[sheltiemom]

Ripley has a new naughty habit, stealing food. He doesn't get very many opportunities to do it, but he tries, mostly from the kids. Today I had some bread on the counter, pushed all the way back....Ripley's a small dog, his front feet don't even reach all the way up on the counter if he stands up...so I had this bread out....the shelties were uncrated all morning and payed no attention to it, but this evening I took Shiner out to potty, and came back in to find Ripley on the counter, as in standing, all four feet on the counter, eating the bread, and he had spilled a drink al over the bills and my kids school pictures. I never saw that one coming.

[Love's_Sophie]

I never EVER leave food items out for that reason (only I don't leave my dogs loose) I have a counter surfing cat!!

I guess anytime one leaves food out, you may just be leaving open the door of opportunity for dog or cat to steal...so I just make sure everything is safe in a cupboard, or pantry...Lol!

Maybe gate off your kitchen so this doesn't become a habit...or at the least make sure there is no food out.

[French Ring]

Sometimes you can't trust your dogs to be in the kitchen alone.

[LuckyLabMom]

Uh oh doggie!

This seems to be Chester's only bad habit too...Fortunately he doesn't get all the way on the counter (seeing a 70 lb lab on my tiny kitchen counter would be hilarious tho!) but if there is something with food in it close to the edge of the counter he'll go after it when I'm in the bathroom or something.

Yesterday I had left an 'empty' tupperware with the remains of some cucumber-mint salad in it - mostly dressing - near the edge of the counter and I heard it fall when the fork hit the floor so I hurried out there and actually caught him in the act for a change. What a punk! And of course he didn't even like it - a puddle of minty oily dressing with little bits of feta cheese. Silly dog.

I have to be extra careful to put everything away, and if there are any smelly, tempting dirty dishes I either need to wash them promptly or rinse them off and put them in the bottom of the sink. Which I suppose is a good habit anyway but I've lived alone for about 6 months and once in a while I just dont feel like doing my dishes!

[Elana55]

Scat Mat....
Problem is my cats have learned wwhen the mat is inplace and when it is on or not. So, if it is on the counter, they just go somewhere else they are not supposed to. However, I CAN leave something I don't want them in in the middle of theScat Mat and they leave it alone.

Atka never gets the chance. I have rules in my house.. No Dogs in the Kitchen (its a galley kitchen.. NO room), the Bathrooms or the bedrooms. If I am not there to supervise, she is in her crate or in her yard.

I have the cleanest kitchen in the world.. I am giving the counter surfing cats NO opportunity for reward. The behavior has decreased a LOT. They have trained me to keep the Kitchen clean in the process...

[rosemaryninja]

Originally Posted by French Ring

Sometimes you can't trust your dogs to be in the kitchen alone.

Especially not with a breed as agile as the Sheltie!

Or as food-motivated as the Beagle.

Spunky and Honey can't jump onto the counters, but if there is food on the counter and no one is supervising they will put their front paws up, squish their nose against the edge of the counter and lick incessantly till they have nudged the food into their mouths. It's one of those behaviours that pains you to correct because watching it is actually pretty amusing.

Management of environment, management of environment, management of environment...

[shewolf4]

Carpet tape on a plastic placemat.... cats & dogs hate that- it sticks to their paws and really looks funny when they get stuck on it and try to get off had some good laughs and none of my critters goes on the counter- not even the cats

[sheltiemom]

I normally don't leave anything out, I really don't even know why I didn't put the bread in the pantry this time. I'm surprised he was that motivated for some bread....a steak I can see. I told DH last night and he said, "That's my boy, smartest dog ever!" It was actually a little funny, but it's sure not going to happen again.

[doggone6]

Our Jack is a champion counter-surfer. Had he been with us since puppy-hood this problem would never have had a chance to develop, but he is our pound puppy and apparently gave animal control a good chase for several months before they caught him. Let's just say he's "resourceful". You could have a sandwich an inch from your fingers, and after Jack strolls by you no longer have that sandwich. He's that good.

I tried everything I could think of to break him of the habit, but finally decided that the only way to stop it was to never leave food out where he could get it. Works like a charm.

[ACampbell]

I had that problem with Sparky, but the best one is when they dig in the trash and come out with a ripe diaper and race around the house filling the air with it's lovely odor...I'm telling you, it's not French perfume!