Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14
  1. #1
    Senior Dog SamsonsMom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    NE Ohio
    Posts
    1,605
    Thanked: 1334

    I Need Help:. Asher obsessed with Counter

    I am literally at my wit's end with Asher. As most of you know, he is extremely limited on physical activity. I do my best with challenging him mentally.

    About 3 months ago, he found a cooling pizza on the back of the stove. He managed to slide the pan across and ate nearly all of it. I caught him in the act and fished out a lot of pizza. He inhaled when he saw me. I gave him an extremely stern no and smacked the top of the stove while saying...no, off! I have had at least 4 other instances.

    This boy is quick and obsessed. Last night did me in. I spent 45 minutes cooking my dinners for the rest of the week...boneless skinless thighs. I let them cool. I had just put them in the container and I literally turned my back for a second to get a lid and he inhaled all but one. I was angry. Too angry to deal with him so I simply put him in his crate. I also made him sleep in the crate vs the bed since I knew he would be sick. I did get up to check on him.

    Please....can anyone give me tips. What do I need to do? Due to my open house, I would not be able to confine him. I want to solve the issue, not set up barriers. I am at a loss.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog zd262's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    1,280
    Thanked: 760
    Is it possible for you to gate the kitchen off at all? I know you mentioned not wanting to stop access but I feel like this is a tough area because the only time to train this is when caught in the act/almost act and if he continues to be able to get the gratification of eating (even if you reprimand him), he's probably going to keep doing it. If I was able to gate the kitchen then I would probably ungate it at times where I could pretend to be going about my day, but actually watch and wait to step in and reprimand.

    Does he take food off your lower tables such as coffee or end tables? Leaving food there and then training to that situation could be another idea though I don't know if he'll transfer it to the counters.

    I also think someone has mentioned on here before anti-counter surfacing things you can buy that if your dog touches it it buzzes or something.
    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content

    Bubba's instagram: @thebubbinator

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to zd262 For This Useful Post:

    SamsonsMom (04-02-2019)

  4. #3
    Senior Dog
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Central NJ
    Posts
    2,603
    Thanked: 2277
    If he does it while you are right there, then you could try training him to lay on a mat nearby and to stay there until released. You could release/reward with a taste of whatever you were cooking so he learns that being patient is the way to get to taste what is making that yummy smell.

    If like, Chloe in her younger days, he waits until you are not there to sneak up and see what he can grab, the only thing that worked for us was keeping any and all food off of the counters (and/or sealed up tight in a container) until she lost interest (which took months).
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

    Hidden Content

  5. #4
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    8,136
    Thanked: 5108
    The vinegar worked for us but I would not leave high value things like chicken thighs unattended for too long. I know, I do see yours were not left unattended. We do have gates on our kitchen. The gates came down when Oban was about one year old and went back up when the cats got old and had special food needs. Now we use the gates a lot, it's just easier on all of us.

    https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/m...unter-surfing/
    Hidden Content

    Castilleja's Dubhgall Oban, the Black Stranger of The Little Bay
    Oct. 15, 2007 - June 13, 2021
    Oxtongue Rapids Park. Oct. 2019 Hidden Content

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to Snowshoe For This Useful Post:

    SamsonsMom (04-02-2019)

  7. #5
    Senior Dog SamsonsMom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    NE Ohio
    Posts
    1,605
    Thanked: 1334
    I'm afraid to use the gate because I'm afraid Asher would become anxious and try to jump it. That's my boy. I may try the vinegar. Aside from trying that, I just have to keep food off the counter. I mean, I was literally right there and just innocently turned my back to grab a lid. He was so damn fast and my lord he sucked those thighs down. I mean literally. I'm lucky he didn't choke. A few weeks ago he got a homemade cream cheese danish. I had been craving it all week. I do keto so it was made with almond flour and swerve. 12" x 8" and he got over half. Again, it was a split second while I grabbed foil. I think the best approach may be to discipline myself and hope he loses interest. And while at it, wipe down with vinegar.

    Not looking forward to eggs tonight. The thighs were ginger brown sugar (swerve).

  8. #6
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    3,947
    Thanked: 2421
    In order to train it, you have to ensure he's not continuing to be rewarded. If you cannot use a gate or fear that it won't work, then you can crate him while you are cooking/prepping meals. Meanwhile, train a mat behavior, and place very high value on him being there. But don't do this while you're cooking, yet. Once you have a strong mat behavior, you can add it to cooking. Be sure that you feed him really good stuff on his mat while you're cooking/prepping. But, make sure that the mat behavior is more rewarding than self-rewarding by snatching food off the counters.

  9. #7
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    8,136
    Thanked: 5108
    I want a home made cream cheese danish. I will jump a gate to get it if I have to. Seriously, our gates are home made by OH, very sturdy and 42 inches high. I know that's jumpable for some dogs; neighbour's dog used to escape her 48" high chain link fenced yard.
    Hidden Content

    Castilleja's Dubhgall Oban, the Black Stranger of The Little Bay
    Oct. 15, 2007 - June 13, 2021
    Oxtongue Rapids Park. Oct. 2019 Hidden Content

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to Snowshoe For This Useful Post:

    SamsonsMom (04-03-2019)

  11. #8
    Senior Dog SamsonsMom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    NE Ohio
    Posts
    1,605
    Thanked: 1334
    Quote Originally Posted by Labradorks View Post
    In order to train it, you have to ensure he's not continuing to be rewarded. If you cannot use a gate or fear that it won't work, then you can crate him while you are cooking/prepping meals. Meanwhile, train a mat behavior, and place very high value on him being there. But don't do this while you're cooking, yet. Once you have a strong mat behavior, you can add it to cooking. Be sure that you feed him really good stuff on his mat while you're cooking/prepping. But, make sure that the mat behavior is more rewarding than self-rewarding by snatching food off the counters.
    I will try this.

  12. #9
    Senior Dog SamsonsMom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    NE Ohio
    Posts
    1,605
    Thanked: 1334
    Quote Originally Posted by Snowshoe View Post
    I want a home made cream cheese danish. I will jump a gate to get it if I have to. Seriously, our gates are home made by OH, very sturdy and 42 inches high. I know that's jumpable for some dogs; neighbour's dog used to escape her 48" high chain link fenced yard.
    Oh man, I was so ready for the danish. I opted not to eat any of it because he was slobbering so bad. lol

  13. #10
    Senior Dog Jollymolly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    5,108
    Thanked: 2778
    The prep work for Keto is pain staking so I can imagine how upset you where.

    I also recommend training on the mat. Both my girls are not allowed in the kitchen when I am cooking. The other option is to work on leave it. You can start on food in one hand and then reward it with the other hand. Remember to use a higher value reward as the treat. Then move it to the floor and cover it with your hand. Until he learns not to touch food other than what you giving him. Slowly start testing it on tables then counters, Or having a plate of food on your lap.

  14. The Following User Says Thank You to Jollymolly For This Useful Post:

    SamsonsMom (04-03-2019)

 



Not a Member of the Labrador Retriever Chat Forums Yet?
Register for Free and Share Your Labrador Retriever Photos

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •