At the Farm, staff members often bring baked goods and snacks to share and leave them in the break room. One time, in my first month working here, I walked by and saw that someone had brought in homemade banana bread. It was delicious. Now, whenever I walk by the break room, I find myself checking to see if anything is there. Sound familiar?
If your dog has ever found something tasty on the counter, you know what I’m talking about. As soon as the pup learns that the counter sometimes has really good food on it, he’s going to keep checking! So what do we do about it? The first step is to keep the counters clear. I know, way easier said than done. However, it’s really important. The next step is to teach the pup that staying off the counter is more rewarding. Anytime you see him eyeing the counter, call him over and give him a treat. With consistency, he will learn to check in with you instead of the counter.
Struggling with counter surfing? Contact our Behavior Specialist, JoAnna, at [email protected]
Written by JoAnna Rogowski, MS, KPA CTP