Billy’s Full Story
From Counter Surfer to Calm Companion

Meet Billy

Billy is a three-year-old Golden Retriever who was becoming a bit of a kitchen expert, but for all the wrong reasons. His guardians reached out because he was constantly jumping up at kitchen counters, stealing food and helping himself to anything left within reach.

 

Although friendly and good-natured, Billy’s behaviour was frustrating and potentially dangerous. His habit of grabbing everything from bread loaves to tea towels meant the kitchen had become a battleground.

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The Training Approach

We worked with Billy and his guardians entirely through our virtual Zoom sessions, which form part of our online behavioural support programme. This allowed us to observe his behaviour in real time and coach his guardians directly within the home setting where the problem occurred.

 

The focus was on management, clear boundaries and calm redirection. We taught Billy a reliable “on your bed” cue paired with food rewards to reinforce calm behaviour away from the counter. We also introduced structured training games to help meet his need for stimulation in more appropriate ways.

 

Crucially, we worked on creating predictability and supervision routines to set Billy up for success, rather than punishment.

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Billy’s Progress

✅ Billy now stays calmly on his bed while food is prepared

✅ He responds to cues and is less fixated on the kitchen

✅ His guardians feel more confident managing high-risk situations

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Ongoing Work

Billy continues to practise these skills with consistency and guidance. While he occasionally tests boundaries, he now chooses calm behaviours far more often. By addressing the motivation behind his behaviour and giving him clear structure, his home environment feels much more relaxed.