Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    Oliviamiabella's Avatar
    Oliviamiabella Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Dec 22, 2011, 08:54 PM
    Why does she get food off the counter?
    Our 5 year old yellow lab has started taking food off the counter and eating it. She is very well fed. We play with her and we have trained her to do many things. She is very mellow. Lately she has started doing this. She knows she has done wrong when I scold her, but she even did it today. I left part of my lunch on the counter and went to the restroom. When I returned, she had got my lunch down and ate it! What can we do to stop this? (Besides not leaving anything on the counter).
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #2

    Dec 22, 2011, 09:07 PM
    " (Besides not leaving anything on the counter)." sorry that is exactly where you have to start. She has now learned the counter is a source of food even with the scolding. As long as you keep allowing food within her reach you will not be able to retrain her. Once you put the food proeprly away then you can start new training about what is hers and what is "NOT YOURS" The not yours command was likely never trained into her, she does not know what is yours and what is hers. I can not give you full obedience training on this site but you can get help from local dog training schools.
    Lucky098's Avatar
    Lucky098 Posts: 2,594, Reputation: 543
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #3

    Dec 24, 2011, 02:10 PM
    "Not yours" seems like a big mouthful to say to a dog... I would go with the age-old "leave it" command.

    To make her stop:

    Set her up to fail. Place pots and pans on the edge of the counter with a tid bit right next to it. The minute she hits the pots and pans, they'll fall and make a huge racket. That should deter her from wanting to continue it. And of course, not leaving things within reach for her to get. They also make mouse traps for dogs that are counter surfers. That might be an option for you as well.. Its pretty much the same concept as the pots and pans... The pots and pans are just easy access and free... :)

    You can also sneak up on her and scare her with the "leave it" command in a very scary voice.. also make noise... Let her know that what she is doing is not giving her a good reward.

    I had a counter surfer.. and it probably took a good year with sneaking up on her and letting her scare herself before she gave up. She soon learned that every time she tried to counter surf, something scary happened.
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

I changed her food and she poops 3x the amount could this be due to the new food? [ 6 Answers ]

I changed my dogs food and she seems to be pooping three times the amount that she use too. She use to go 2 maybe 3 times a day now she goes like 8 times a day. Could this be due to the new food?

Why Fast food restaurants Have signs saying their food might cause Cancer? [ 2 Answers ]

I saw a sign outside jackn the box, saying that their foods are cooked in something that creates their food to have posibliity of causing cancer. My question is... if that's a risk to consumers, then why even make the food that way? Can't they cook it in a healthier form? And doesn't the FDA...

Can you use glass blocks as bar counter walls with a concrete and tile bar counter [ 3 Answers ]

Bar walls with a counter on top

Why does my new dog wee on his food his food bowls [ 2 Answers ]

I have a new small dog, about one year old, and three existing dogs. The new dog wees on his food bowl every time he has finished a meal, whether he is fed alone or with the other dogs. Can anyone tell me why he does this.

View more questions Search