My doberman Annie has been a terrible counter surfer the year that I’ve had her. She broke the glass front of my stove climbing on top to get something off the microwave that was too high to reach. She has learned to open the toaster oven where I’ve been storing bread and such and just cleaned out an unopened loaf of bread, a 1/2 pan of brownies and 2 chocolate croissants. I was savoring those croissants! She’s incorrigible, intelligent and dexterous. How can I break her of this?
StG
?mouse traps set on the counter tops under a towel?
?spray bottle w/ water?
That’s a lot of chocolate! Annie sounds pretty big so it’s probably not a dangerous amount but maybe worth a quick call to the vet?
If she’s free roaming, you may not like this solution but my dogs (fosters so generally not very trustworthy yet) don’t get to just wander all over the house at will - they’re crated or confined when totally unsupervised and in the room near me when she’s loose. The super unruly ones are tethered near me or drag their leash. Naughty dogs don’t get privileges! 
I would set her up for success by keeping her away from temptation while you stuff her with dog-appropriate chews and toys, and work on impulse control/teach her a reliable “leave it” cue.
Block access to the kitchen, increase Annie’s exercise, and teach impulse control.
Read Shirley Chong’s surprising approach to food stealing.
She never does it when I’m in the house, but this afternoon, for example, I went outside to check on the horses and the other dogs came with me. It’s cold and wet out there and I left Annie curled up in an armchair. I came back and Annie was still curled up but the bread bag was torn apart, the croissant box on the floor (SOB!) and the toaster oven door open.
She can’t be crated, she’ll harm herself. I can try mousetraps, and just be more diligent about where I hide stuff, I guess.
french fry - I’m not worried about the chocolate content - she’s a big dog and there’s not that much theobromine in what I had to harm her. Believe me, she been into worse.
StG
Ok well I know someone that set mouse traps – I only suggest this as the dog was never got caught by it but the snapping sound was enough to cure the dog-- if you are afraid of the dog actually being caught by it, you might experiment on how to get them to go off to startle the dog safely.
If you’re only leaving her unattended for a short time, have you tried giving her a stuffed Kong (peanut butter, cream cheese, etc.) or a chew while you pop out? Bully sticks and the like can get to be an expensive habit, but my fosters go NUTS for split antlers. A little pricy upfront but they last forever.
Dobes are smart, you have to be sneaky. I trained mine that table stuff was verboten early. I’d leave some tasty morsel on the table edge and leave the room. I’d watch via a reflection in the door. The moment a snatch was attempted, I came in and smacked her with a fly swatter. A radio shock collar just made it easier on me. I’ve thought of a web cam too.
Sounds like your dobe has progressed beyond a quick snatch and graduated to pillage and plunder. :eek:
This sounds like a great way to make most dogs even sneakier. I’m glad it worked for you, but :eek:
I kept my lab out of my lazy susan lower cabinet with mouse traps with foil over it. He would check that cabinet every day. Eventually the traps just needed to be there but not set.
How about scat mats? They come as a strip. A bit pricey.
With the corgis (whose motto is if we can reach it, we’ll eat it), if we can’t watch them, we crate them, even if we’re only out the door for ten minutes. It’s just too much stress, and they’re too smart.
We’ve also used childproofing in the kitchen for the one corgi who started getting clever about handles lower to the ground…
[QUOTE=Pony+ an inch;8492683]
With the corgis (whose motto is if we can reach it, we’ll eat it), if we can’t watch them, we crate them, even if we’re only out the door for ten minutes. It’s just too much stress, and they’re too smart.
We’ve also used childproofing in the kitchen for the one corgi who started getting clever about handles lower to the ground…[/QUOTE]
Yep. Imagine if they can climb on counters.
StG
Easy–she’s lost the privilege to be loose in the house. You are either there or she’s contained in some way.
Counter surfers are such a PITA!
[QUOTE=Simkie;8492728]
Easy–she’s lost the privilege to be loose in the house. You are either there or she’s contained in some way.
Counter surfers are such a PITA![/QUOTE]
Unfortunately, she’s very hard to contain. Before I got her she’d been in at least 3 homes in 6 months. The home before mine she broke the bathroom window trying to escape, after hurting herself in a crate.The first day I had her she went through the barrier on the side of the window A/C, going out the window. I’d shut her outside except for it being around freezing and she’s a doberman with a short coat. To the best of my ability she needs to be either watched or outside in the fenced yard.
StG
[QUOTE=StGermain;8492706]
Yep. Imagine if they can climb on counters.
StG[/QUOTE]
oh, they have! We have to watch where we leave chairs and stools out… Ironically the older one who shouldn’t be in any shape to climb is the worst. We came back in from a garage project one day to find her trapped on the sidebar helping herself to the fruit bowl. Two bananas gone, and she made great strides on an orange. off.
You said she’s hard to contain–is it possible she comes with you if you put a leash on her and tether her to your help? I did that with one of mine who was a bit of a panicker for a while. I agree really strongly with the fact she’s lost privileges to be loose in the house.
You have to teach her impulse control and limit her access to things like that. She is getting reinforced EVERY time she gets something off the stove/counter, etc. I’d consult a trainer as it’s too difficult to explain in writing! I’ve spent 8 months on my puppy beast and she can finally be trusted to be loose in the house without direct supervision.
I can make her come outside with me whenever I go out. My yard is fenced, the other dogs come with me. She just curls up in the armchair until I’m out of sight.
StG
Damn Dobermans! Haha!!! I say that with love since they are the only breed I’ll own. Too smart these dogs!!! What a little sneak that Annie is 
I can sympathize though. My ex used to complain me that I can train my dog to do anything (he has his IPO3) except I can’t train him not to eat horse poop! Yep…I fail miserably at that on a daily basis…
You can purchase a scat mat. They’re pretty reasonable and usually send a pretty clear message that only needs to be delivered once or twice. I think I’ve even seen strips for areas like counters. I use one to keep my Dobe off the couch when not home — funny anecdote about smart Dobermans - after my guy got the message from the scat mat, I tried just laying it across the couch without turning it on for the day. Worked for a few days, but then the stinker learned to test it to see if it was on or off. If I left it off, he’d pull it off the couch and climb right up.
Get a pie safe.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
