taking food from counters

[cleo29]

Hello!

We have two dogs; a Pug, who is clearly not the misbehaving pup here, and a rescue Greyhound. Our Grey, over the last week and half, is suddenly taking food from the counter or sink. First it was ravioli sitting in the colander, then a week later tenderloin that was sitting on the cutting board and today pita bread. He has never been food driven before so this is a frustrating development.

Any good tips on how to put a stop to this behavior? It always happens where I am occupied elsewhere so I am not catching him in the act.

Thanks!

[CloudBee]

Our dog started going this when he was put on seizure medication. I took a freshly baked loaf of bread out of the oven, turned my back, and it was gone. Same with a large portion of ham. He even got ballsy and would steal food from DS's dinner plate.

Has he started on any new medication or had any health issues arise in the last few months?

[shortcake2675]

I have a great pyr that has a been a counter surfer most of her life. It’s self rewarding behavior. I’ve heard of using a can full of pennies tied to some sort of food so when they pull it off, it scares them. Or if you can, baby gate the dog out of the kitchen. It worked for us for many years, though I have a funny story about my Newf crashing through two baby gates for a bag of flour.

We just do our best to keep food monitored or in a safe place. In her old age, she’s gotten more brazen. It used to be she ate things when we left the house. Then she snatched food when we left the room. Last week, she snatched a waffle from the cooling rack across the counter from my husband and I all sneaky. She’s 11, so it’s hard to imagine training it out of her, but I think we’re eliminating more of the opportunities to eat a box of a cereal off the counter after we leave, so she’s resorted to desperate measures.

Sorry I’m not more help. The safe spaces in my home are in the microwave, on the hot stove or in the hot oven, in the fridge, or behind the pantry door, which latches with a knob.

[pamelasaur]

What triggers him that behavior?