We are having an on going issue with Tilly our older Lab. She is pretty much deaf so speaking to her has very little effect. As she has gotten older she seems more and more food obsessed. She is a bit overweight, but she is convinced that she is starving. A while back I described how we had to put a double lock. (Bar and Pin) on the bifold doors for our Pantry, to stop her from breaking into the pantry. Now she has become a serious counter surfer. She has to stand up on her back legs to see what is on the counter, and she will drag off anything that she thinks might be edible, which includes some things that are not. I appears now that she has also figured out how to open the bread drawer, and drag out bread or crackers. She has eaten as much as 12 English Muffins, or 2 loaves of French Bread at a time. It is possible that Cooper helps her eat what she pulls out, but we are almost positive that Cooper never steals the items in the first place. In fact I have seen Cooper calmly sitting by the door in the Kitchen while Tilly scarfs something down. The few times we have actually caught Tilly In the Act, we don't seem to have any affect on her, perhaps because she is so deaf. We do a pretty good job of keeping everything out of her reach, but we never know what she will look for next. She has eaten two tubes of an antibiotic cream that was intended for her. The Vet said it would probably not have any side affects, and it didn't seem to, but we had no expectation that we had to hide all of her meds. I'm hoping for some suggestions on how to stop counter surfing, without having shut the dogs out of the kitchen when we are not there. The kitchen and dining room are their favorite places when we are not playing with them.
I wish I had a suggestion for you. My boy is 14 months and is the worst or best (not sure which one) counter surfer I have ever had. Its not just food but anything that is on the counter. Even if I put everything where I think he can't reach it, he is able to jump and sweep with his paws. I say "paws" which means paws on the ground. He will get down but if I'm not right there he will steal anything. Ik too need help.
My 11 year old did this for a few weeks (totally out of character) we took him to the vets and he had an issue with his thyroid - started medication and he’s back to his usual self! (Might be worth checking)
I had this problem with one of my Bloodhounds years ago, Ruby. She was a terrible counter surfer, would steal and eat whole loaves of bread, bags of bagels and even a chicken once. So collected a bunch of pop cans, tied them together with strings and then tied them to food on the counter. The trap was set and when she went for it the cacophony startled her so much after a couple more times it really went a long way to stop the problem.
This would be considered a pretty harsh aversive method. A punishment. And is not really a method that this positive training forum would support at all. This could completely freak out a more sensitive dog and should never be used. I'm sorry I can link to pevious advice 're counter surfing right now as on my phone and useless, but hope someone else can chip in shortly.
Before I found this forum, I was attending a horrible dog school (didn’t know it then, it was recommended by so many people who clearly didn’t know any better). The trainer recommended I throw a tin of stones onto the floor when Snowie jumped up to countersurf. Perfect gundog: not even a flinch at the loud bang and rattling, he continued on his merry countersurfing activity! A different trainer (R+) told us to give him something better to do. In our case it’s to lie on his bed and wait for treat. It only really works when we’re around. He’ll definitely try to steal food that’s in reach if we’re not around. We just manage it, ie never leave any food in his reach. Fortunately he never tries to pull down non-edibles.
Using noise for punishment can very easily create a noise sensitive or even phobic dog. With a noise phobic dog myself, I can assure you that it is something that you should do everything in your power to avoid. It can become hugely limiting and destroys quality of life for both of you. So, please don’t use rattle cans and the like. It may not make your dog sensitive to noise but, believe me, it’s not worth the risk. Teaching a conflicting behaviour as @MF suggests, combined with management (denying access to surfaces by use of barriers) is a far better option.
I’ve 100% given up trying to stop Stanley trying to counter surf. I’ve just accepted it’s his one negative. I just keep the counters clear instead. I’d never fully trust him anyway so it seems like the safer option
It is difficult,I haven't given up but Monty manages to steal something probably just often enough for this to be worth him having a go. If I'm going to give him anything, I always wait for a sit, but sometimes I'm just not quick enough at moving things away in time. Often at 5 in the morning when he's fully awake and I'm really not.
I keep everything locked away. If they get anything it's my fault. I'm not that fussed really Im so used to labrador lockdown they very rarely get anything. I have noticed they like to lick where food has been though. I can watch the stealthy labradors through the gap in the door and say get off there my sugarplums, it's a ritual really
I swear that Ella must not realise that she could actually put her paws up on the bench. She has never tried! I honestly think I could every favourite treat up on the bench, leave the house and come home to find it all untouched. Not good training, just a slightly special dog
Lilly is a bit like this too. I'm sure she must have put her paws up to look as a puppy, can't remember it being an issue. We have an open (often!) bag of rabbit food sitting at nose height on top of her foodbin - if we spill it, she will snaffle it, but otherwise pays no attention. We are safe to leave anything on our counters.
Both of my dogs could counter surf for England and I'd put money on them winning any Olympic counter surfing competition. I just cannot be bothered to do anything about it. It's not worth the fuss. Just put food away, and if they learn to open drawers or cupboards, buy baby safely clips - I have these on all the kitchen cabinets within dog reach. Not that my dogs have ever opened a kitchen cabinet, but I wouldn't bet on it so a few 50p baby cupboard clips takes the gamble out of it.... I just wipe the counters down with anti-bac before I prepare food. Which is not a bad idea anyway.
Maxx is pretty bad so we try to keep clear surfaces. We made the mistake early of chasing him to retrieve stolen goods so now if we leave something interesting out (shoes, remotes, glasses, books, plastic containers, anything really) he grabs it, looks at us with a big tail wag and then takes off wanting to be chased. Our fault completely; so now unless it is very precious we let him go and several 'drop its' will work. Mostly. Well sometimes....If it's precious we scatter a few pieces of kibble and call out 'scatter scatter' and he drops the item immediately and rushes to the food.
Haha, us too! I still can't help but find it funny though (it's usually reserved for socks and Nath's teddies now though - nothing dangerous)
Quinn is the exact same! Not a clue she could reach counters, open doors etc. Once OH left a full hamburger meal on the front seat of the car and her in the back and ran into the house and she hadn’t even moved when he came back a minute or two later...
To be honest, you’ve got to be grateful for small mercy’s. My friends Great Dane doesn’t even need to counter surf - his head is just above the counter so he just walks past and steals things Stanleys little face when he’s on his tippy toes, arm outstretched, reaching for whatever is at the back of the counter is hilarious. It’s pure determination
I’ve had two counter surfers - Mollie and Keir. Mollie was much worse and would counter surf brazenly while I was preparing food! I made sure she never ever got anything and absolutely everything was out of reach = no reward. When we were preparing food she was behind a baby gate. Eventually she stopped bothering, at about eleven months. Keir is less determined (he’s not a Lab, he’s less determined about everything!) but he’s huge, so he can reach the whole counter - which means I keep it completely clear apart from the kettle. He’s not bothered looking at all for some time now - he’s ten months old. .
You know, there is something about embracing counter surfing! I kinda like the company! If I'm chopping up food, I have two Labradors tucked either side of me, not looking remotely embarrassed, paws up observing operations..... What is the fuss about it? It's no big deal. Just don't leave food or anything that you don't want nicked out. And then spend your time and training energy on something more interesting.....
