Dear Critter Corner: We have had some recent setbacks in our pup’s training. He has started to get into mischief when alone and has now taken up counter surfing and has mastered the craft. He is only doing this when he thinks we are not watching or are not in the room. Can you give us some tips on how to prevent this behavior?
Since this is a new behavior, I would look at any changes in your routine that may be causing the onset of the new behavior. If there has been a decrease in the amount of exercise he has been getting, this can contribute to the unwanted behavior. If there have been no changes to your routine, then you will want to turn to training and management.
Managing the environment would start with keeping counters clear and items out of reach. Limit access to the area when you are not around to watch your pup. Call your pup away from the area at the start of the behavior, i.e., nose in the air sniffing for something. Reinforce them for a correct choice, such as coming away from the area. Actively look for opportunities to reinforce them when they do make the right choice on their own, such as doing nothing when they go into the area.
Training can involve teaching a solid ‘leave it’ cue and generalizing the behavior to some of the items your pup tends to steal. You can also teach your pup to go to a certain spot or ‘place’ when they are in the area to give them a place to be, rather than wandering around looking for trouble.
If you need additional help with training your pup, check out our website for upcoming classes or schedule a consultation to address the specific behavior.