I realise this is an age old problem and that different things work (or not) for different dogs but I have a problem with my male that I have never encountered with other dogs before as he is so persistent.

Whenever I leave food on the counter, it doesn't matter what - he's not fussy, within seconds of me turning my back to continue doing something else he steals and swallows it. I normally ban him from the kitchen because of his antics that also include constant counter surfing, leaving slobber, horrible beard hair with lord knows what in it on a food preparation surface - because of his size he doesn't have to jump up to do this - but does jump very quickly and silently to get to food when it is pushed right to the back. He can open the kitchen door, even though the handle has been turned upside down deliberately:rolleyes: He is a constant liability whenever food is around and last night, yet again he stole my dinner, because we eat in another room I took 2 plates of food through for the family, left mine on the counter, he got the door open and had gulped it down in a matter of seconds.

He's certainly well fed, worm free and apart from this bad habit is a joy to live with. I realise that this is natural dog behaviour, I know that they are by nature, scavengers - but it's a real pain. My bitch who also loves her food doesn't do it, they are never in the kitchen at the same time so the culprit is very obviously him.

Solution? Apart from ignoring him whilst silently seething, or on the very odd occasion that he has been caught in the act verbally reprimanding him I cannot think of a deterrent apart from banning him from the kitchen which I always do, but as in last night's example he can be very Wiley and sneak in given the slightest chance.

I have thought of leaving pans and lids that would crash down making him jump but I'm not sure this would work and if it did - for how long? I know that prevention is better than cure but I don't always have the time, other than closing the door which I do, to put him under lock and key in another area of the house. And when children are about they very rarely think to close any door.

Ideas or experiences please.

My dogs spend a lot of time in the kitchen, it is where they are left if I go out and where pups are confined when unsupervised until house trained.

the only way to prevent what you describe (happens here especially with my adult daughter) is to never leave anything out ever.

When I am dishing up I put the dished up food in the Microwave and/or oven, while I carry the others out.  Fortunately I also have a long and wide window sill they can't reach behind the sink.

Dogs are opportunists and scavengers by nature.  Training can only help whilst your there or for a very brief time when your not. 

I can generally turn to the fridge or cooker but I do have to actually tell them to 'leave it' otherwise they think it's fair game.

Saves the battles and frustration to remove the opportunity.

You could of course crate him whilst you have food out, or shut him in anther room he cannot get out of, I know what mine would think of that ;)

Thank you Barbara ;-)

Nice to know that I'm not alone in the theft department.

Like your dogs, I don't think that he would take too kindly to being crated or put under lock and key in another room as although he is extremely laid back he can be an obstinate so 'n so when he chooses.

The thing that really annoys me is even after clearing up and disinfecting work surfaces as I do twice a day, he stillcounter surfs given the opportunity, you can't prepare anything before wiping down first - just in case.

Our dog used to tear at black bin bags always knocking our kitchen bin and  getting in there, my OH caught him one day out in the garden and he grabbed his back legs and shoved him in the bag shouting DO YOU WANT THE BIN very loudly.. now at the time I had a go at my OH for being mean but a short Sharp shock did the trick. My dog has never again eaten from a bin.
Same as my terrier bitch she would always steal food, biscuits were her thing, one day I left a whole 500g box of cat biscuits in the kitchen and I nipped out for 10 minutes saw that she had eaten the lot I got the empty box which was chewed and put it on her head saying HAVE THE CAT BISCUITS I was rather cross. She has never stolen food since.

I'm not into shouting at my dogs  so when I did that obviously I did terrorize her for a few minutes but in the long run it has worked.
If you carry on just ignoring this problem, how is he ever going to realise its not allowed. Set him up for catching him in the act and go mad at him [make a big stink] and put him in the garden for 10 minutes he'll realise he's been a bad boy.

I'm glad I'm not the only the one with dogs like this!! I have 2 springers that always worktop surf and steal. The taller one can reach quite far back on the units and will steal as soon as your bacl is turned. The shorter one waits for him to get it on the floor and then helps to eat it, but hse will also actually steal off your plate while your eating!! my daughter always finds this handy when she doesn't like something or wont eat anymore - she puts her plate closer to edge of the table waiting for tilly to see it then lets her eat some then complains she cant eat it as the dog has licked it or stolen some!!!

There was a time when we kept the crisps in wicker baskets low down in kitchen cuboard, they were dissappearing very quickly and the kids got blamed for being greedy and taking without asking until we found all the empty packets in the dogs pen! they had stolen them, quickly taken out through the dog flap and scoffed!!

I have never found a way to stop them stealing except as brainless does which is to put everything out of reach.

As for it being unhygenic, its not proper dinner in my house unless it has a dog hair in it!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I had my first Elkhound she never ever attempted to steal anything or counter surf for about two years.

Then one day I left some meat defrosting at the back of the worktop, and that was it.

There reason they do it is because it works.

