[Loboto-Me]

These past few days have been a real challenge for me concerning Duke. He's been counter surfing like mad, finding things to chew up, and just plain not minding his manners.

It started yesterday with my gardening magasines. I had left them on the bench in my kitchen. I left the kitchen to go do a load of laundry and found my magasines all through the back yard, many of them ripped to pieces. So I decide to pick the ones I could salvage, and put them up on the counter. Next thing I know... he's grabs them again, an I caught him in the process of bringing them outside again (I leave the back door open so they can come and go as they please). It's a good thing I caught him this time round.

At dinnertime last night, we decided to have something quick and easy for supper. Hot dogs and corn on the cob is good. I was waiting for the water to boil for the corn, and then left the kitchen which is gated off from the rest of the house and has the back door open, to go see my husband in the front yard. I come back in and Duke had the package of hotdogs in his mouth, all but 7 dogs eaten (pkg of 12). These hotdogs were pushed toward the back of the the counter... not against the backsplash but he would have had to make an effort to get at them.

Today while I was in the front yard planting some hostas, the boy grabbed the rest of my magasines and finished yesterday's job on them... at the moment, there's ripped paper all over the yard, and ripped paper towels too. He managed to snag the roll of paper towels. These are all over the backyard and all over my kitchen floor. Oh and by the way, he's figured out how to open the garbage cupboard and the drawer I keep the sandwich bags and plastic wrap in (the evidence is sitting in the yard as well)

Right now, he's in his crate... not really to punish him but just so I can cool off. I'm so mad at him right now, it's better for both of us that he be absent.

Ok now can you guys please help me feel better? Any naughty stories at your end so I don't feel so all alone?

 

[esSJay]

Molson stole our last piece of pizza from our counter yesterday. And chewed a toe-hole in my favourite pair of socks. Not to mention snagging our hydro bill from our desk and ripping the "amount due" half of the page to shreds in the backyard! (I don't think the utility company will let us off with the "my dog ate my bill!" excuse)

Don't worry - you are not alone! All our doggies act up sometimes... just double up on the obedience training, and go run and play with him in the yard - something fun for the 2 of you and you will quickly be reminded of how much he loves you!

 

[Oaklys Dad]

It sounds like you have a pro counter surfer there. Time to set up some traps like tape or empty cans along the edge to try to teach him a lesson. Good luck to you. I'm sure you can't stay mad for long.

 

[mdoats]

How frustrating! Sounds like a little crate time is just what both of you need.

I think you might want to consider cutting way back on the amount of freedom that Duke has. Rookie was almost two before I gave him anywhere near that much freedom. In fact, I still won't leave food on the counter unless I'm physically IN the kitchen. Rookie is not a counter surfer, but I just figure it's easier not to risk it. Now that Duke has been rewarded for his counter surfing, he's far more likely to try it again. Sounds like it's time to cut way back on unsupervised freedom.

 

[KodyBear]

Hello!

I noticed that Duke and Kody are the same age....11 months.
Kody, has been a real stinker here lately! It's the age and I have been told it shall pass!:doh:
It's as if every thing they arent suppose to get into they do! :no:
Good Luck and thinking of you...as I am in the same boat!

 

[Thor0918]

Mine aren't counter surfers but, I have to say, you put a smile on my face. And I really needed it!

 

[Loboto-Me]

Well I took a few deep breaths, wrote my tale of woe in here, and let the bad boy out again. I'm glad that "this too shall pass" although it makes me kind of sad since then it will be a sign that he's getting older. Yeah I know, I'm never satisfied am I? The two are outside at the moment while I sweep up the kitchen. I'm trying to gather the courage to go out into the back yard and rake the mess "they" made out there. I'm not there yet . You see, when you have 2, like I've always said, one gets an idea and the other encourages him to do it. Duke is the "reacher" and Sophie is the "I'll help shred it to pieces".

I'm glad my pup could make you feel better Thor, that's always a good thing.

After the yard is picked up, I'll go out there and play with Dukers a bit. He looks so innocent with those big eyes and that waggly tail of his.... looks can be deceiving lol.

 

[paula bedard]

=) Sounds like he's in one of those regressive phases where all manners learned have gone out the window. Going back to basics with him, crating if necessary, will keep you sane and him knowing that his new behavior is not allowed. It'll pass. He's 11 months? Ike went through 3 of these phases in his first 18 months. By the time he was 2, he was a perfect gentleman....though he never did counter surf, he did have a mind of his own and needed constant reinforcement. You'll get through it and he'll be fine.

 

[goldensmum]

Sorry, but I've had to laugh. When i was a newlywed (many years ago), i made a lemon meringue pie to impress hubby, left it on the side to cool and then when i went back to it found the tin in Kelly's bed (our first golden) and a very happy girl licking her lips. None of our others have ever counter surfed though

 

[maggie1951]

It would take me all night with my naughty Charlie to tell you what she has done and still is doing

 

[NuttinButGoldens]

Don't feel bad. Just today Gilmour has discovered that the printer is not a printer.

