Counter Surfing

[JazzysMom]

Hmmm, I've never heard of scat mats, but now I am intrigued.

Do you think they'd work for keeping dogs out of areas in the home? Like if I kept one at the bottom of the stairs, AND one at the entrance to the hall at the top of the stairs, could I get rid of the gates?

I'm guessing not, since the cats are on the other side and a little electrical shock won't deter them when they are in predator mode. But you can feel free to convince me otherwise! I'd so love to be able to stop climbing over gates to get around my house!

[WBL]

I've used it before at the bottom of my stairs when we first got Tiggy to keep him from chasing the cat up. I have the medium one and it's I think 16 inches wide, and the large is around 20 inches wide, so will avoid the area and some might just go right through it. I believe it would just depend on the dog

[JazzysMom]

@WBL:

I've used it before at the bottom of my stairs when we first got Tiggy to keep him from chasing the cat up. I have the medium one and it's I think 16 inches wide, and the large is around 20 inches wide, so will avoid the area and some might just go right through it. I believe it would just depend on the dog

Maybe if I had more than one; perhaps one at the bottom and one in the middle, AND one at the top, LOL. Then no matter where they jump, they're getting zapped!

Sigh. There's only one way to find out, but I hate to spend the money and then find out mine are willing to take the zap in order to achieve the goal.

[red and white furever]

I'd so love to be able to stop climbing over gates to get around my house!

I so hear ya on that one!!!

I've seen products called X Mats which have sharp little points on it to deter paws from surfaces. It reminds me of those clear car floor mats or clear carpet runner protectors turned upside down. I don't have any experience with them, but they look like they'd get the "point" across.

[Quercus]

@red:

I so hear ya on that one!!!

I've seen products called X Mats which have sharp little points on it to deter paws from surfaces. It reminds me of those clear car floor mats or clear carpet runner protectors turned upside down. I don't have any experience with them, but they look like they'd get the "point" across.

Yep, those work, especially on couches or chairs. I always tell people to buy the carpet runner and cut it to the size they need.

Maybe if I glue carpet runner around the edges of our table nook…hmm. The dogs don't put their feet on the top of the table, just rest on the edges. And it is a table where we sit all the time, so I don't think they would buy the "oh, OW scary" technique (though it is a great idea)...that would be most effective somewhere where they don't see you comfortable leaning on the forbidden surface a lot. Plus this is a loooooong held, occasionally self reinforcing habit. I think I might have better luck changing it if I had done it three years ago when we moved into our new family room....duh.

Querk has taken it to new levels in that he waits for us to leave the room, then will jump up on the bench around the table AND actually climb ON TO the table when he thinks we have left the house! AAACK!

[nala121498]

@Quercus:

…climb ON TO the table when he thinks we have left the house! AAACK!

We frequently find Nala on our table…AAACK! is right!!;)

[Quercus]

On this topic, has anybody seen the new Reynold's Wrap commerical where a full grown lab climbs on to the dining room table and tries to get into a container wrapped with the product? The only spoken line is "Reynold's wrap..chocolate lab proof"

HA! One of those producers must have a chocolate lab because that is just so apt! Now, the reason they probably didn't use a Basenji is because it certainly wouldn't have been "proof" in any sort of way.

Anyhow, I had a physical reaction to the commercial when I first saw it…I was thinking 'OMG, that dog is going to get right up on the table!!!'

Somebody has a story about their B jumping up directly into the middle of the Thanksgiving table from a standing start on the floor.

Rotten little dogs

[Duke]

Well - today I wish I had used my Reynolds Wrap. After a visit with my son at my father-in-laws home, we brought home a plate for my DH filled with mashed potatoes and beef tips. My DH is under the weather today and just picked at the plate of food his dad made for him. He left the plate on the island table (counter height). I was doing laundry, when all the sudden - CRASH!!! I instantly thought about the food on the plate on the table. Yep, soon as I ran in the kitchen, the plate was broken in pieces upside down. Duke & Daisy skattered and left me with the clean up. Not a morsel of food left anywhere. Just a broken plate and shards of stone ware everywhere. What dogs - they seemed proud of themselves! I've got to watch them very close. Duke did not do these things until Daisy got him working in the life of thievery.

[wizard]

When I first got EL D he had a reputation for being terribly destructive (hence my name for him, short for El Destructo). So when I found that he would explore the counters but not actually climb up I was pleased. Nevertheless I didn't want him getting ideas, so when I found him exploring I would not say a word but make some loud noise with a pot cover or anything handy nearby or even a loud whistle that I kept handy (it hurt my ears so I'm sure he hated it). It took only a few days of this and voila no trouble now.

[Quercus]

@Duke:

Well - today I wish I had used my Reynolds Wrap. After a visit with my son at my father-in-laws home, we brought home a plate for my DH filled with mashed potatoes and beef tips. My DH is under the weather today and just picked at the plate of food his dad made for him. He left the plate on the island table (counter height). I was doing laundry, when all the sudden - CRASH!!! I instantly thought about the food on the plate on the table. Yep, soon as I ran in the kitchen, the plate was broken in pieces upside down. Duke & Daisy skattered and left me with the clean up. Not a morsel of food left anywhere. Just a broken plate and shards of stone ware everywhere. What dogs - they seemed proud of themselves! I've got to watch them very close. Duke did not do these things until Daisy got him working in the life of thievery.

i've so been there Ours have perfected the hook of the bowl to the edge of the table and then voila….

[Duke]

@Quercus:

i've so been there Ours have perfected the hook of the bowl to the edge of the table and then voila….

LOL - voila! They are so smart . . . Well since it worked for Duke & Daisy yesterday. Today after our meal and there was a small plate of fries left in the middle of the table. Duke and Daisy's front paws stretched up on the edge nosing the fries. "NO! GET DOWN! - GIT!" I turned around at the sink and looked back to see Duke jump up on the bar stool, then his 2 front paws stand on the table. I shot him down so fast - my DH was no help sitting in the lazy boy. Duke is getting a little too confident here. Geez, I was still in the room! :eek:

Wizard - I'm going to try the pot covers, like symbols. I know I've got a coach's whistle someplace. Thanks for the ideas.

[Tayda_Lenny]

Also, perhaps a squirt bottle hanging from your hip at all times will help!

[renaultf1]

@Tayda_Lenny:

Also, perhaps a squirt bottle hanging from your hip at all times will help!

The one time I tried the squirt bottle on Ruby it scared her, and she immediately jumped down, ran to the rug near the dinner table and peed :eek:. The squirt bottle has been put away never to be seen again.