counter surfing
Here's an idea that MIGHT work for the counter surfing furkids, at least when cooking or bringing in bags of groceries. When making dinner, and the counter is full of food (especially Sunday morning breakfast), I take a big slice of his favorite treat (Natures blend lamb roll) and let him see it, make it very clear that he is going to get it. I put it somewhere he can't reach it but can see it (in our case on a high shelf in the kitchen). I tell him to sit and be a good boy. He patiently watches me cook, or go get more groceries from the car, and hasn't jumped up on the counter since, even if I leave the room, he is too concentrated on his treat sitting on the shelf, wondering when he is going to get it. Of course, when I am through, he gets his treat and a huge hug and praise. He only counter surfed two disasterous times, and ever since I tried this method, he stopped completely. Either it worked or I don't have a die-hard counter surfer on my hands. Maybe give it a try? Janice Ward Titan Faust Pgh PA _ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
Counter Surfing
In a word .sorry. I have NEVER heard of or seen a true counter surfer actually become reformed. I swear that once they learn there is good stuff to be had, they will keep checking back, even if there has been nothing up there for months. The best you can do is train your family to never leave ANYTHING on the counters in a cupboard should be OK, until they learn how to open those too. Mulligan came to counter surfing later in life, but once he discovered his true avocation, he perfected it to an art. Bananas were not safe, entire bags of groceries were not safe even while just going back to the car to get another bag. He would not do it in front of me, but the minute your back was turned, it was all gone. I think BORN counter surfers are the worst, though. Some dogs just seem to come out really loving food, and they discover early on there is a snack source above their heads. My sister has a Golden puppy 5 months now and he has been a surfer from day 1. She begs me for advice on what to do, and short of painful methods (mouse traps, shock mats, etc), there is not much you can do. Your family will learn, when he finally takes something of theirs that they really wanted. Fortunately for me, my current Berner, Boomer, is a sweetie that hasnt really thought about clearing off the counters. Both my Tollers will pop up to check what is up there, but their reach is a whole lot smaller in scope than a Berner. Not exactly the advice Im sure you were seeking, but at least you have my sympathy!!! Valerie Whitman www.nwbernese.com/whitman.htm http://www.nwbernese.com/whitman.htm
Re: Counter surfing
Counter surfing once discovered is very hard to stop. Good smells with tasty rewards for surfing can make Fido a real sneak theif. I have found there is no safe place to leave food except the cupboard, fridge, microwave or other closed container. My dogs are really good about not surfing my counters however, I have been shocked and horrified to see one or another of my darlings counter surf at other peoples homes when we have visited! Haley bless her soul who never ever tried counter surfing at home helped herself to my hostesses chicken enchiladas before she put them in the oven for our dinner one night. Norma Jean who isn't beyond counter surfing but does not do so at home ate an entire roast when she was at a friends house for a breeding. She was kept in the kitchen and the roast was not on the counter but left in the sink to thaw The biggest problem I've had is my young girl who likes to eat cat food. I keep the cat food on the kitchen table away from the edge so the cat can hop up there to eat when he wants. None of the other dogs touch this food. Miranda has learned to clean what's left in the bowl. I have corrected her when I catch her and she is very sneaky now. I found her one day standing all 85 pounds of her and all 4 feet on the table helping herself! I now only leave cat food out when the cat is there and slowly things are improving or am I just being lulled into a false sense of security? Susan Ablon Gweebarra BMD Balch Springs, Tx http://www.pageweb.com/gwebara
Re: Counter surfing
Does anyone have any creative ways to discourage counter surfing? Fortunately I have not had to use all of these but Babs may have to test them out.. 1. Place loaded mouse traps UNDER sheets of newspaper - when they hit the paper, the traps go off. It will not hurt the dog as they are under the paper but the noise serves as a good deterrent. 2. Tie the coveted food to a metal bowl or colander and place the food as you would. When the dog grabs the food, the colander comes too and often bonks them on the head or makes such a horrible noise crashing to floor that is works. Use a bowl or colander light enough not to hurt him but big enough to have an effect. I have heard of this working very well. 3. If you catch him with his paws on the counter, make a fist and bop the paws between your fist and the counter. Not too hard but hard enough to make it unpleasant and he should remove his feet from the counter. I tried this with Babs and she just kept moving her feet back and forth on the counter - what a challenge she is :). 4. A scat mat - they can be bought through most pet supplies places. They deliver a small electric charge to the paws when touched. I do not advocate this method but it is one that can be considered. Good Luck, Molly and the growing gang Charlottesville, VA
RE: Counter Surfing
-Original Message- From: Janice Parky Where is Daisy Crifasi and her surfing knowlege when you need her?? Janice, Why, she's right here staying with me, just as good as gold! I don't believe any of those horrible rumors spread by her owner about supposed counter surfing incidents, I've never seen any evidence of it! Of course, I haven't left any lasagna on the counter to cool. Would that involve something called cooking? Pat Long, a babysat Daisy Buddy, ( LUTHER) Berwyn PA
Re: Counter Surfing
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Re: Counter surfing