It is an "Automatic Chew-Toy Dispenser"

 

[fostermom]

I remember when Danny was around that age. I was on the phone and had just finished grating some cheese for some nachos. I pushed the plate back to the back of the counter, even though none of the dogs were counter surfers, and left the room for 2 seconds. I walked back in and there's Danny scarfing down the cheese as fast as he could! He had made quite a dent in the pile. The good news is, he has never shown any desire to counter surf again.

One time I came home to my favorite plant shredded and strewn all over the dining room. This was pre-Danny, so it was Jasper and probably Jamine who did it.

Another time, again pre-Danny, I came home to my ficus tree mostly shredded.

And one time, after Danny joined the family, a pillow fight went on while we were gone.

LOL. I just grab the camera and take pictures when I see the aftermath.

 

[fuzzbuzz]

I know its not funny but I laughed. Buzz is just about 19 months and most of his counter surfing is done, I won't leave a sandwich on the counter without placing it to the back of the counter. And toilet paper can hang on the roller without him pulling it through the house. Only thing that he does now, if we are out and the phone is not in the base and it rings. He'll pick it up. Not sure what he does with it but it'll be on the floor with drool.
Clover, just about 10 months, is another story!! She is a thief!! Anything on the counter/desk/table is at risk of being taken for a walk by her and destroyed. What's funny is I'll hear her in the kitchen and know she got something off the counter and she'll come into the room where I am and look at me. IF I make eye contact, she's gone. IF I don't look at her, she'll get closer and closer to me wanting me to look so she can take off with it. I wait until I know I can get her and the object and tell her 'thank you, this is just what I needed'. No fun for her if she can't run away with it. Toilet paper isn't safe, she'll have it running through the house and chewed up like snow. And I still can't believe how much stuffing is in one little 'hedgehog'!! She isn't as bad as she was but she's still a thief. And I wouldn't trade her for anything!

 

[fameb]

It's the life of a Golden owner. Comes with the territory.

Just this week, while visiting my parents home. Yogi was in the back yard with my fathers puppy. All of a sudden there was a squirrel on top of the fence. Yogi spotted it and jumped on the deck, from the deck he proceded to literally fly over the fence into the neighbors yard. I hopped the fence to catch him and he was still chasing the squirrel all the way to the other side of there large yard.

Then the next day. He randomly walks up to the counter near the sink and jumps right on to the counter. Mind you the counter is about 4 feet high. He ended up knocking over a couple pots and pans and basicly froze up there. I had to lift him off and carry him straight to his crate. He never even counter surfed before, and after the loud noise of everything falling I don't think he will again.

Hang in there...They can definitly try our patience sometimes.

 

[Loboto-Me]

Well, I was out there raking up the mess when Duke pulled another stunt. He snagged the Vick Vaporub off the the table and started running around the yard with it. I have a cold, I don't feel like running after him, for that matter, I don't feel like cleaning up after him either. Anyway, he just did something he's never done before... he ran away from me when I tried to get the Vicks from him. Can you believe he'd never done that before today? He used to just stand there wagging his tail when he had a forbidden item in his mouth. I could just walk up to him and take it out of his mouth... when he's full of piss and vinegar today I tell ya.

I loving the stories of naughty Goldens, I'm loving the pictures too... too funny! When I saw the pictures, I figured I should at least take a picture of Duke's pile before I picked it up. I know it's not strewn anymore (except for the small pieced) but it gives an idea. Then there's the one with Duke standing proud beside it too. Why not show all his hard work right?

OMG! Please ignore my typos... this post is just full of them. I have a cold and a headache to go with it, don't feel like correcting it all. Blame it on being sick k?

 

[paula bedard]

He looks pretty darn proud in that 2nd pic. I'm still laughing, sorry.

 

[fuzzbuzz]

Oh look at Dukes eyes!! He's so happy with himself.

 

[awilkens]

Butter is 10 months old and I so identify with your frustration. Just the other day he took two albums from the shelf and broke them to pieces and shredded a bunch of cards. He counter surfs, won't come in from the yard when I call, chewed the wood trim of a window, and started barking at 1:30am last night scaring the heck out of me. Oh but that cute smiley face! I love him so much but argh sometimes he really knows how to get me.

 

[solinvictus]

Loboto-me wrote: I'm glad that "this too shall pass" although it makes me kind of sad since then it will be a sign that he's getting older.

IMO, it will not pass if he continuely gets rewarded for the counter surfing. (the reward is whatever he gets off the counter) (the chair, the bench etc.)

You need to manage the situation and give him less freedom so he does not have the opportunity to get the reward.

 

[esSJay]

A few weeks ago we went to Costco and bought a super mega pack of jumbo sized papertowels and accidentally left it out while we were at work and thought nothing of it (they are packaged in 8 times too many layers of plastic), and I came home to this! I thought the snow had come early!

Hmm... I wonder who the culprit is... anyone look guilty to you??

Here's my thread from that day: http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/showthread.php?t=63524