Pet care: Counter surfing: It’s not just fun and games

Q: How do we stop Olive from counter surfing? We try keeping things off of the counter, but sometimes that's not possible — like when I am making dinner or the phone rings.

Dr. Nichol: Naughty Olive. Eating your lunch and believing she's above the law. And you've tried everything, like yelling bad words and swatting. At the end of your rope, you could give her a dose of her own medicine by stealing her kibbles. That won't work either.

Lots of dogs, like Olive, live by Willie Sutton's law. He robbed banks because, "That's where the money is." Your kitchen counter is the ATM, unguarded and ripe for pillaging.

Why, oh why would a nice girl like Olive, raised with a steady flow of nutritious dog food, need to steal? Besides being domestic pets who belong with us in our homes our dogs are genetically programmed for survival in the wild. Making it until spring is not assured; the great famine could strike in 10 minutes. Olive must snag every morsel she can, anytime the opportunity presents. That roast beast cooling on your counter smells mighty good, and after all, she was named for food. Beyond having your dinner ravaged, the greater risk is your dog wolfing down bones, chocolate, grapes, raisins, or the sugar substitute xylitol.

Olive's lifetime of dietary larceny started the first time she cashed in, an instant reward for a successful hunt. Some dogs learn to lurk and wait for the phone to ring or for the baby to cry, knowing that the vault will be open for a grab and run.

How about punishments or rehab? Fuhgeddaboudit. Olive is an inveterate food forager. But she can scavenge legitimately from food-dispensing toys and puzzles, like a Twist 'n Treat outside or in another room while you are cooking and eating. When she's loose in the house you should keep all food off your counters and dinner table. Booby traps, like a Scraminal, Ssscat, or an Invisible Fence Indoor Avoidance Shield can be the kitchen counter police when you're off-duty.

• For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference at drjeffnichol.com.

Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency trained veterinary behaviorist in Albuquerque. He provides consultations in person and in groups by Zoom (drjeffnichol.com). Each week he shares a blog and a video to help bring out the best in pets and their people. Sign up at no charge at drjeffnichol.com. Post pet questions through drjeffnichol.com/contact/ or mail to 4000 Montgomery NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109.