Counter surfing

[Debbie & Gibbs]

Gibbs is 11 months old and has started counter-surfing. We got tickled at him last night, there was a bag of potato chips on the island and he rattled it around and gently removed 1 chip, took it immediately over to the kitchen table and ate his chip on the rug. He then returned to the counter, stole himself another chip and repeated. We laughed and told him no, he couldn't have chips and put the potato chips up and laughed about it. This morning, he was counter surfing helped himself to the check book, I came out of the bedroom and he had shredded the copies of checks, tore the plastic shield that goes between checks and and started on the register.

Now counter surfing is not too funny or cute! Any advice on how to deter this behavior?

[Malenie Piscetelli]

I do spray the water bottle. Lucy is doing less and less. She is 8 mos old.

[Kerry L]

We tried the water bottle trick and our dog loves water too much. He actually enjoyed getting sprayed! LOL Weirdo!

[Debbie & Gibbs]

Gibbs loves water too much, he would love to be sprayed.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Being able to catch them on the act is best. Loud noises.....clapping of hands, pennies in a can...anything to make them know this is unacceptable behavior. Our girl gets her feelings hurt easily when yelled out. It took me two times of telling her "NO" and that was it.

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

Agreed! We have 2 big doodles who have been known to counter surf when the opportunity strikes. The most effective thing we've found is to catch them in the act and give a firm "NO," as Ro suggested. 

[Kerry L]

A dog trainer told us this trick: Put a cookie sheet with some silverware on it on the edge of the counter. When the pup goes to surf, he will knock the cookie sheet of the counter and the loud noises will scare him. This way, you don't have to see him doing it (our dog got smart and would wait for us to leave the room to surf.).  It worked for us. We actually keep a cook sheet on top of the garbage can lid all the time to keep our pup out of the garbage too.

[Debbie & Gibbs]

That is excellent!!! Gibbs also waits until you leave the room to surf.

[Katie & Roo]

I'm definitely trying this! I've been struggling with Roo and his countersurfing. Saying No and putting him in timeout hasn't stopped him

[Nancy Aldred]

I love the term 'counter surfing'.  Stella is very adept at this, even taking the cream container quietly into the family room one morning while we were in another room drinking coffee.  But like Debbie, it was cute a couple of times, now flat out annoying.  Nothing can be on counter unless it's back against the wall.  I will try the water sprayer but think she might like it too.  Love the idea of utensils on baking sheet.  

I'll let you know how that works.