OH NO!! It must be a gene in these dogs Nick is a thief too!!! So far he hasn't taken food off the counter, but then he's still only 7 months old and around 75 pounds. I guess he could easily get up on the counter and reach things from the very back if he wanted to. But having no 'teens' in the house does help. Nick has stolen 2 teatowels on 2 different occasions (about a month apart) and torn them into little pieces (1x2 inches each) and eaten them. If he hadn't left a 4x4 inch piece of evidence in the hallway each time, we would have had no idea that he had eaten them. It only took him a minute to steal the teatowel off the counter and devour it.I called his vet (a Berner owner too) for instructions and then used a syringe to give him diluted peroxide. Both times he got this very funny look on his face about a minute later and threw up a lot of tea towel pieces with his recently eaten dinner. I then pulled out the teatowel pieces from the pile and pieced them together like a puzzle to make sure we had them all. I was happy to see that he had at least had torn both teatowels into tiny pieces before swallowing them. We have to watch him closely, because he likes to steal shoes and other items. He doesn't seem to be chewing them now, but he does carry them around.He gives them back when you ask, sometimes more willingly than others. He's not going to be trusted when we are at work for awhile longer yet. Other than this quirk, he's just about perfect ;-D (I'm not prejudiced in any way here, mind you.) Joye Neff and Nicky (But MOM, I'm only bringing you treasures) (and Ben - who always brings us a toy when we get back home) Mt. Lebanon, Pittsburgh, PA)
Counter surfing
Does anyone have any creative ways to discourage counter surfing? At 4 months, Wrigley has discovered the abundance of treats above his head. Training my family not to leave food out is impossible, although I am determined to try. I suddenly value the single life.A firm (as in loud, screaming) NO when caught in the act does not faze him. This morning, after our walk, I wiped his muddy paw prints off the counter. He may think he is clever, but he left a trail of evidence behind. He was attempting to reach some defrosting chicken left there by my husband who has already witnessed his chicken thievery, but apparently thought he'd ignore it this time At lunch time, I listened to my 17 year old say, Mom, Wrigley is eating a plastic bag. As he stood there and watched. I grabbed it out of his mouth. The sandwich roll was gone. I rescued the wrapper. Just before dinner, I managed to salvage the wedge of Brie he had scarfed up. I unwrapped it so no one would see the teeth marks in the wrapper. It was enjoyed by all, except Wrigley and Halley. I use postive training methods, but goD forgive me, when he went for my glass of Chardonnay tonight, I resorted to spraying him in the face with a spray bottle full of water. He loved it! Any advice would be appreciated. His breeder warned me, and if she is laughing at me... Sigh, Janice Parky, Halley and Wrigley Cape Cod, MA
RE: Counter surfing
Forwarded in plain text for Vilma: Janice, Try shake cans? Fill several old pop cans w/ about 10 pennies and tape the opening shut, then put 3-4 of these carefully balanced on the edges of the counter, tied together w/ strings w/ about 8-10 inches between them, depending on the length of the counter. When he goes to surf, they will come clattering down. Another option is something they sell in the catalogues called a Snappy Trainer which is basically a mousetrap w/ a 6 inch plastic ping pong paddle thingie attached, so the dog cannot get caught in the trap but it makes a loud snap when it is triggered. Keep these traps out all the time for several weeks. The best option is keeping the counter clean for a long time, so he isn't rewarded intermittently for surfing, since this is the best way to make behavior strongly established. Of course, much easier said than done.I know, believe me: both my UDX Berner Java and my foster rescue Brew, 1/3 CD (Pat Long's dog 2B) might be great in the obedience ring but are both Counter Surfers Extraordinaire (CSX titled~!) and I have been too lazy to do much about it. sheepish grin! Sorry Pat, gotta leave ya some new dog fun!! Vilma Briggs (Kistner) Mt. Gilead, OH U-UD Mocha Java Slurp, UDX, HIC, TT Ch. Brighteye Expresso Bean, UD, NDD, TT U-CDX Our Little Buddy, UD, NA, TT Thirdtym's A Charm, CD Hob Nob Clouds In My Coffee (puppy Perc) and foster Bernerboy: Brew, 1/3 CD
Counter Surfing
Thank you ALL for your advice on beaching my counter surfer. The obvious answer is to keep all food off the countersunfortunately, I do not live alone, and my stealth bomber waits until your back is turned for a nano-second during food preparation. I am going to catalog the many suggestions and use Wrigley as a test for each method. I'll let you all know what he responds to, it anything. The idea that it is genetic and cannot be countermanded is a bit deflating, but we will perservere. Wrigley took his surfing to a new level this morning. He snagged an open bottle of foot powder off the bathroom vanity table and gleefully ran through the house biting it, which caused the powder to spew everywhere, living room, kitchen, dining room. FYI, foot powder can be vacuumed off the carpets, but needs to be washed off the hardwood floors.at least twice Where is Daisy Crifasi and her surfing knowlege when you need her?? Janice Parky, Halley and Wrigley, Cape Cod, MA
Re: Counter surfing
Janice, The way we have discouraged this is through a method we were encouraged to use by our obedeince trainer. If you can catch him in the act, pound on the counter and make much noise and yell as though the counter is bad, not the dog. The thought is to make the dog afraid of the counter. It worked with our guys, but this was before they had discovered the marvelous world of food that exists up there. They were just looking - hadn't managed to snag anything yet. Now they're both too lazy to jump up anyway, but when they were younger, they avoided the counters. Not sure it will work with yours since he's already been rewarded (abundantly) for his behavior, but worth a try... Just remember to focus your attack on the counter, not on him. Andie Reid Tugboat (*yawn*) and Steamboat (there's FOOD up there???)
Re: Counter surfing
Cat food goes on top of the fridge, and that solves that problem. Now cat litter, that's another story... Susan (and Djinn and Riley) The biggest problem I've had is my young girl who likes to eat cat food. I keep the cat food on the kitchen table away from the edge so the cat can hop up there to eat when he wants.I found her one day standing all 85 pounds of her and all 4 feet on the table helping herself! Susan Ablon Gweebarra BMD Balch Springs, Tx http://www.pageweb.com/gwebara
Counter Surfing
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