COUNTER SURFING

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

HAVE A DOODLE THAT COUNTER SURFS? WHAT DID THEY GET AND HOW'D YOU SOLVE IT?

[Marietta]

If theres something specific you don't want him taking while your gone there is this lemon tasting spray you can buy dogs hate the taste so maybe if you spray some of it on the item he might leave it alone!

[Bronwen Fairbrother]

Yeah Sink Snatcher Counter thief Sophie once lightened a frying pan on the stove of half of it's delightful contents while I was upstairs putting my two legged children to bed. When Sophie was six months old I was tense and always listening for the next sound of "trouble" which always came from the kitchen. Even in my easy chair in the living room I couldn't relax I was always listening for her next move! I hated it I was always on edge because of this thief in my home. That was the problem, and here is my answer to it. 

I linked an ordinary nylon leash with a bungee leash creating a 7 ft. long leash and I attached the nylon loop end to a sturdy door frame with some simple hardware. She can enter the doorway to the kitchen but not enter it properly and not far enough to steal any goods. She can hang out in our foyer and about half of our living room. She can watch us eat dinner in the dining room but she can't sit next to us to beg and she can't steal from the dining room table.

I realize this tether idea may seem wrong to many of you, but for me and my household? Let's just say I sit restfully in my easy chair, I don't listen for the trouble. Sophie is 3 now and we don't plan on changing a thing! 

For anyone who's curious there was no adjustment period. One day I put Sophie on the new tether and she pretty much shrugged and said okay! No problema!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I have not tried this method but my neighbor swears it works.
Buy an old picnic table cloth, turn it upside down and add two-sided tape. When they jump up, their paws get stuck on the tape. They hate having something stuck to them and eventually stop counter surfing.

This may work for some of you although haven't bothered because I think he would love the challenge and how much two-sided tape would you have to purchase to make this work???

[Marietta]

If they counter surf push them off and firmly say NO. If that doesn't work try giving them a treat when they stay off. Our doodle doesn't counter surf anymore because we taught her to get out of the kitchen when we say OUT.

[Sandra]

Love the pics. Ozzie is a pro at surfing. He also likes to surf in the car in the backseat with his head out the window. I tell him I am turning the counter and he promptly sits down. He also likes to pull plugs out of the wall. He just turned off the light at our computer.

[Tammy & Gracie]

This from a trainer we've used. Tie with string several empty coke cans to a paper towel or 2. Gracie's favorite unauthorized treat is paper towels or napkins. Leave it on the counter. When she surfs and steals, it comes crashing down. The first time I did this she stayed away from the countertoips for weeks! Now it is time to repeat the lesson.

[Ann]

I am having trouble with Samson surfing the counter when I am NOT there. We keep him in the kitchen when I work. He took all my magnets off my fridge and chewed and ate them, he took my dryer vent (the foil thing in the back of your dryer) and chewed it to shreds, he took all my pictures that were low enough for him to jump at and chewed them and shredded what was in them, and today, he took a lock and snap tupperware with brownies off the counter, managed to open it and ate all the brownies. Hopefully he won't be sick but we'll see when I get home in about 5 mins.

I am at my wits end!!!!! He is good as gold when we are home, it's when we leave him for a few hours. It's like he is bored!! And he has a trillion toys to chew on plus I give a kong with peanut butter when I leave. ARGH!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Ann, it sounds like he is having separation anxiety. Have you tried to give him something like a frozen Marrow Bone to keep him occupied for a longer period? How old is Samson? If he is young, some of it he should outgrow. I would also leave a TV or radio on to act as company, also. It might help. I would also doggie proof your kitchen as much as possible until he passes through his teen stage. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Kyoko]

I am wondering if crating him or using ex-pen might be helpful... I was more concenred about him possibly eating something harmful and get sick, you know?

[F, Calla & Luca]

It's the turkey skin, which is too fatty and can cause pancreatitis, and the bones, which splinter, that are really bad. Of course too much of anything , including turkey meat would be bad. White meat turkey should be OK. Here's a source: Bad Foods

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

This is such a great tip! Peri is not quite tall enough to do this yet. She does surf the coffee tables though :)

[Lori]

We had a costly lesson on counter surfing today! My daughter was playing a little holiday music on the piano for the local senior adult daycare center. I made a sandwich for her on the fly and forgot to put away the giant Costco lunchmeat package. Leo, our five month old Goldendoodle was in his crate. We left, came home, my daughter let Leo out, I went outside and got involved in a conversation with the neighbor. We came inside and my daughter found the empty lunchmeat package on the floor. It was half a package of turkey and ham and probably had about a pound and half of lunchmeat left when Leo go it. I called the vet and they said he should come and they would induce vomiting as his ginormous "lunch" could cause severe pancreatitis. My daughter and I promptly loaded Leo in the car and off we went. They put some drops in one of Leo's eyes to induce vomiting. He very quickly reacted to the medication. They asked if we wanted to see and I didn't particularly need that visual, but my ten year old wanted to see it. They brought out a basin that had the lunchmeat, still neatly sliced, NONE of it chewed. They had weighed it and it was exactly 1.5 pounds. They could have just rinsed it off a tiny bit and re-packaged it - that's how fast he gulped it. Anyway, a valuable lesson. Now I'm going to take some pointers from my wise Doodlekisses friends here and try the cookie sheets! (BTW, the bill for this was $127...$60 for the emergency office visit and $67 for the "induction". I just now googled canine pancreatitis, and it was probably money well spent!)