Dear UrbanAnimal,

My beagle-mix, Max, is a food hound who will not stop stealing food from my kitchen counter. When I see him doing it, I say "Down!" and he gets down. But he's back up as soon as I look the other way. My vet says he's in great shape and isn't missing anything in his diet. Any ideas?

Kimberley

Max is a normal dog displaying normal dog behaviour. If there are snack items available, it's his job to get them into his mouth. Whether languishing on a kitchen counter, tucked into a trash can or up for grabs in the kitty litter, Max is hard-wired to go for it.

The word "Down!" is a good one but, in this case, it probably won't work unless you're always standing at the counter when Max is in the vicinity. And you know those talented Beagle paws will be at it again when you're not looking. This is probably one of the most difficult behaviours to deal with although some dog trainers suggest it's easily remedied by offering a substitute like a dog toy. Let me see. Behind Door No. 1: a dog toy. Behind Door No. 2: a ham sandwich. I can hear Max laughing.

My advice is to make changes to your environment rather than spend a lifetime guarding your countertop. Lock away dog treats, keep the counter clear of food when you're unable to supervise and block access to the kitchen by closing the door or installing baby gates. Trash cans and kitty litter: same thing. Keep them out of Max's reach. These are all good tips but a dedicated scavenger may need additional rehab.

I hesitate to recommend booby traps because I abhor the idea of frightening a dog into behaving. But consider the dangers associated with freestyle scavenging (bone splinters and stomach upsets) and it becomes obvious that it's sometimes necessary to use unsavoury tactics to avoid unsavoury outcomes.

The following suggestions are from various dog trainers and experienced owners and you might find one works for Max.

1. Place a tasty food item on the counter and allow Max to put his paws up. At the moment his paws hit the counter, turn toward him swiftly and, with a menacing look in your eyes, growl "No!" as if you're a mother wolf stopping your kid from stealing your own food. Yes, it may sound silly but it may be all Max needs to remind him that you're the boss. If this doesn't work, read on ...

2. Place a tasty food item on a cookie sheet and push the sheet to the back of the counter. Around it, place empty tin cans or pie plates in pyramid formations. Leave the room. When Max goes for the food, the pyramids will clatter onto the counter and make a terrible racket when they hit the floor. For extra effect, put pennies inside the containers. Rush into the kitchen and in an astonished voice say something like, "What was that? That was terrible! Who did that?"

The unexpected and noisy avalanche followed by your immediate negative response could be enough to make Max re-think counter-surfing any time soon. And, since the "catastrophe" struck while you were out of the room, Max isn't sure if it will replay itself in the future, regardless of your presence.

3. There are commercial products available with names such as "Scat Mat" and "Snappy Trainer," both of which employ negative reinforcement. The Scat Mat uses a mild shock similar to static electricity while the Snappy Trainer uses plastic paddles that close shut similar to a mousetrap but not strong enough to hurt a dog.

Both products are to be placed on any surface that you want to remain dog-free. Honestly, I would try just about anything else before I used these but, as previously mentioned, the hard-wired scavenger in your dog may require these tactics if all others fail.

Good luck! If you need additional help, your veterinarian and professional dog trainer may be able to give you more tips and suggestions.

E-mail jacque-newman@rogers.com with a question, comment or suggestion.