If you are really consistent with them never finding anything to eat then they will stop surfing.  It is like playing the slot machines though 9 times they won't win, but the 10th they hit the Jackpot.  It is a known fact that random reward enforces a behaviour.

Some years ago when I had a litter in November I had a lot of people visiting around Christmas to view the pups.  I had done a lot of Christmas baking and had a platter of various cakes on the Coffee table (not a particularly low one).

Twice in this time I went to see people out to come back to an empty plate!!!  Hard to say which of the three it had been.

You should try having whippets - possible the worst thieves in the world! 
I will be chopping veg for dinner and have my back turned for a matter of seconds and it will be whipped off the side.  Same with grated cheese - well anything really!
I have come to accept it as a breed trait, and do wherever possible remember not to leave anything where they can get it, but they have been known to be discovered stood on the kitchen sides helping themselves, showing absolutely no shame when told off.  With whippets they will always find a way! 

My girl is very good and won't touch anything, I can even leave food on tables etc and she will never touch it, nor my brothers and all my mum's bar one.....her orange and white Cocker is shocking! We have nicknamed her jaws. My mum only has to turn her back for a second and she is like something from the Olympics she will scale any unit, cupboard do a super jump and climb to get to any food left unattended, she can be at the opposite end of the kitchen, my mum can turn to chat and she's taken it and woolfed it down. :-D She once stole a whole chicken from my kitchen unit when visiting.

I guess some dogs are just like it, when she is in my home like Brainless any left overs must go in the oven or microwave, nothing is ever left on the side, mostly she is shut out of the kitchen, but sometimes human nature we forget, so just take precautions, my boys always say to me, mum remember JAWS is here! :-D

Be grateful that's its only the work surfaces that they steal from.                                                                                                                                                      

A few years ago my GSD discovered that if she opened the fridge she could have a feast! Tried childproof locks but she would just scratch at it until it came off and she had broken the fridges seal.

Locking her out of the kitchen wasn't an option as she's always had run of the house and will destroy the door if left confined.

Having bought my fourth fridge freezer in as many years I've now had a joiner build a cupboard under the stairs for it and so far so good.

Never forget the funny story of a friend doing food for a wedding for 60 people . Had the whole spread all prepared and off they went to the service came back to the kitchen to find that the dog had gotten in and had a feeding frenzy !! After eating most of the food on display started unbelievably on the chip oil in the deep fat fryer !! Must of been one sick dog as they had to take it to the vet !!
Not really funny for the family ! :)

When i was at uni (long time ago) my friend's sister was blind and had a guide dog. Lovely dog, but eat everything in sight. They went to a family christening and were sitting in the front room, so she took the dog's harness off after a bit she realised her dog had wandered off. Others were sent to find the dog, who had eaten EVERYTHING on the tables in the kitchen.

the only way to prevent what you describe (happens here especially with my adult daughter) is to never leave anything out ever.

yes.

And I can't say enough times on this board how deadly it can be too, because no matter how religiously you clear everything away you can slip up ( like in my house I constantly clear up while the other family members constantly get things out..it can be like fighting a loosing battle! )

However, always clearing up and despite a week of intensive vetinary care my wonderful young fit healthy Border Collie died of renal faliure by eatng a little bag of mixed dried fruit that had been left out by mistake. At the time even my vets dod not know these were toxic let alone so deadly.  So you do need to treat this issue very seriously.

It is a natural behaviour in some dogs and one of mine will never steal food the other is trained not to steal it when I am around and not to steal food she has been told not to steal..but she can't be taught not to steal food that belongs to other people because too many people have encouraged her by feeding  her.  The only way is to patiently carry on with training and to never leave food out when she is left alone and to have her on a lead if I know there are people around with picnics or worse still BBQ's.  And to try not to be too deeply miserable when she leaves the ring in obedience or agility competitions... which is now 80% of the time. :( 

>As for it being unhygienic, its not proper dinner in my house unless it has a dog hair in it!!!!!!!!!!!!<

Couldn't agree more, we live, eat, drink and breathe it here too. Especially with my breed as their hair is so dense and around 8" long. But there is a more serious concern as my two have very long dense beards and moustaches and are fed raw, they always have bits of raw meat stuck to their facial hair until it is removed in the evening after their second meal. This of course transfers itself onto surfaces, cupboards, doors - you name it :rolleyes: But I don't fancy sharing the BARF diet with them :-D

I know from experience that some dogs have these traits and some don't, even within the same breed. My bitch just isn't a thief, both of mine, when they were pups were reprimanded verbally for stealing as they were caught in the act. But I do think that prevention is better than cure, it's just a pain when you don't or can't always prevent it :-D But I know it would do absolutely no good giving my boy a shock like magica advocates as IME this will just teach him to be wary of me and even more sneaky next time. I'm not saying it doesn't or won't work for every dog but in our case I know how his mind works and it wouldn't achieve anything apart from distrust. It's knowing how his mind works that has got us to the obedience level -bar the thieving-  that we are at today. ie, pressing the right buttons ;-).

