Sudden Interest in Kitchen Counters

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

We moved into our new house just about a month ago and since then both of my doodles have had a sudden interest in the kitchen counters.  They don’t take anything even if there is food up there but I constantly catch one of them with their paws up on my counters.  There isn’t really anything up there of interest (at least not that I can see).  If I see them I only have to say “excuse me” and they put all 4 paws back on the ground.  They aren’t stealing anything so they aren’t getting reinforcement.  I searched the past discussions and they all seem to be about dogs taking things off the counters or tables.  I’ve tried sounding more strict and firm but they still do it.  Any idea what could have caused this sudden interest?  They never did this at our old home or in either of the apartments that I was in before I was able to move into the house.  This house has granite counters and the other didn’t.  Do you think it has a different smell that interests them?  They aren’t really hurting anything but it is bad manners and I don’t want their dirty paws up where the food goes. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have no idea. Strange.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I do think it's possible that they smell something that might have been spilled on the counter in the past. I found this on a kitchen site:

"If a spill should occur on your countertop, clean it up before the stain gets a chance to penetrate the porous surface of the stone. Although very solid, granite is also somewhat absorbent. It can absorb spills and become stained if spills are left for a length of time."

It also said that oils and acids were the things most likely to penetrate the surface and stain it.

Since both dogs are doing this, and neither one ever did it in other homes, it would make sense that they are smelling something there, probably some kind of grease or oil from food.

Maybe you can find some info on how to clean the counters thoroughly enough to get rid of whatever they are smelling.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

That is a good point but it is a brand new house.  We are the only people that have lived here and I don't really cook so I can guarantee that they aren't smelling food lol

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh. Well, darn, there goes that theory, lol. But there must be something about it that's attracting them both.

Maybe the workers put their lunches there? Meatball subs? LOL

[Kathy]

Well there are several essential  oils that are safe for dogs but the dogs don't like the smell, that you could use.  You don't have to wipe your counter with the oil since you might not want it to soak into your good counter tops.  I got rid of snoopy dogs by putting cotton balls in a pan and putting the pan where I did not want my pups getting into or on.  I used the oils lemon, peppermint, and any others that my dogs ran from in the test.  After awhile my dogs stayed off of the counters.  If they did lick the oils the flavor was nasty and that was the end of nosy super pups or dogs.  This method using lemon oil on cotton balls kept the ants out of our house and the dogs from the trash cans.  The only oils I wouldn't use are tee tree oil or as it is sometimes called melaluka(sp?).  This oil has in rare cases caused problems for dogs.  You don't need to use a lot of the other oils but when the smell is gone you sometimes can bring back the smell with olive oil.  Again this worked for me.  I mostly used lemon and peppermint just remember peppermint is super strong and if too strong can cause discomfort to the dog's nose.  Using olive or coconut oil will cut the strength.  Eventually the smell wears off and hopefully by then you won't need this recipe.  Good luck.  PS you can get these from health food stores or Doterra for doterra oils come to me.

Kathy and Tia and Buddy and Kevin

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

that is interesting.  they aren't taking anything but are interested in something.  Maybe a bad smell would make them less interested.  The lemon might have a nice fresh smell (at least for humans).  I might give that a try this weekend.  Thanks!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

They all have their strange little quirks....you may never know what the attraction is.  I would just correct verbally when you see them do it, and I really think eventually it will "loose its charm".  I assume there's nothing they can see when they jump up to the counter....like out the window?  Maybe they're just admiring the granite..LOL. 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

They don't actually get onto the counters and I don't think there is much they can see because they can barely reach the counters with their paws.  All I end up with is dirty doodle paws resting on the very edge of my counters with little noses sniffing away.  Picture a little kid standing on his tip toes trying to see what mommy is baking but he can barely get his eyes above the counter top.  That is what i have here accept i'm not baking anything lol

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

For some reason I'm having a hard time replying to comments today. But the comment about their paws on the edge of the counters like a kid on tip toes makes me smile! I think it's so hilarious when I hear counter surfing stories maybe because mine dont do this. I'm pretty sure Zoe would but shes a mini at 25 lbs. we have high counters and a high bar height dining table so she cant. When we go to my parents house they have a breakfast nook that is connected to the counter area that is lower. She totally does it there! I wonder if you counters are slightly lower than before now they can see a bit more?

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Nope, counters are the same height or higher because we actually have an island with counter stools.  My guys are 25lbs and 28lbs so I don't have to worry about them actually getting anything off of the counter, they just put their dirty doggie paws on it.  Yuck.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

One suggestion I have seen is to put a cookie sheet with silverware just at the edge so that when they put their paws there, the cookie sheet and the silverware will clatter to the ground.

Believe it or not, our counter surfer is Ned (28 pounds).  We have never caught him, but we know it is him.  He has only ever gotten bread or hot dog buns.  Odd, huh?