Online class with a live, pro-trainer- only $39.95
Custom Search
Dog stealing food from the countertop? Dog Counter Surfing
Does your dog jump up and steal food off of your kitchen counters or table? Has he become so brazen as to do it when you are in the room? If so, you have a bona fide counter surfer!
Dog Stealing Food
Dogs are opportunists and many will try anything once. Dog counter surfingis a behavior that, in itself, is very rewarding. The dog smells something good up high and decides to put his paws up to investigate closer. When he discovers that the enticing aroma is coming from food that is reachable, he takes a bite. One bite alone isn’t sufficient so, the dog goes back for more and proceeds in eating his fill. If we understand that dogs do what is rewarding, we can understand how a dog will continue to steal food until it is no longer rewarding. The danger lies in the fact that he may eat something that can be life threatening or, if the behavior continues, the owner may get fed up and decide to get rid of the dog. Either scenario is far less than desirable.
So, how do we stop the counter surfing?
How to stop dog from counter surfing
The answer is two-fold.
First, we must do our best to ensure that food is unreachable to your dog. Either it is put someplace where the dog can’t reach it or, your dog is removed from the area all together by baby gates or a crate.
Secondly, we can try to set up the situation to make dog counter surfing scary instead of rewarding. Make sure to do this while you are home so you can be there to witness whether or not it is working. You will need to make a few penny cans (empty coke cans with either a couple of pennies or rocks inside and the top taped off to create a loud rattle).
The Set Up
Put some highly desirable, but safe for consumption, food out on the counter to entice your dog. Put the food close to the edge of the counter and tie a few penny cans to the food and push these to the back of the counter where your dog won’t see them right away. When your dog jumps up and steals the food off of the counter, the penny cans will follow and come crashing down around your dog. This is your cue to enter the room and remove the food the dog tried to steal before your dog goes back in to eat what is left on the floor. If all goes well, your dog will not still be in the room and will be startled by what just happened.
Repeat this over several weeks on varying days. Change up where and what food you leave out and remember to be at home when you set him up. If you find your dog won’t surf when you’re around, try acting as though you are leaving but only step outside and don’t actually leave the vicinity of your home. Always isolate your dog from the kitchen when you are away to avoid him getting rewarded for stealing food when you’re gone.
After several incidents of the penny cans “attacking” your dog for stealing food, you will find the behavior beginning to extinguish and your Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas ham will be safe once again.
People do opine that the argumentative term paper writing supposes the really time taking thing. Nevertheless, students count on the media essay service help every time when it's needed.
EllencP21
January 28, 2010
193.41.185.28
Votes: +0
Re
Oh, what I can observe? The same top release referring to this good topic we used for article submission service.
Carrie
August 19, 2009
66.25.85.154
Votes: +0
Re: Husky is a confirmed counter surfer
This is a tough one to answer. It is most likely that your Husky learned this possessive food behavior from whatever previous situation he was in like, if he had to scrounge for food or was neglected and didn't get fed consistently. The food obsession is a behavior he may or may not ever outgrow. The first thing I would teach him is a down stay behavior. I would use a down stay to keep him out of the kitchen and also keep him at a distance from whomever has food. For example, when you are in the kitchen cooking, a dog underfoot can become a dangerous situation so I would teach him a down stay just outside the perimeter of the kitchen. This way, he can still watch you but won't be up underneath you. Another example, if you are eating food at the table or anywhere for that matter, I would teach him a down stay at a distance to prevent begging and food possession. I would probably get a crate for him as well and feed him his food in the crate to prevent any possession issues between him and your other dog. For that matter, you may want to consider feeding your other dog in a crate as well. If you feed your dogs in their crates, the Husky will not see the kitchen as the source of his food because that is not where he actually eats. It may help prevent any possession of the actual kitchen itself and, if you set the kitchen as an off limits area (using the down stay), your dog will really have no attachment to the kitchen whatsoever. Implement the penny can strategy for the counter surfing problem and be consistent about removing your Husky from the kitchen whenever he goes in there. There is no guarantee that you may never deal with food aggression but, hopefully over time, he will learn not to be so possessive/obsessive of food when he realizes that he no longer has to hunt for or fight for his share. Hope this helps and let me know how it works out.. Carrie
lyns
August 19, 2009
198.54.202.70
Votes: +0
Husky is a confirmed counter surfer
I have a four year old husky that we have adopted from the spca he is an avid counter surfer and is obssessed with food, he just about pushes you over if he hears anyone go into the kitchen also he will not concentrate on anything else playing/walks etc if someones in the kitchen or has food. Any suggesstions? We do have another dog a bearded collie cross and I'm worried he starts guarding the kitchen or becomes aggressive etc.
Carrie
January 18, 2009
66.25.85.154
Votes: +1
...
Will she counter surf when you are home? If so, you could set her up and then ambush her with the cans. The element of surprise is crucial here and her being deaf actually works in your favor for surprising her with discipline. Set her up, leave the room and wait.. When she goes to steal food, lob some empty coke cans at her or penny cans to add more weight. You are definitely not trying to hurt her but you want to startle her and make stealing food a scary thing. As far as your dogs fighting over food, I would first of all separate them while feeding to ensure a fight doesn't break out. You may never be able to stop her from being food possessive but at least if the other dog can't get to her food, she will not get aggressive. Not knowing who is the dominant dog in your house, it is hard to say why the aggression is happening. It could be a simple as the fact that she is deaf and the other dog surprised her once so, now, she feels as though she needs to be on guard. If you want to email me with more specifics, I could try to give a little more advice.
Melissa
January 17, 2009
205.188.116.209
Votes: +1
My dalmation is always counter surfing
and she is deaf and the penny thing didnt work for her do you have anyother adivse ?Plus she gets very nasty to my other dog when she comes near her food she wants to attack her .If anyone have any suggestions I would really appericate the help Thank you Melissa
amy
December 23, 2008
66.25.83.252
Votes: +0
Can't wait to try it!
I can definitely see this working--thanks for the tip!
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
We do have another dog a bearded collie cross and I'm worried he starts guarding the kitchen or becomes aggressive etc.
