Counter Surffing

[mymeekrotti]

Hey every one! I have a slight problem that I'd like to cure before it's a large problem. Meeka has started counter surfing. I researched this here and learned what my trainer has always told me is true-the best way to keep a dog out of the trash-put the trash away, also the best way to keep a dog off the counter-keep the counter clean. I agree. My 1st question-is this behavior reflective of a more serious behavior problem? In other words how concerned should I be? Is she being an equal opportunist or acting out something more serious? She has only done this perhaps 3 times at my house and 2 times at my brothers house. I have never caught her getting on the counter so no correction has been given. She is crated when we aren't home and at night. She is not permitted in the kitchen when we are cooking or in the room when we are eating. She is fed only after we have eaten. The second question-is there anything else I can do to keep her off the counter since I can't catch her in the act? I read about putting aluminum cans on the edge of the counter does that work? As always all suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

[Ayoka]

I think looking for and eating food is normal dog behaviour...and most dogs will eat whatever, whenever tyhey can wether they get into a bag of cat food or your turkey on the counter.

You could "set her up" with the cans and let her into the kitchen but for me it was just easier to keep food off the counter...and the dog out of the kitchen.

[mymeekrotti]

Ayoka-thanks for the reply. I agree about keeping the counters clean. But twice she has done this when I have been out of town(we go to N.O. to do relief work) and she "sleeps-over" at my brothers house, so I am interested in teaching her not to do it at all. How would I use the cans to set her up exactly? Is it a scare tactic or just a way of catching her?

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by mymeekrotti

Ayoka-thanks for the reply. I agree about keeping the counters clean. But twice she has done this when I have been out of town(we go to N.O. to do relief work) and she "sleeps-over" at my brothers house, so I am interested in teaching her not to do it at all. How would I use the cans to set her up exactly? Is it a scare tactic or just a way of catching her?

I think it's a scare tactic....she knocks over the cans full pennies/rocks (?) and gets scared...

I think in order to teach her not to do it at your brothers you'd have to do just that teach her not to do it THERE as she may not associate not doing it at your house with not doing it at your brothers. I guess you need to decide wich is more difficult....Teaching your brother not to leave food out or your dog not to counter surf

[mymeekrotti]

I KNOW who's easier to teach-MEEKA!! But I think my brother is learning slloowwly.
I don't think the cans would work with her very well, because I think she would learn to avoid the can, I guess it would depend on how well I set the "trap" so to speak? What I am concerned about is if this is reflective of a more serious problem. Could more obedience training in other areas help her with this?

[buckeye96]

snappy trainers are great for keeping Ellie off the counter.

[mymeekrotti]

what's a "snappy trainer"? Iv'e never heard of that before. . .

[KatarinasMom]

I was so excited to see this post! My 10 mo. old, Rina, has just recently started counter surfing also and it is driving me crazy! The problem I am having though is that it does not necessarily have to be food that she takes off the counter....it could be keys, pencils, newspaper, WHATEVER is on the counter! I like to keep a clean house, but it is next to impossible to keep EVERYTHING off the kitchen counter. We can never catch her in the act (she's a sneaky lil thing ) and the way our house is laid out the kitchen is in the middle of the house so there is no way to shut her out of that room. I had never heard of the cans filled with pennies/rocks trap, so I am definitely going to give that a try.....and anything else that anyone suggests

[Excitium]

Perhaps setting her up by putting a scat mat on the counter and then a hot dog or something on the mat would work? Ive been lucky, my rotts have never been counter surfers, but my current foster grabbed a couple things the first few weeks we had her. If I saw her nose working I would "pretend to leave" and just go around the corner and wait so I could catch her in the act. Only had to catch her once and give her a verbal correction and she hasnt done it since. She is very soft when not in drive though.

[mymeekrotti]

I also don't know what a "scat mat" is . Could someone tell me, what that and a snappy trainer is? Meeka is 4 now and she has only started doing this recently. That's why I wonder if there is a deeper problem.??. My house is the same as KatrinasMom-no way to shut her out of the kitchen completely, but she does have very strict kitchen rules, and is respectful, until she thinks she can sneak something. She now knows not to even sniff at the counter when I'm there, the problem is when I'm not there, but I'll try catching like Excitium mentioned. This is great!! Keep the suggestions coming please!

[Excitium]

Originally Posted by mymeekrotti

I also don't know what a "scat mat" is .

A scat mat is a mat that uses an electrical shock like an e-collar. You can use it on furniture etc to keep pets off etc. You can get them at most of the larger pet food chains.

[mymeekrotti]

Excitium-Thanks for clueing me in, I would never use that on her, but information is always good to have!

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by mymeekrotti

I don't think the cans would work with her very well, because I think she would learn to avoid the can, I guess it would depend on how well I set the "trap" so to speak?

It's not likely she'll avoid the cans if you set them up as follows:

Get a long piece of duct tape. Place sticky side up, making sure to lay the tape where her feet touch the counter.

Get several empty aluminum cans and put some pebbles or pennies in them.

Get some thread. Tie one end to the tab of the can, press the other end to the sticky side of the tape. Line the cans away from the edge of the counter.

Dog jumps up on the counter, puts feet on sticky tape, jumps back down--and brings the cans clattering around his or her head.

I've never had cause to booby-trap a counter because our dogs don't counter-surf and I don't remember where I heard of this, but it sure sounds as tho it'd work.

The idea behind this is that the counter disciplines the dog for counter-surfing, right in the act of doing the naughty deed.

[mymeekrotti]

that's really helpful thanks! I like the idea that the counter is the bad guy (that does the discipline) and not me!

[Excitium]

Originally Posted by mymeekrotti

Excitium-Thanks for clueing me in, I would never use that on her, but information is always good to have!

Please dont confuse electric with painful, thats simply not the case. Yes E-collars can be mis used and abused but so can chokers/pincher's and even flat collars. I havent actually used the scat mat myself so cant comment on the exact power of the "stimulation" but I do know electrical stimulation doesnt have to be painful to work. Case in point, have you ever been to a chiropractor and have had the electrical stimulator used to relax your muscles? It can feel really good, but is a different sensation and a low electrical stimulation can cause a "sensation" that is enough to keep the dog off the counter without causing any pain.