Working top thief!

[mellongoose]

We have a 5 month old Lab who is really quite chilled but definitely a chewer.

He is exercised twice a day and fed regularly at 7am and 7pm. He is really bright and likes to learn.

To keep my sanity and to protect the rest of the house, I have put a baby gate across the kitchen door. When I am upstairs I can hear him jumping up and stealing things from the working tops.

There is no food there for him to steal but he likes to get hold of anything he can, such as Tupperware or children's drawings, keys. Etc. It's impossible to keep the tops completely clear as it's a small house and a busy household.

Am looking for a training solution to stop him jumping up in the first place, please!! Does the clattering noise thing work? It feels a bit mean.

Thanks 🙏

Sorry op this made me laugh 😂😂😂 you can hear him jumping up stealing things ha ha ! What you can do is Google this oil dogs hate ! My dog is like yours and I bought it last week and literally he won't go near it ! It's a nice smell so won't put you off . I would mix it with water and spray your units xxx

The clattering thing worked for our greedy beagle. Just a few coins in an empty water bottle and you shake it at the dog. Good luck - our dog managed to tip a plate off the kitchen worktops last night and eat loads of spicy pepperoni 🙄🙄🙄. A spray with diluted citronella can also work.

What about Ssscat? It's a motion activated spray thing - meant for cats but might work for your pooch? Refils are expensive - buy compressed air can instead.

Keeping the worktops clear was the only thing that has worked for us. Ours have only really gone for food. Even the current old boy who won’t walk far can still jump up if he wants.
You can buy taller dog gates. Might work giving him. More things to chew. I know someone who gives their dogs large empty yogurt pots (they don’t wash them first). Large carrots straight from the fridge are a good option, some dogs will eat them and others will just shred them.

Does he do that when you are with him?
You have to train him ‘off’ and tell him each time he puts his paws up on the work top or wherever else you don’t want him to be. No need to clatter at him.
He will get it.
Meantime keep worktops clear especially of anything that could harm him or lead to a huge vets bill 🙄

Probably not what a trainer would recommend but I shouted at my lab and sent him to his bed when he did this and he has never done it since. Just sits and looks at it with love and desire in his eyes.

@Bryonyshcmyony

Probably not what a trainer would recommend but I shouted at my lab and sent him to his bed when he did this and he has never done it since. Just sits and looks at it with love and desire in his eyes.

This is DH's tactic and there is no telling him otherwise!

Ours’ is now 10 months and still a thief. He can now reach the back of the kitchen counters. He can also open doors, so regularly forays into the utility room ( home of his favourite thing- swimming goggles), unless locked. He doesn’t eat things, just chews.

He knows not to do it when we are in the room, but as soon as anyone leaves the kitchen, nothing ( cookbooks, kitchen roll, sponges) is safe. He’s currently looking pleased with himself as he’s stolen and shredded a kitchen roll on the lawn.

In every other way, he’s a perfect dog. We just have to keep as much as we can put of his way.