BAD BAD GINGER!!!!

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

I am in New Orleans, visiting my family and my sister, who owns two doodles, watches her while we are here.  Ginger loves my sister's house and her doodle cousins, Jax and Bandit.  Ginger knows the people there and has always felt comfortable.  My son and I go over every day and spend time with her.

HOWEVER....

Since she has been there she has:

1.  Counter surfed and and pulled a box off of the counter and ate 4 doughnuts.  She does not do this at my house, although one time she did eat my husband's waffle when he got up to get butter.  (I was mad at my husband at the time, so I was secretly happy about it!)

2.  Ate a hamburger bun off a table.

3.  A packet of hot chocolate mix off the counter.

4.  A cheese sandwich off a low table.

Ginger is on the small side, weighing just 22 pounds, so it is quite a jump for her.

No one sees her doing this so it is hard to correct her.  I am so worried that this is now a problem.  Does anyone have any ideas on how to stop her from this annoying (and embarrassing, for me) habit?  My sister is so generous to help out over the summer and I don't want Ginger to be a "bad" influence on her two dogs.

Thank you

Pam

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

My first thought, and not to sound rude, because that is not my intent--the counter needs to be cleaned.  Just proof the counter and put everything away.

If it is not there--it is not there to be gotten into. Easy

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

and... I need to put my dirty laundry away or secure it better because I'm having my own problems   :)    LOL

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Pam, I have some more thoughts on this. It reminds me of human kids.

They know the rules at home and they do just fine ( most of the time) but when they go somewhere else, it seems all those rules go out the window.  Or they say, " But I can do this at Johnny's house, when they come back home"  Then  you have to remind them that it does not apply in their home.

Maybe she just needs to know the rules in the sister's home also.  :)

Line the counter with cans.  It works on most dogs.  They come crashing down with a loud noise and after a few times, they get the idea.  Of course, my dog would find this fun

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

When Ginger got the hot chocolate mix, she knocked down a glass, which made a terrible noise, which DID NOT SCARE her!!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Sounds like you have a counter surfer on your hands. I have two. I have made the kitchen off limits, they are gated away from kitchen whenever I leave, and no food is ever left out anymore. Although one started eating the napkins off the counter when she couldn't find food, but you can only clear so much, so I just remove them. I have tried cans, mouse traps, loud noises with cans with coins, spray water bottles, training, Trianing and training by treating when they leave or ignore treats on the counter....but as soon as I turn my back they would be right back in the kitchen looking for food. So I have no answers to stop counter surfing, only to avoid it. I am hoping with time and consistant training that they will "get it"

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We have a gate blocking the kitchen also. Wonderful addition to any home with young dogs.  Maybe I should put my laundry in the kitchen.  I'm not getting this laundry issue.  Something new or should I say he has regressed to puppy hood at the age of 3.5?  But certainly, putting it away is much easier. Out of sight out of mind-and piece of mind

[Christine & Camus]

Camus is no longer a counter surfer, but admittedly I did not have to do much to stop him from surfing.  All I did was tell him no a few times and the problem was no longer.  However, I too agree, clear counters can solve the problem.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Are you sure it was Ginger? Maybe she is just taking the blame for the other Jax and Bandit so they won't get into trouble - WOL!

[Holly (Jax & Bandit)]

Which one of us looks guilty????

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

I say Jax!!!!!!!!!!!!   

[Holly (Jax & Bandit)]

Jax does have that "What me...I don't know what you are talking about" look.