Steph M Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 (edited) What do you do to stop countersurfing when you’re not home? Rosie is showing herself to be a pro counter-surfer when we’re not home. Was just food the day before yesterday, she stole a loaf of fruit bread. Naughty girl. So I put all the food up and left nothing edible on the bench. Brooke’s mother left a box of dog bikkies and a packet of nuts and a few eggs out when we went out yesterday and we came home to them perfectly intact and untouched but random things taken outside, including a 500gm can of tomatoes (label intact and undamaged, no toothmarks, a mystery )a bottle of water, (unplugged) powerboard, roll of glad wrap and a jar of thyme, all were outside slightly chewed but otherwise intact. These had been taken from around the dog bikkies and eggs etc, so I think her motivation really is just general opportunistic stealing, rather than the classic shelter dog appetite, though that is pretty impressive too. Of course she only does it when we’re not home and it’s totally self-rewarding, they don’t lack toys or bones or interactive treat toys, kongs etc she just takes things, will do it from the bedroom too but the baby gate solves that problem. The bench however can’t be sectioned off or closed down and I like to give them house access as she really feels the cold/heat etc and I wouldn’t want to leave a coat on her all day or anything. I could lock them out entirely as a last resort but would rather solve the issue if we can. Anyone have any helpful suggestions or ideas? As I said, locking her out is a last resort really. Would like to nip it in the bud now while it’s a new thing. Thanks in advance, DOL! ;) Edited October 6, 2013 by Steph M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristineX Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Hi Steph, the only thing you can do is institute management - ie, don't leave anything out there for them to take! Your Rosie is pretty polite, waiting until you are out of the house to countersurf - my guys wait until they think I can't see them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph M Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 I think you might be right, though I am loath to think where we'll find the storage for the kettle and toaster etc! She's only been with us a fortnight, I think she's just finding her naughty feet! Haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristineX Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 I totally understand - fortunately with time Duke has stopped stealing crockery and cutlery - but apparently the doona is still fair game. I think it is the challenge of getting it thru the doggy door. Bottles - apparently it is just the cap he is after, tins have been found in a very holey chewed up state carefully tucked under my doona (ugh!)and I have never found that bright red mobile phone back again! At least he's never eaten one of the car immobilisers as one of my previous dogs did. The vets still laugh about that one. Your Rosie sounds delightful, by the way (okay, I like challenging dogs, they make life so interesting) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuddleDuck Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 My brother ended up running an electric fence string around his kitchen bench for a while. They tried gates, putting things away, etc, but their lab is relentless! She stole an 8 kg ham that he'd spent 12 hours smoking in the BBQ, a whole roast chicken and a ton of other stuff. On my nephews birthday this year she leapt up and snagged half his cake off the plate as my SIL carried it to the table Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 the only things I can think of are to shut off rooms ..or leave dog outside , with access to laundry/shed or kennel. It can be a dangerous game .... for all sorts of reasons ..eating inappropriate items/playing with things electrical .. items breaking ... dog being injured .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph M Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 My brother ended up running an electric fence string around his kitchen bench for a while. I did really consider this or one of those cat zapping mats but she's a sensitive super softy. Probably ok for Gus who has the pain tolerance of a rhino, would be like poprocks for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leah82 Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 gotta love having smaller dogs :D no counter surfing for me. Must make your trip home from work each day interesting guessing what Rosie has gotten into. Ours are outside all day because I don't want them on the couch, and they are fine apart from the yelping and carrying on when we get home. They have a kennel to curl up in when it's cold and we'll be getting a clam pool for when it's warmer, plus we have some pretty big shady trees which help. When I left for work this morning all 3 were curled up asleep in the kennel :D I would try them outside, you're the human after all and shouldn't have to completely rearrange your kitchen to stop her. Remove her from the temptation rather than removing the temptation from her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph M Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 the only things I can think of are to shut off rooms ..or leave dog outside , with access to laundry/shed or kennel. It can be a dangerous game .... for all sorts of reasons ..eating