can sit/stay with her across the room, move her a bit closer.  Then once he gets that, move her closer.  Soon she should be able to sit near him on the couch and he'll be in a perfect sit/stay.  Just takes time and consistency.

Does your daughter squeal and turn and move around a lot when he comes to bug her about the food?  It adds to the excitement and makes it into a game.  She has to stay calm.

A strong "leave it" will be VERY helpful for you too.

Kikopup is my HERO. I love her videos.

Jewels, do you know of a good tutorial or video for teaching boundaries? I really want to train my dog to stay out of our kitchen, they did it on an episode of it's me or the dog, so I kiiiiind of know how to do it, but I don't want to get something wrong and just confuse her haha.

It's the black kind... yep he's part beaver.  With some of his other behavior like leaping vertically and 'climbing' things the best we can figure is he's part pit.  He's smart but has that overly excitable puppy mentality yet.  He'll be 1 in Dec so hopefully after that we'll get a little more calmness out of him.  So I think that's part of his kong destroying fun.

That video is great!  Going to have to start in on the "leave it" with the dogs and see if that gets us a little relief.

My daughter tries to get away from him so he probably does think she's playing.  Half the time he'll knock into her and there it goes or getting her to run around and chase leaves the plate hitting the floor so it's free for all.  Plastic dishes are my friend lol.  I can see now though where her trying to get away might seem like it's playtime to him and no way will a NO work during that!  

Thanks guys!

I swear by the crate.  It is the best thing to control a crazy puppy.  I have a 7 month old Olde English Bulldog and the crate is her place to hang out when there is no one around to supervise her.  I made this mistake of letting her roam around unsupervised while I was upstairs for maybe 30 minutes. I came downstairs to a good size hole in my leather couch.  Very expensive mistake!

Labs are super crazy, I know from having 2 of my own a few years ago. They will calm down eventually but it seems like a really LONG time before that happens.

Haley, there are LOTS of ways to do it.  My dog has always responded well to sit/stay so that's how I chose to go about it.  At the entrance of the kitchen I put her in a sit/stay.  Then I walked into the kitchen and waited just a second.  Then turned and tossed her a treat.  We did it a few times (walking to the kitchen and sit/stay command - then reinforce) then she just started doing it automatically.  Every once in a while she'll get the balls to walk in there.  Usually it's when she knows we're cutting up her food.  I can point toward the kitchen entrance and she'll back up and lay down (or I say "out").  Then I toss her something yummy for being good and staying out. 

Her water isn't in the kitchen though, so she has no business being in there ever.  If that's where you keep your dog's food and water then teaching them "out" while you're messing with stuff is a better option.  Like this.  Could be taught the same way as I did above.

Err, I'll see what videos or articles I can find about it.  Be back later...

Uhhh...my sister has a 10 year old Golden and he still has that crazy puppy mentality.  Just warning ya.

I think it is also important to train your daughter not to put herself and food in temptations way.  Enforce that all snacks be eaten at the table.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  You cant blame the puppy for wanting to share.

I would suggest crate training. There are many articles on google or elsewhere on how to crate train your dog. Your dog should be in the crate for every moment when you are not able to supervise it. As you can see, this will avoid food being stolen and any other unwanted mishchief. I would also invest in good quality training lessons - not Petsmart - and read as much as you can about positive training methods. Have all the family on board with the same commands and incentives. Squirt bottles and noise cans do nothing to train a dog. Patience, and consistency is the answer. Dogs also need exercise, discipline and training - just like kids.

I would also suggest when the pup is loose, you can attach a 4' lead to his collar. Let him drag it around the house. When he attempts to jump just stand on the lead. When the pup sits, praise and treat. He will soon realise he gets treats for sitting and nothing for jumping.

I have worked with rescue dogs for over eight years.  I generally take the behaviorally challenged dogs and train them so the NEXT home is hopefully a forever home.

90% of the dogs that I work with have behaviors that could have been prevented if the owner had started training early on.  First thing is a crate.  That is a must.  Because he has not had one, he will not be comfortable in it right away.  I use crates as a cool off.  I always have a crate-only toy/treat too.  When your dog goes into the crate, be sure to reward him.  Second thing is obedience work.  He should have to sit before going out a door.  He should sit before getting food put in his bowl.  He needs to understand that treats are not free.  Also, you need to pay attention to temptations.  If your child is playing with his toys and walking around with food, the dog is going to steal food and try to take the toys.  Teach the child to leave the toys alone or toss them for the dog to get them.  If you teach the dog to sit for his toy, then when the child picks it up, it will be automatic for the dog to sit.  Then the child isn't in danger of being knocked over.  This will only work if the child listens though.  If the child plays tug-of-war or teases...good luck to you.  It will only get worse.

Don't play rough with your pet.  Pets learn always ok or never ok.  It is confusing for them to try to learn who/when/how they can play at what times etc.  Also--they have these no-jump harnesses.  I think they are garbage, but others have praised them.  They do not allow a dog to jump up.  I don't know specifics but maybe you can look it up as an aid in training.

I could write more, but really these things are most basic and should help lots.

Original Post by bighmontana:

I'ts kind of drastic--but you might try a shock collar--I have 2 male dogs that fight if you are outside with them.  It got to be a health issue for them --I was afraid one of them would be hurt badly or killed.  The final straw was when one of them snapped at the other --I reached to stop it--I got bit instead and it broke my wrist!  I went and got a dual shock collar and sat down in the back yard with them and every time they even looked at each other wrong I would shock them both.  I started off at a high level and reduced the strength as they began to figure it out.  Now I only have to give them the "tone" and they stop their growling.  Every once in a while I have a problem--but nothing like it was.  You could basically use the same technique with your dog--but you have to catch him in the act for it to work.  You might use it to keep him from even entering the kitchen area.  You might also get a sky kennel and lock him down if you have to leave the house--or put him outside when you leave.

Shock collars can cause a lot of damage to the dog's fur on the neck, the neck it'self and it's throat. I highly recommend you STOP using them.

Will use the leash for his jumping and just get the crate to diffuse the situation. Thanks everyone for that.

Both of our dogs know to sit before food is given, even treats.  Our troublemaker also does "paw" and "other" and "wait" with his treats so he's sitting, more or less calmed down and doesn't snap to get it.  He's never really destroyed anything that he wasn't supposed to (since toys are supposed to get destroyed) until the crock pot happened yesterday.

All snacks and food do go to the table.  He ambushes her on the way there.  Plates get made in the kitchen and are taken to the dining room...family of 6 and it's the rule my husband started years ago when our older kids were about 3 or 4.  The rest of us are taller so she gets zoomed by him.  My dogs have their own food and treats so there's no sharing except the odd piece of cheese or rare scraps from cut meat or something like that... but that's not given at family meal time.

Crate should stop all of that and keep him in line when I'm not here. 

Too bad we can't try some of these suggestions on some CC people.

Does nobody give pups a smack on the nose these days?....