1 Tip, 1 Idea, 1 Quote.
On Counter Surfing
Dog Trainer Auckland
September 15, 2026
1 Tip - on life with your dog
A dog that jumps up at the benchtop is often being rewarded by the delicious smells, food and interesting items within reach. So the first step isn’t training your dog- it’s changing what’s happening around the benchtop.
Put leftovers away and keep tempting items out of reach. Then, when your dog chooses to have all four paws on the floor, reward that choice. You could send them to their bed and reward them there, helping them learn that being away from the benchtop - and settling on their bed - is worth doing.
1 Idea - on the leading edge
Dogs are more likely to repeat behaviours that have been rewarded. If jumping up at the benchtop sometimes results in finding a tasty treat, the behaviour can become worthwhile to repeat.
One way to change a behaviour is to reinforce a behaviour your dog can’t do at the same time. Instead of jumping at the bench, they could sit, move to their bed or keep four paws on the floor - and be rewarded for doing so.
Be consistent about what you reward, and your dog will soon start to understand which behaviours pay off.
1 Quote - on dogs
I often see younger dogs struggle to contain their excitement, which can show up as jumping up, grabbing, barking, or generally becoming over-the-top.
