How Do I Stop My Dog From Counter Surfing?

If you’ve ever walked into the kitchen to find your dog proudly standing at the counter, licking up crumbs or scarfing down a sandwich, you’re not alone. Counter surfing is a common behavior problem among dogs, but it can quickly become frustrating and even dangerous. Whether your dog is motivated by hunger, curiosity, or learned rewards, the good news is that counter surfing can be prevented with consistency and the right training techniques. Explore why dogs counter surf and how to stop it safely and effectively.

TL;DR: Keeping counters clear, supervising them, restricting kitchen access, and rewarding calm behavior can help stop counter surfing. But consistency, management, and positive reinforcement on your end are essential.

Why do dogs counter surf?

Dogs counter surf because they’re naturally motivated by food and curiosity. In the wild, scavenging and searching for food are survival behaviors, so it’s instinctive for dogs to investigate surfaces where they might find something tasty. 

When a dog succeeds at grabbing food from the counter, the behavior is reinforced, meaning they’re more likely to do it again in the future. Even if they only find something once, that single reward makes the effort worthwhile. Some dogs also counter-surf out of boredom or a lack of training. This is especially true if they don’t get enough mental or physical enrichment throughout the day.

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Teach alternative behaviors to stop counter surfing

Teaching your dog an alternative behavior is one of the most effective ways to stop counter surfing. 

Research on dogs has shown that pet parents using positive reinforcement-based and function-based interventions reduce unwanted behaviors. Over time, new habits will replace old ones, because the dog learns that four paws on the floor around counters results in attention and treats, while jumping up no longer pays off.

Here are a few tips on training your dog to stop counter surfing. 

• Redirect their behavior: Instead of punishing your dog for jumping up, redirect that energy toward a behavior that’s incompatible with the problem, such as sitting, lying on a mat, or staying on or in a designated spot while you prepare food. 

• Make it rewarding: Rewarding your dog for remaining on their mat or keeping all four paws on the floor teaches them that good things come from these alternative behaviors. 

• Be consistent with training: These trained behaviors give your dog something rewarding to do and help reinforce the positive behavior. 

Preventing counter surfing

Preventing counter surfing starts with managing your dog’s environment and setting them up for success. Since dogs are naturally motivated by food and rewards, the key is to remove the temptation and teach them that good things happen when they keep their paws on the floor. 

Managing the environment is one of the most effective ways to prevent counter surfing before it happens. By controlling your dog’s access to tempting opportunities, you can stop the behavior. 

Keep counters clear

Keeping counters clear is one of the simplest ways to prevent counter surfing. Dogs are opportunistic scavengers, and even one successful steal reinforces the behavior, making it more likely to happen again. Keep food, dishes, and other attractions off counters and securely store them when unsupervised. Removing these temptations prevents self-reward and supports new, desired habits. Environmental management works best alongside training and consistent reinforcement of calm, grounded behavior around counters.

Prevent access to the kitchen

Restricting your dog’s access to the kitchen, especially during meal prep or when food is left unattended, is an important step in preventing counter surfing. Use baby gates, playpens, or closed doors to keep your dog from being tempted or rewarded for jumping up to explore countertops. 

Since dogs repeat behaviors that lead to rewards, blocking access removes the opportunity for self-reinforcement and helps break the cycle. This approach also keeps your dog safe from potential hazards such as hot surfaces, GI issues, and toxic foods. Combined with training and consistent positive reinforcement for calm behavior, this can significantly reduce the chances of counter surfing becoming a habit.

Install baby gates or barriers in other rooms

Gates can block entry not only to the kitchen, but also to other rooms with accessible surfaces, such as coffee tables or side tables, where food may be present. Because dogs quickly learn from outcomes, preventing access helps the behavior fade over time. Barriers also promote safety by keeping dogs away from household dangers. When paired with alternative behaviors in other areas, physical management tools like gates can be an effective part of a long-term prevention plan.

