Counter-surfing

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It's amazing how much of dog training is actually people training. : )

Sad but true.

So clean up after y'all are done in the kitchen. Wipe the counter top down, wash your dishes, keep foodstuff off the counter when you can, etc.

If a dog finds a pie in a bush, he will check that bush every single day.

Train the human to not let anything available to counter-surf.

Explain how this booby trap was designed and set up, please!

Man my lab was a menace for this, would steal whole loaves of bread like it was nothing. What finally worked was setting up booby traps with empty soda cans tied together so they'd crash down when he jumped up, scared the hell out of him without me even being in the room. Took maybe 4-5 times before he just stopped trying Also management is half the battle, we got real strict about never leaving anything edible on counters for like two months straight. If there's never a reward up there the behaviour kinda extinguishes itself over time, but the booby trap speeds it up a lot

My great Dane would get tortillas off of the top of the refrigerator. You just have to make it so that they can’t reach the food. I had a dachshund that would run in while you were setting the table and jump up on it and take food right off the table while you’re back was turned. I had another Great Dane take the Thanksgiving turkey right off the table and then him and my chow-chow fought over it in the garage while my girlfriend and her daughters hid in the house. He was a great dog, he just did bad every so often. Dictated to Siri. So sorry for any grammar or spelling errors.

I used to have an English Cocker Spaniel that would hook his front paws in the sink and then use his back feet to climb the rest of the way up onto the actual countertop and get whatever was up there. He also chewed up an entire couch, tore a door frame off the wall of the laundry room, chewed through Masonite wall board, and chewed through a chain link fence. He is the only dog I ever had that I was actually relieved when he crossed the rainbow bridge. Super high PITA factor.

My beagle is very short but can jump like a kangaroo. All food is pushed back from edge of the counter. Training has failed because she has the most ravenous food drive I’ve ever seen and I’ve had probably 17 dogs.

Be consistent about not leaving any food, napkins, or wrappers on the counter. Leaving an empty, clean counter consistently will hopefully let your dog catch on that there's nothing for him there. Consider blocking off the kitchen or counter area with gates.

Counter-surfing is one of those behaviors that’s usually self-rewarding—if your dog finds food even once in a while, they’ll keep checking the counters because it has paid off before. The biggest thing is management: Keep counters completely clear of food, dirty dishes, and anything that smells interesting. Don’t leave your dog unsupervised in the kitchen when food is out. If you catch them about to jump up, calmly redirect them to a “place” or “mat” cue and reward them for staying there. Teach an incompatible behavior, like lying on a bed or mat while you’re cooking, and make that spot much more rewarding than the counter. Avoid yelling or punishing them after they’ve already grabbed something—it usually doesn’t teach them not to counter-surf, just to do it when you’re not looking. Consistency is key. If the counters never pay off and staying on their mat always does, most dogs gradually stop checking the counters because it’s no longer worth the effort.

I'm trying really really hard ro manage it by keeping the counters clean and never feeding or givifn snacks while I'm doing prep or cooking.

A past dog of mine slept with us, but would pretend that she was too tired to get up to go to bed. Then we would hear her counter-surfing, and then she would come and get in bed. They can be so “smart.” Lol

what finally clicked for us was making the counter worthless. every time he jumped up, calmly put him down and walked him to his mat, no scolding, no eye contact. then he got a treat for staying on the mat while i prepped food. took like 3 weeks of pure consistency but the counter stopped being interesting

Went through this with my dog...you should probably get rid of the counter, to be honest.

My newfoundlands love the counter! They always will and when no one is watching, it's simply too much fun them. So we don't ever leave anything in the danger zone, always up high and out of reach. If I could break the counter surfing and drinking out of the toilets they'd be the best dogs ever! :-)

Easiest way is to keep them out of that room and give them alternative thing to jump on,our cat used to be all over the kitchen but now shes not allowed in there and she has a climbing frame thing outside.considering he's just interested in food-I found it easier to eat in the same room as our dog at the same time,bring all the plates and her bowl through at the same time,makes them feel like they're not missing anything/part of YOUR meal,they enjoy eating as part of the family. If they eat quick and whinge for yours just put them elsewhere until you've finished,they'll soon learn