inappropriate items/playing with things electrical .. items breaking ... dog being injured .... Absolutely, I worry about just that. Especially as it's when we aren't home so something happens and we won't know til later. If outside has to be it, then so be it. Was just wondering if anyone had any good fixes we could try with an empty bench to discourage it all over. I've read trays of water, bottles of vinegar, motion sensing alarms (would have to find one which shrills once!) leaving a bowl of chillies...water would probably be a detterent for her but the chilli might be a bit much, Gus would love it. The laundry also has a big bench which usually houses washing so that looks to be something we might need to re-jig. At least it's warming up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roova Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Could you set him up to have an unpleasant experience maybe? Take everything off the bench and put double sided sticky tape over the bench top? Might need more than one go but hopefully it feels yucky and he's put off doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph M Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 Could you set him up to have an unpleasant experience maybe? Take everything off the bench and put double sided sticky tape over the bench top? Might need more than one go but hopefully it feels yucky and he's put off doing it. That's the next step. Will have to arrange it when we go our for dinner tonight. Knowing my luck she'll just sleep quietly and I'll look like a loon instead. Hahaha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 The only thing I'd suggest is putting something safe foodwise on the bench but put a little Tabasco sauce on it. It should hopefully be an experience she doesn't want to repeat. Many sighthounds also bench surf! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph M Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 The only thing I'd suggest is putting something safe foodwise on the bench but put a little Tabasco sauce on it. It should hopefully be an experience she doesn't want to repeat. Many sighthounds also bench surf! Yes she has that aspect of it, and has that sighthound clever too! Good fun though! Glad she's not the only one. If nothing else I'll have a clean kitchen, I'll have that to thank her for. I might try something hot or wet. She isn't much for getting wet either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 The only thing I'd suggest is putting something safe foodwise on the bench but put a little Tabasco sauce on it. It should hopefully be an experience she doesn't want to repeat. Many sighthounds also bench surf! Yes she has that aspect of it, and has that sighthound clever too! Good fun though! Glad she's not the only one. If nothing else I'll have a clean kitchen, I'll have that to thank her for. I might try something hot or wet. She isn't much for getting wet either. I wouldn't do hot or wet - hot is dangerous and so is wet - if the dog slips and breaks a leg, that would be horrendous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 ..and if wet finds a powerpoint ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph M Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 I was thinking of lining the floor with towels, but good point. I didn't think Tabasco or chilli sauce could do much harm in a small small quantity? Perhaps double sided tape or something loud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Tabasco sauce is very strong - you only need a dab of it. I do a lot of follow up help after adoptions for rescue groups - including my own - and this tactic has worked for a number of issues. It frequently deters the dogs from doing something again as it is very unpleasant for them but doesn't harm them. Maybe in great quantities it would but we are only talking about a little dab on something like a piece of bread etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph M Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 Tabasco sauce is very strong - you only need a dab of it. I do a lot of follow up help after adoptions for rescue groups - including my own - and this tactic has worked for a number of issues. It frequently deters the dogs from doing something again as it is very unpleasant for them but doesn't harm them. Maybe in great quantities it would but we are only talking about a little dab on something like a piece of bread etc. Yes, that was my thinking. Certainly not heaps. I don't touch the stuff, way too hot for me! Haha. I'll plant some irresistables for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Only way we get around it is by leaving NOTHING where our countersurfer can get to it.:laugh: Ours is so big he comes up to the bench height anyway and only has to lift his head a bit to get whatever he wants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 It's just about the dog learning (or thinking) that nothing good comes from the counter! It may not work if food is left out elsewhere. My Italian counter surfed a sandwich one day that i'd left too close to the edge but he also rummaged through people's handbags if they had food in there and nothing at his level was safe. I soon learned that when people visited, whilst I was showing them out he'd pretend to be asleep and then i'd turn to find him with a muffin wedged in his mouth ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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