Positive Dog Training Counter Surfing

Kathy santo a dog trainer and columnist for akc family dog recommends the following when dealing with a counter surfing dog.

Positive dog training counter surfing.

A new term was even coined to describe this behavior. He smells something tasty in the air and that incredible canine nose leads him to the counter. Training your dog to not jump up on counters in search of food is all about. Leave it is a useful cue for many situations not the least of which is managing counter surfing.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You can even set up your counter and catch your dog in the act. The simplest way to explain why this is happening in the first place is that this is a perfectly natural dog behavior. Counter surfing if you re tired of losing your dinner to a sneaky pooch every time you turn your back here s what you can do about it.

Some basic obedience training will also build respect and strengthen the bond you and your dog share. Knowing the reason your dog is surfing the counter is important so pay attention to why and when your dog is about to counter surf. His nose reaches up followed by his front paws. Find the why and take away temptation.

Dog counter surfing is a pretty typical behavior for medium to large breed dogs. Many dog owners complain that their dogs steal food from kitchen counters or even the dinner table. Counter surfing just like chasing objects is a type of dog behavior that we see as a problem but that in reality is a perfectly natural and normal. Let s look at it from the dog s perspective.

Remove the opportunity make sure nothing not even crumbs is on the. The most realistic solution to counter surfing is to use a combination of management and training techniques to make it easy for your dog to avoid temptation. Teaching your dog incompatible behaviors. Obedience training is the key to preventing and solving most behavior problems including counter surfing and other thieving behavior.

To discourage counter surfing there are a couple behaviors you can teach your dog. Use these with the following tips to stop a counter surfing dog. Put yourself in the dog s paws and place your favorite food on the counter when you are hungry. But most importantly there are better and more humane ways to address the counter surfing behavior.

To start training your dog to leave it go somewhere quiet and less exciting to the dog than the kitchen.