Track and manage your dog’s behavior

Tracking and managing your dog’s behavior helps identify patterns and prevents counter surfing before it becomes a habit. Keeping notes on when and where your dog tries to jump up, such as during meal prep or when food is left unattended, helps you find opportunities to adjust their environment or training plan. 

Consistent supervision allows you to interrupt unwanted behavior and redirect your dog to a more appropriate behavior, like going to their mat or sitting calmly. By actively monitoring and managing their behavior, you can anticipate challenges, reinforce good choices, and set up your dog for success through structure and consistency.

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When to consult a professional trainer or behaviorist

If counter surfing continues despite consistent management and training, it may be time to consult a certified dog trainer. Persistent food stealing or other impulse control issues can indicate that your dog needs a more structured training plan or professional guidance. 

A qualified professional can assess your dog’s environment, figure out why the behavior is happening, and design a personalized plan using positive reinforcement methods. If you find that your dog is eating anything and everything, has needed medical intervention or surgery as a result of eating inappropriate items, or is showing signs of resource guarding, a behavior consultant or veterinary behaviorist can guide you through these more complex behaviors and situations. 

Seeking help early prevents the behavior from becoming more ingrained and ensures both safety and success for you and your dog. 

Commonly asked questions

Are noise deterrents helpful for counter surfing?

Noise deterrents (such as cans of coins, air horns, or motion-activated alarms) may startle a dog in the moment. But they do not teach the dog a preferred behavior and can actually increase fear or anxiety around the kitchen or food preparation areas. According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior and American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, punishment-based tools, including startling noises, can cause stress, damage trust, and lead to new behavior problems such as fear of sounds, people, or certain spaces. Dogs may also associate the noise with the presence of their pet parent, meaning the counter surfing may still happen when no one is home. 

How can I prevent my dog from getting on tables?

To prevent your dog from getting on tables, use management, prevention, and positive training. Manage your dog’s environment, teach them a different behavior (such as going to their mat, sitting, or putting four paws on the floor), and for the best results, be consistent with positive reinforcement training.

References

Bindoff, Aidan. “How to Put an End to Counter-Surfing.” Karen Pryor Clicker Training, September 9, 2025. clickertraining.com/how-to-put-an-end-to-counter-surfing.

Colman, Stephanie. “Surf’s up! How to Put an End to Counter Surfing.” Whole Dog Journal, January 8, 2025. www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/surfs-up-how-to-put-an-end-to-counter-surfing.

Gover, Holly C., Tara A. Fahmie, and Ciobha A. McKeown. “A Review of Environmental Enrichment as Treatment for Problem Behavior Maintained by Automatic Reinforcement.” Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 52, no. 1 (September 21, 2018): 299–314. doi.org/10.1002/jaba.508.

Pfaller-Sadovsky, Nicole, Gareth Arnott, and Camilo Hurtado-Parrado. “Using Principles from Applied Behaviour Analysis to Address an Undesired Behaviour: Functional Analysis and Treatment of Jumping up in Companion Dogs.” Animals 9, no. 12 (December 6, 2019): 1091.doi.org/10.3390/ani9121091.

“Position Statements and Handouts (for the Public).” The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, July 10, 2025. avsab.org/resources/position-statements.

Sarkar, Rohan, Anirban Bhowmick, Debsruti Dasgupta, Rounak Banerjee, Poushali Chakraborty, Abhijit Nayek, R. Sreelekshmi, et al. “Eating Smart: Free-Ranging Dogs Follow an Optimal Foraging Strategy While Scavenging in Groups.” Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 11 (March 17, 2023). doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1099543.

Vieira de Castro, Ana Catarina, Danielle Fuchs, Gabriela Munhoz Morello, Stefania Pastur, Liliana de Sousa, and I. Anna Olsson. “Does Training Method Matter? Evidence for the Negative Impact of Aversive-Based Methods on Companion Dog Welfare.” PLOS ONE 15, no. 12 (December 16, 2020). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225023.

Ziv, Gal. “The Effects of Using Aversive Training Methods in Dogs—a Review.” Journal of Veterinary Behavior 19 (May 2017): 50–60. doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2017.02.004.