I try so hard to not over correct my pup but how much is too much. I do not hit but sometimes I get loud. Mia decided today to counter surf and I really had it out with her. No hitting but really gave her a what the heck are you doing. She just layed down and looked so sad. I felt bad for her but she cannot do this. Then I leashed her to me so I did not have to watch her all the time. She is only 6 months old and doing real good. I love her with all my heart. Just how much is too much. I do not want to break her spirit. She is a sweet girl. Been potty trained since she was 7 weeks old.

Can you put a baby gate up to keep her out of the kitchen? I've found that once a dog counter surfs, they keep the habit for life. The only thing I've found that works, is to put everything edible in the frig or a cabinet. Some dogs will even get in the cabinets. I use a garbage can with a lid, but I have a pup that will push the top up and get a reward.

Sometimes you can yell and yell, but the dog just becomes submissive. That is there answer to someone being super dominant on them.

There are some tricks that people might have on here that they have found will work to keep them off the counters. You might try them.

Good luck.

After a couple days of Bella putting her paws on the counter, and even helping herself to a sandwich, I gave her one good squirt with a water bottle.

That was about 2 months ago. She has not done it since.

Since our first snow last weekend, she had rediscovered her old habit of jumping and biting at me outside when she's off leash....until I introduced her to the water bottle once again. It's amazing how effective it is.


I don't like yelling either.

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Grasslands Liberty Belle "Bella" CGC (5-7-2012)

I put a baby gate up until I got sick of climbing over it every time I entered the kitchen (7months?). I took it down one day and Molly has never counter surfed even with delicious food right on the edge of the counter.


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spray bottle worked great for me. Maverick never countersurfed, but he did love going after a certain plant in the house. Bottle fixed him in about 2 days. Direct spray to the face about 6 times and he finally got the message to leave it alone.

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There is such a thing as overkill. The correction should correlate with the offense. Adolescent boy marking in the house warrants screaming and dragging by the scruff outside. (IMO). Paws on the counter is an ehh-ehh correction with maybe gently pulling the collar so ease her off. Teaching her with positive reinforcement about on and off would be good so she understands what the word means. We have an ottoman that I used to teach the dogs "come on up" and "off" and they were treated for each. When I say off, I know they get it.


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Thanks everyone.. Got my spray bottle out and ready to go.

Good luck. I actually used a sports water bottle. It dispenses more water than a squirt bottle. I'd rather not do it more times than I have to.

By the way, she clearly knew what "off" meant well before I used it. It was only after a dozen or more unsuccessful attempts at using that command that I decided to use the water bottle. She also knows that I don't want her trying to tackle me with flying teeth out in the yard. I've been carrying the bottle in my pocket all week when we go out. She knows its there.


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Grasslands Liberty Belle "Bella" CGC (5-7-2012)

Also....If you spray her, praise her right away for taking her paws off the counter......"good off." Subsequently, praise her every time she refrains from jumping up on to the counter. Maybe even give her a treat.

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Grasslands Liberty Belle "Bella" CGC (5-7-2012)