Expert: Delores Beck - 3/9/2011

Question
my 14 week old sprocker bitch is great when i take her out for a walk and knows i am the boss but back in the house she is so naughty jumps up on the sofa all the time always wants to be fussed and jumps up at the table when we are eating and always attacks my 6 year old girls slippers what can i do

Answer
As far as chewing slippers goes - puppy proof the house.  She can eat something dangerous.
This will pass.  But at this age (and when they're teething) you have to be on high alert and make sure she can't get at anything.  Close doors - the 6 year old is old enough to understand you put your slippers away so the puppy can't get them.

Now - the jumping up - start at the dinner table.  Get one of those plastic spray bottles at the supermarket - fill with water and put on "spray".  You don't want a hard stream of water coming out.
Keep it on the dinner table and when she jumps up calmly look at her, say NO and spritz her in the face. Ignore her afterwards.
No chat - no scolding.  The lesson is simple - you jump up and "this" happens.  If she comes back - repeat!

Be SURE it's a "mist spray" and not a hard stream of water hitting her in the eyes.

Take it one thing at a time and when she stops jumping up during dinner - go on to the sofa.
But first - you have to teach her the "Off" command.  Put a short leash on her, invite her on the sofa - command OFF and gently pull her off.  Praise & reward.

When she knows this cold - then if she doesn't obey, out comes the water bottle :).  Most dogs after a couple of times will stop the behavior if they just "see" the bottle.  They really hate this.

And understand this is not a teaching tool - it's only to be used to stop an unwanted behavior.
For instance, if she doesn't Sit when commanded - you do not do this.  That's why the sofa is different than her jumping at the dinner table.  You've allowed her on furniture so first you have to teach her to get Off when commanded.

And be patient - she's only a baby and has a lot to learn.  If she's doing well on leash and doing well re housebreaking I'd say you've got a good girl there :).