I just want to put stuff on the table!

[nikkichan]

Perhaps this might be better suited in the training forum but I thought I would ask, how can I teach my dog not to pull things off of the dining room table?

We don't crate Gypsy when she's home alone (she's quite good most the time) but it seems that whenever something is left on top of the dining table (mail especially) once we leave she destroys it. I had beautiful beaded headband I left up there and of course can home to beads everywhere! My own fault I guess. We're pretty much in the habit of clearing it off but sometimes we forget. I would like to have nice table settings on the table but I'm afraid she'll ruin them.

She only does this when we're gone. And by the time I get home, it's too late to punish her. Any suggstions?

 

[RD]

Gate off the room that the dining table is in, or confine Gypsy to one or two rooms. Even the best behaved dogs do weird stuff when we're not home, and since she only does it when you leave, I'd say the easiest solution would be to simply keep her away from the table.

 

[bubbatd]

Agree ! Ollie was rehomed ( lucky me ! ) for this reason . I'm lucky he is crate trained ( a first for me ) when he can't go with me .

 

[nikkichan]

Well, unfortunatly the layout of our house doesn't allow for the dining room to be blocked off. Gypsy has access to the kitchen, living room and dining room. All other rooms are closed. I'd have to shut her in a bedroom to confine her and I don't want to see what damage she might do if stuck in there all day!

It's weird though, as soon as I open the door, if she's torn something up, she automatically cowers and hides, like she knows shes done wrong. But if she hasn't destroyed anything that day, she's her normal happy self. I don't know what sets her off.