Counter surfing solutions

[borzoimom]

Having the breed I have, I have to start this early. Easily by 8 months old any table is easy to reach with the drop of a head, and kitchen counters become fair game by dropping their heads on the counters by a year old.
Many solutions I have tried over the years, and some are my favorites with good results. For dogs that their nose cant reach the counter, but their front feet can, I use a scat mat on the floor by the counter. For dogs that like to steal kitchen towels the old method of a pepsi can filled with a few coins, taped shut wrap in a kitchen towel purposly with the smell of food on the towel makes a huge racket- ( ie 'busted'). I never assume a dog cant get into the trash. Rancid food or cooked bones, etc can be dangerious. If I leave the house I pull the bag before I go. However- when I am in the house, several things work as well. Getting those cheap little personal alarms like for doors at hotels etc, that when seperation is made with the contact- it goes off. The ones I have has a button I can turn it off when using it. Mine is on the flap of the can, so If in constant use, I just take the lip off for the time being. ( BEEP- BUSTED).
Also I trained at some point on how to stop taking raw meat from the counter. I sacrific like a steak or something- and spray the heck out of it with bitter apple.. ( obviously you do not eat this) but if they try- the results are obviousl) That is usually all it takes. However the dogs can smell the bitter apple if present or not. That is easily solved by placing a old kitchen towel, sprayed with bitter apple in front the meat pan, pushing the meat pan back. This method also works if you spray the laundry basket with bitter apple, lettig it dry before adding clothes etc. This works very well to train pups. Remember- pups learn things out of curiousity or teething, so starting this early usually makes a permanent remedy..
How to train the bitter apple is a one time deal. You need a real poker face for this one, and no talking.. Taking a Q tip of the bitter apple soaked on the Q-tip, let the pup smell it first, then gently open the pups mouth open and pass the Q tip on the tongue. Sniff again- let go of the the dog to react. YOU SAY NOTHING= not positive, not negative and your face and eyes needs to be a poker face ( and that includes laughing...). Remember to let the dog smell the bitter apple before and after- the smell reminds the dog what that stuff tastes like..

[Kuchi]

Kuchi isn't quite tall enough to get the counter, but the cats, well they jump up when I'm not looking, so I'll try the bitter apple on some meat for them.

[borzoimom]

Try the scat mat on the counter. They cant see it from the ground..