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Counter Surfing

JBB Dog Training

James B Barnes
1.11.19    12:35p

I started my morning off with a small breakfast, some nice warm coffee, and some cuddle time with the pups. While I was reading 'We Are Displaced' by Malala Yousafzai, which is an amazing book full of eye-opening stories from refugee girls around the world, I heard some shuffling behind me. I didn't really think anything of it since the cat likes to smack things around sometimes. I read a few more pages before I heard an unusual slurping noise. I turn around and one of my Golden Retrievers has their paws up on the counter and is licking my empty breakfast plate! I was appalled! We had gone over this when they were young! I thought we had nipped this behavior in the bud long ago!

That's when I realized that we hadn't gone over it since then! No wonder the boy thought it was okay, we hadn't kept up with our training in the kitchen. So, upon realizing it was partially my fault I decided to go back to the basics. We started with clearing off the counters and then placing a small plate of cat kibble in the center of the kitchen island. I sat back at the table with my book in hand, but I didn't start reading again. I kept my eyes on my book but had my peripherals peeled for the pups to try and counter surf again.

Within minutes I saw the boy circling the kitchen island again, nose in the air, so I tossed out a quick but firm, "ah, leave it Danny." He glanced back at me and wandered off to the living room. A minor success! I praised him and gave him a reward for listening. I kept the small plate of cat kibble on the counter throughout the morning and reminded the pups to leave it any time they got too curious or too close to the kibble. Doing so reinforced that they weren't allowed to pop up on the counter and if they didn't they got praise and pets.

Training is a daily event. If you make sure to keep on top of it and stay consistent then you'll have success day after day. It can be daunting to start, but once you get going it'll be easier.
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Comments

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  3. Alia parkerMay 28, 2023 at 7:02 AM

    A dog feeder, also known as an automatic dog feeder or pet feeder, is a device designed to dispense food to dogs automatically at predetermined times or intervals. It is a convenient tool that ensures dogs are fed regularly and in controlled portions, even when their owners are not present.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJuly 18, 2023 at 9:38 PM

    Great article! It's impressive how you recognized the need to reinforce the training and took immediate action to prevent counter-surfing. Consistency is key, and your approach with positive reinforcement is commendable. Training is an ongoing process, and your dedication will surely lead to better-behaved pups in the long run. Well done!

    ReplyDelete

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