I have a lab that is 5 months old now and tall enough to see and take things off the counter tops. (and table) I've had big dogs before but they learned pretty quick after a few "Adjustments" to the hind end! (Probably hurt my hand more)

This dog smart dog seems to be a slow learner when it comes to this. I really do not want to crate her but that is my last option. I know that when a dog gets things off a counter it is like a reward to them and that is what keeps them doing it more. Keeping the counter completely cleared daily is pretty much out of the question.

What have some of you done to stop your dogs from taking and basically destroying anything they can get off the counters and tables?

I would like to use some kind of mouse trap type devise to get her to learn that grabbing things off the counter hurts!! But these traps I feel would be a little too strong and I don't want to actually hurt the dog. ANY suggestions are appreciated.

 

Had the same problem with my male lab. We wound up using something called Bitter Apple spray that we got from the vet. Anytime he would start to chew on something not approved we would spray his tongue and he would shake his head and try to get the taste out of his mouth. we used it for the first two years to help with teathing as well.
He associated the bad taste with bad actions.

 

My problem is she will not do anything bad until we are gone. I can never catch her doing it. Would you use this even if you didn't catch your dog in the act?

 

I second the bitter apple. My son had a bad habit of chewing on his t-shirt collar and he was ruining all his shirts so I thought I'd try bitter apple. Me being the great dad that I am, I tested the spray on myself first and that had to be the worst stuff I've ever put in my mouth. Needless say, I didn't use it on the boy...

 

No, this type of corrective action only works when the dog is performing the bad behavior.
I have heard of people using an electrified grid kind of like metal window screen and an electric fence controller and putting the hot one on the counter and the ground on the floor, wouldn't take once or twice to curb that action.

PLEASE DO NOT USE A CONTROLLER FROM THE FEED STORE GET ONE FROM A STORE LIKE PETSMART OR PETCO. THE OTHERS ARE MADE FOR EXTRA LONG RUNS AND LIVESTOCK WITH THICKER HIDES. WAY TOO POWERFUL.

 

get a 'martingale' collar (semi-choker). this collar tightens up for corrections and then loosens instantly. great for training dogs of any age. completely harmless to the dog.

put the collar on and walk around the house with a 6' leash around your waist (called umbilical). let the dog start to get something and 'correct' him by snapping the leash in the opposite direction. don't wait until the dog has already done it . . . the goal with this method is to 'interupt' the unwanted behaviour.

you can keep the dog on umbilical anytime you are home. doing chores . . . watching tv . . . brushing your teeth . . . etc. the point of umbilical is to have the dog watching your moves so the leash stays loose. the dog will prefer a loose leash rather than a tight one (ultimately a loose collar too). so , by watching you, he moves with you. if he is not watching, turn and walk quickly in the opposite direction. with the leash around your waist it is close to center of mass which makes it fairly easy to move the dog where you prefer.

another method is to use your voice. allow him to start and then 'interupt' him with a loud and sharp use of your voice. you can 'yelp', l or yell 'hey' - whatever you choose, just keep it sharp, loud and short. the goal again is to interupt the behaviour.

i have used these methods with our dog and i can now leave food on the floor without worry. it takes time, but it works. you will not see an overnight improvent. it will probably takes weeks, but the payoff is tenfold.

we tried the spray as well, but we sprayed what he used to chew or lick (corners of couches etc), instead of his tongue. worked ok, but the best method by far is with just a collar & leash and proper corrections.

 

Electric fence charger set on low with wire tapped to the edge of the counters.

Guaranteed to work. Had to do it with a couple. They will yip and it will hurt like heck, but no long term damage.

And the ones at the feed store are just fine. Huge voltage 7k but minimal amperage. They just hurt like heck!!! But wont damage ya. I have a 150 mile fence charger that I touched the connector on (at the box). A few choice words but no harm. My hide aint all that thick either. You don't need a ground wire on the ground either. They have plenty of water and salt in their bodies to conduct current. My fence has hit me while wearing rubber boots.

It will work though chad. You hate to do it, but someday that pooch may pull something off the counter that could really hurt them, or even worse.

 

I like the electric fence charger idea but I would try the bitter apple first. Had a standard Poodle for 14 years and when he was about a year old he discovered counters. He would take anything off them. Tried mouse traps with peanut butter. After the first one he would avoid them and go for other things. Put bread on the counter loaded with Tabasco sauce. After the first one he started avoiding anything with Tabasco on it. Than we used the Bitter Apple spray (they sell it at Wall Mart and pet stores).

We sprayed it on everything he might grab off a counter (its non toxic) and after only one night he stopped trying to get anything. For the next couple of days we sprayed some on the edge of the counter and put some on some bread that we left on it (that dog loved bread). Only one peice of bread got stolen and after that --End of problem.

After a few days we never had to use it on the counters again. Its cheap and worth a try.

 

Sounds like I will try the bitter apple stuff.

@ Doj Dewd... The problem with that is she will not do anything wrong when we are home. She does everything when we leave. When we are home she is extremely good, very well behaved and for the most part listens to commands. A very smart dog over all.

 

Seems like this is more a case of separation anxiety than it is a case of her getting into food.

 

Dog box. Cayenne pepper sprinkled along edge of counter or on trap food.

A buddy of mine broke his shorthair from beggin at the table by covering the treat in black pepper and offering it to the dog. After a few times the dog wouldn't even come to the table when the family was eating.

Dad always said to allow your best friend's one vice within reason, maybe this will be hers!

 

Scott is dead on here, the dog is misbehaving because she is angry at being left alone, Labs can act like that when they are young. I got the large crate for mine and gave him his own place to hang out while I was gone.

Don't use it as a corrective measure or the dog will associate the box as a bad place. Mine loved it, he had a place to go when he felt like it and it was ALL his.

I kept it open unless I had to leave and he treated it like his bed, which it was since he had a foam mattress in it hehehe. He had the run of the house for 15 yrs and I only had to lock the box when he was going through that separation anxiety thing.....which didn't last long. I feel he actually preferred having his own "Den" to go to when I left.

 

I don't know if it's true of all the breeds, but the Labs DO like to have their own little 'cave'. Jake will find a spot under a table or chair when we are teaching a class that doesn't require his expertise. He particularly likes a table that has a floor length table cloth on it! There are a few pieces of furniture we allow him free reign upon, and on the sofa he'll pull the pillows all around him to make a little wall. They definitely like to feel protected.

 

Mouse trap... did that with my dog and she stopped jumping up on the counter real quick.

 

I agree with Top. All of our dogs have their own "house". They know it isn't for punishment and it is their "house or bed". They are safer in the crate than running loose in the house, especailly if a fire would break out. You can tell the firefighter exactly where they are in the house instead of roaming to try and find them. I have a sign taped to the inside of the window telling firefighters "4 legged family members in here". Ever when the dogs go for a ride they are in a crate. Keith