How to Curb Counter Surfing

10/4/2009

Roasted turkey, fresh baked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh baked pies; these are the many delights that await the coming holiday season. This time of year brings lots of entertaining with lots of food. It is also the time of year where disaster can strike a festive holiday meal as the lovable family dog does what he will naturally do and help himself to the feast that waits on the counter.

Counter surfing is not only maddening but potentially dangerous as there are a myriad of human foods and other substances that can be dangerous to a dog. Like all poor behavior, owners tend to ignore bad behaviors until they become painful enough to address. At that point, though, how do you break a bad habit? As with any behavior modification it takes several things, all of which equally important: respect from the animal, consistency, and ongoing training and reinforcement. If any of these items is missing, you will have less than successful results.

Dog will counter surf for a number of reasons, all of which provide reward:

·         They don’t know any better. The reward is the delectable treat

·         They are hungry

·         They are begging for attention. Even being scolded is a form of attention that will do if no other attention is forthcoming.

·         Boredom or lack of exercise

Understanding your dog’s motivations is one of the keys to devising a plan to stop this unwanted behavior. If they are bored or begging for attention, increase you daily walks and play time. If they are truly hungry, investigate adjusting feeding times. If they don’t know any better, training is clearly indicated. In any case, it is important to make your dog understand that this is an undesirable behavior and be consistent with that message.

The first step to curb this behavior is to prevent it from happening. Don’t give your dog the opportunity to counter surf by removing all delectables from his reach. It is easier to extinguish a behavior if it is not a constant taunt for your dog. (I tend to use the microwave quite a bit for “storage” as I have melted quite a few containers in the oven L). The always important second step is to make sure your dog has some basic obedience commands down pat: responding to his name, and leave it. These two commands are crucial for extinguishing many problems your dog might have. Once the basic commands have been mastered, provide supervision when your dog is around food. With constant attention and appropriate, calm correction, you will be able to be in the same room (and not paying much attention, then to another room, etc).  You might also want to give your dog an alternate activity when there is food in the kitchen. Teach him to go to “his place” and lie down and stay on command. Make sure this spot is an appealing spot so your dog feels rewarded by being there.

Dos and Don’ts of Counter Surfing

·         DO Keep food out of reach

·         DO Supervise at all times when the potential of the unwanted activity exists

·         DO only feed your dog from his own bowl

·         DO provide your dog with enough mental and physical stimulation daily

·         DO always reward desired behavior (this can be verbal or physical (petting) and doesn’t always mean treats)

·         DON’T ever chase, yell at, hit, or give your dog attention for undesirable behavior

·         DON’T set up “traps” to teach your dog a lesson in hopes of extinguishing a behavior