I remember quite a few years ago, my Grandmother had a dog that was partial to food and we were going there for Christmas dinner, by the time we got there she was in tears as the dog had taken the turkey off the work surface and taken it into the garden and buried it for later. So there were about 10 very hungry people that day and a thoroughly disgraced dog. 

Completely of the "remove all temptation" side of the fence here :)  Out of 6 dogs only 1, (OK,OK, until latest addition), has been an opportunist - despite going through the same training regime as his predecessors he was an accomplished and wiley misappropriator of anything remotely edible left within reach (i.e. higher than even he could reach by using another piece of furniture for leverage :-D )  Baby brat is set to follow closely in the paws of his great uncle twice removed and I'm fairly sure that since his success rate is hovering around the 95% mark he will be forever in need of our family adopting a minimalist approach on the food front - not difficult if you saw my idea of a weekly shop LOL.

As to magica's rather eyebrow raising if not entirely hackle raising methods I guess a big black bin bag would work ...... in fact go for it BUT I'd advise using two :)  Bag one: open, dispose of all edibles and packaging thereof into it, tie up firmly and deposit in wheely bin, adding a large stone to keep lid firmly in situ.   
Bag two: save for errant OH's, kids, relatives, neighbours or general do-gooders and at the first suggestion of using the bag in any direct connection with said dog, ensure same is fitted snugly over the head of well meaning (however totally misguided) biped, tie up firmly, deposit in wheely bin adding PARTICULARLY large and heavy object to keep lid in situ :)

HTH hun ;)

>Bag two: save for errant OH's, kids, relatives, neighbours or general do-gooders and at the first suggestion of using the bag in any direct connection with said dog, ensure same is fitted snugly over the head of well meaning (however totally misguided) biped, tie up firmly, deposit in wheely bin adding PARTICULARLY large and heavy object to keep lid in situ<

ROFPMLMOL - :-D  :-D

Teri, question? At what stage does one release ignoramus from said wheely bin without contravening the 'uman rites act? ;-)

Refuse collection day I guess would provide a means of escape .... personally I think by that stage it's a Local Authority problem, maybe even classed as hazardous waste :-D

>maybe even classed as hazardous waste<

Yes but you're forgetting one thing - hazardous waste must be contained in a yellow wheely bin. :-D :-D - in keeping with the colour of the biped that has inflicted said 'punishment' in the first place ;-)

i had the same problem i had a behaviorist in for another dog and another problem and when he came he assessed all the dogs as a pack and when taking about the way they behaved i did bring this problem up.

he told me that i should have all the dogs around me to drop a piece of food on the floor and the dogs are not aloud to take it you guard the food yourself and claim it as yours when they go to take it you say ah/no/leave or which ever command you prefer but they are not aloud to take it until you tell them to i have four large breed dogs and you pick the calm and relaxed dog to be the one to take the food.

i have been very persistent with this and yesterday the kids walked away from their breakfast and left their bowls on the table normally one of the dogs would have taken it but it was there for at least two hours and no one touched it i was so surprised that i did leave it on purpose i would normally have taken them to the sink as fast a possible but wanted to see if they were going to try and steal it THEY DIDN'T. so this method does works.

In reply to teri..
Yes I did kick off to my OH who did this to our dog Snoop... let me just say the dog stayed the OH I got rid of.. My snoop for a few years did have issues with me putting in a new black bag in my kitchen bin- He would bark at me obviously telling me don't come near me with that will you !! He's cool now when he See's me changing the bin. :)

 

Nice to know that I'm not alone in the theft department.

No you are not alone,  my 8 yr old boy is the biggest scavenger  there is.... if he can get it he will, he is  the bane of the cats life,  (her food is on the back of the work top , in laundry)   If it is reachable he will get it...nothing it out of reach for him, his front legs are elastic

I have learnt the onty way is to NEVER leave ANYTHING out.

Just remembering the chicken leg he managed to get of the cooked chicken.

And the  Chocolate B/Day cake I made for my son (yrs ago)   I am not the best cake maker, but I decided to have a go  and make him a b/day cake ,  spent hrs on it, covered it in icing , left it to set... came back in the kitchen 10 Min's later (it was pushed to the back of the work surface)  and the little s*d is sitting licking his lips......... a perfect Bandits set of chops mark was missing out of the cake....

I could have killed him, ...mind the kids never new till yrs later,  I tidied the chunk up, (like a big slice )  stuck the candles on, and told them I had  had to test it..........LOL!!

Can't believe my boy. He has just been moaning to me about his breakfast and as on computer told in a minute .. He just took himself in the lounge and took a apple off the coffee table and munched it down !! Bless him he never does things like that normally.  He must really want his breekie !!  :)