Nipping counter surfing before it gets to be a problem

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Hello!
Jade my 4 mo old Goldendoodle is in he beginning stages of counter surfing. I would like to nip it before it becomes an issue.
I'm training her with the word off - is there any other tips?
Thanks!

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

What worked for our Rooney was to set him up. He wasn't really after food, but kept grabbing dish towels and hot pads, so I figured food would be next. So I put a bunch of coins in some empty soda cans, taped the tops shut (and made sure there were no exposed sharp edges) and then tied them to a dish towel. I then dangled the corner of the dish towel on the edge of the counter but made it so he couldn't see the cans. When he pulled the towel down it made a huge racket and scared him across the room. I didn't make a big deal of it but just quietly said, "No" as I picked it up. I only had to do this one more time (a day or so later) and he never grabbed another thing off the counter again. (He is now 4 years old and we did this when he was about a year old).

That said though, we are still careful to never leave anything on the counter that would tempting and dangerous for him (ie. chicken bones). He's still a dog and can only exhibit just so much self-control.

That might not be the best method for everyone but it worked for us! :) 

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Oh my! Yes! I'm sure this would work with Jade.

So, mostly she's just been looking with paws on the counter! It's a high counter too. Lol
Yesterday I took Gracie out and came back in and saw something shiny in her mouth. I was like what do you have. She had pulled a makeup brush off the bathroom counter. It was a small one and so the whole thing was in her mouth except that I could see part of the shiny handle. The bathroom counter is shorter than the kitchen. She hasn't chewed anything, just carries it around like a treasure.
Well, then I had made up their kongs so that they could have a treat while I went to work. I made them and then left them while I went to get my shoes on and stuff. Come back and she's licking her chomps. She had gotten enough of the peanut butter for a good lick. And then a face like - what did you expect waving PB in my face like that? Lol

What's funnier is that Gracie is much bigger than her and her nose will only skim the counter. She has never tried to get up there, but has tried to sniff cooling cookies. Gracie was a handful when she was younger, so I'm surprised the mild one is the counter surfer. :D

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I know this method has worked for several people, and I would definitely give it a try.  Murphy has never been a counter surfer but that's probably because I never leave food or anything enticing on the counters unless I'm right there in the room.  When I'm cooking (which is when the food would be out) I don't let my guys in the kitchen.  As much as possible I'd try to not leave food or anything they would be interested in out unless you can supervise or gate them out of the kitchen if you're not there.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

My kitchen is an open concept and I have like a bar counter top. Sometimes throughout the day it serves as a catch all until dinner time, then I clear it off to prep food. Most of the time there isn't any food on the counter. The morning that I left the PB Kong on it, was rare as well because I generally make them at night and put them in the freezer. However, the night before I was dead tired at 8:30 and could only force myself to take the dogs out and go to bed. :) She has put her paws up there to get a good peek at whatever is up there. She also carries my things around the house, so I'm thinking she's looking for treasures most of the time.
Obviously, she's interested in all counters since she swiped the make up brush off of my bathroom counter. ;)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

The open concept does make it a bit more of a challenge since you can't gate them out when you're not able to supervise.  It sounds like what you need to teach at this point is that she should not be taking things that aren't "hers".  You might try whenever you see her with something in her mouth that isn't an "approved object" verbally (but firmly) correcting, taking it and replacing it with one of her toys. 

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Good reminder. I give a nah and take it away, but don't replace it. She probably would like that so she can carry something around.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And I would add, never give a dog anything directly from the counter. Even if that's where you prepare food or treats from them, walk over and put it in their bowl, or give it to them away from the food prep area. 

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

I don't. If I'm preparing a treat, I walk out of the kitchen to give them some of it. But, yeah I can see how that would create a problem.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Great point!