Expert: Alan J Turner, SATS LL1 - 10/26/2006

Question
I have a 3 year old, male Rhodesian Ridgeback.  He is the sweetest dog in the world, but he is also the most stubborn, defiant dog I've ever met.  He is SO food-driven that I cannot control him in the house.  He is ALWAYS scavenging for food, and he counter-surfs every chance he gets.  He has been doing this all of his life, and nothing I have done seems to have any effect.  I have tried loud and unexpected noises, spankings, "time-outs", and food that tastes bad (ex. onions, peppers).  He doesn't care.  It appears that no punishment is severe enough to deter him - the crime is worth the punishment.  I try to keep my counters free from food, but I am sick of hiding my bread in the microwave, and of worrying that he is going to snatch my sandwich when I turn to fill my glass with water!  Plus, he steals my guests food, which is extremely embarrassing!  Please send me any advice you can - I do not know how to curb this naughty behavior!  I love him, but he is making me crazy!

Thank you so much,
"At Wit's End"


Answer
Dear Kyle,
Thanks for the questions. I love your honesty. Say, before someone taught me how to communicate and motivate dogs, my dog Bentley drove me crazy - I know how it is! I'll help you. For the moment forget about stopping counter surfing. Yep, forget aboutit! It's much more efficient to teach Hoover to perform a behavior (and receive rewards for performing) a behavior that is incompatible with surfing and stealing guests' food, like go-to-place. Focus on teaching not stopping.

Your dog, I'll call him Hoover, wants food and has figured out  methods to get the things he wants. Good for him, he's not stubborn or defiant - he's very smart! apparently smarter than you because he is winning this war over home and counter turf! (smile) No offense, I think dogs are smarter than most of us, me included. (smile) They only repeat behaviors that work to achieve their immediate goals, we repeat behaviors, even the failures over and over - regardless of their affects on our goals!

Instead of war, think peace- train with your brain not your brawn.

Management techniques like storing bread in the microwave are marvelous short-term tools, like diapers. For example, we use diapers on babies until we potty train them. Management techniques get old quick, but for now I want you to use them, lots of them!

Every time Hoover gets food from the counter it's fertilizer on the behavior of counter-surfing. I'm guessing that behavior is good and green by now - lots of fertilizer....very strong history of intermittent reinforcement for the behavior.. now it is strong and will not vanish easily. NO punishers will be effective unless you are willing to hurt him, and I mean hurt him... but remember, I stated let's forgetaboutit, think peace and train with our brains.

Buy a Gentle Leader headcollar and the instructional DVD and learn how to use it correctly... - now you can control him in the house via the use of this "diaper" or short term management tool. Never give him the opportunity to steal from guests or surf your counter. Use a leash to prevent this behavior. NO jerking, no screaming, no corrections, just prevent counter surfing from occurring by holding on to the leash.

Teach him sit, down, stay, leave-it, go-to-place, here and heel. Use a reward system- this guy is very motivated for food, great, use food attention, and touch as rewards. Right now, Hoover gets all three rewards you have to offer for free. He gets food - regardless of his behavior, he get attention - regardless of his behavior and he get touch - regardless of his behavior. You can kindly teach Hoover that you own the food attention and touch and he only gets it when he cooperates with you.

You've heard it before and it applies to dogs as well. If you want Hoover's behavior to change, you'll have to change yours. Visit this web site to learn about changing the owner - pet relationship.
http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00470.htm

The simple solution (simple to type - not to implement) is to train Hoover, not by force, not by punishment but by outsmarting him. Motivate Hoover to want the same things as you by controlling his environment and managing all the good stuff he wants. NO more freebies for Hoover.

Buy the book, The Only Dog Training Book You Will Ever Need: From Avoiding Accidents to Banishing Barking, the Basics for Raising a Well-Behaved Dog
by Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz, Andrea Mattei

It's only seven dollars and it will be some of the best money spent on Hoover! Dogs are luxuries - yes we expect luxuries to cost us something but - - no way should anyone live with a luxury that is driving them crazy! (smile)

Happy Training!
AT