How can we discourage getting onto tables?

Kaylee is allowed on our two sofas both alone and with us. Usually this is not a problem, but recently she has gotten bolder and decides to climb on the end tables besides the sofas. I will often catch her with both front paws or even all four on the tables. I gasp, tell her "No" sternly, and then "Off" or coax her off it.

The bahavior freaks me out. Not only would I like not to get too many claw marks on the furniture, but they have glass top and I'm extremely afraid they she will either slip or break the glass (probably unlikely given our experience with these tables, but still a fear).

When we are not home, she is gated away from the living room area, but when we are home she can generally go into the living room. (The design of the apartment makes it difficult to gate off this area entirely.) I'd like to be able prepare food in the kitchen without worrying she's going to hurt herself.

Does anyone have any suggestions for curbing her climbing habit? I've given the table a good cleaning and she still get up there. I'd like to try to teach her through training before I think about getting a scatmat or anything like it.

I've included a picture of the room in case that helps.

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Permalink Reply by Beth on March 6, 2013 at 10:08pm

Two shots with this forever cured Maddie of pawing open our cupboards to get at the garbage can under the sink. It's designed for cats but dogs hate it too.

Basically, it's a can of compressed air on a motion sensor. The animal crosses the sensor, the compressed air goes off, the animal thinks it's the biggest snake ever, and your problem is solved. You'll want to sort of disguise it so that she doesn't associate the noise with seeing the can (a good time to get some clutter going on!) and also make sure you are NOT there so she does not associate the noise with you.

http://www.amazon.com/Ssscat-PDT00-13914-SSSCAT-Cat-Training/dp/B00...

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Permalink Reply by Beth on March 6, 2013 at 10:38pm

I should add that I would not use this with an overly sensitive dog who is prone to generalizing; some very sensitive dogs might avoid the whole area, or even the whole room, after the hiss noise.

I reread your post and you say you want to teach her through training. That does depend on the dog. My Jack is a steady follower of house rules and once he learns a rule, he does not violate it; I can set his treats out for nail trimming on a very low coffee table, walk out of the room, and he would not dream of touching them.

Maddie, on the other hand, associates rules with the people who make them (rules end when the person who enforces them leaves) and so something like this air thing work better for her.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on March 7, 2013 at 10:29am

@ Beth, cool item! I'd never heard of this, great for the use you made of it and good point in your next post about the possibility of generalizing.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on March 7, 2013 at 10:25am

I think you can train her not to go on the coffee tables, but it is more effective to prevent than to correct, so you really have to watch her and caution her if you see her eying the coffee table or approaching it. Dogs are creatures of habit and, once you have this habit entrenched, she will no longer even think of it ( unless you are in the habit of leaving/putting food or drink there... in which case you have an uphill battle in which you will probably lose....