My rescue pup appears to listen to most commands, but he continues to bite/take clothing, rip up the rug, and tries to jump up on the counter to steal food. Of course, hitting is prohibited; I’m trying to figure out the best method to establish boundaries. We put him in timeout in his crate or try to distract him with toys and training, but nothing seems to change the habit.
I interpret these events as retribution for my failure to properly manage the dog. Disciplining the dog is not suitable in these circumstances. Do not allow access to clothing, the rug, or the counter.
I see these happenings as vengeance for my failure to properly control the dog. Disciplining the dog is inappropriate under these situations. Do not allow access to clothing, the rug, or the counter.
A good first step is to limit access and rewards for those behaviors. Keep the counter clean so jumping up only leads to disappointment. Put clothes away and limit access to rugs, or if he likes to tug at a specific area, either gate it off or place something on the rug.
Work on impulse control and a solid place command. It sounds like he might still be a puppy or adolescent, so he’s going to be cheeky sometimes and push boundaries to see where they really are.
Consider the dynamics around these behaviors and what might be driving them. Is he bored? Add more enrichment activities and options. Is he looking for engagement with you? Teach him how to ask for that without being destructive, like bringing you a toy. Dogs play the odds, so give him something that has a higher probability of giving him his desired outcome more consistently than the undesired behavior.