My 6 month old is stealing food

Question
We have a new baby in the house. (our only dog) We've had him since he was 8 weeks old. He is almost 6 months now. Recently, he has started stealing food from counters and tables. We try to keep it out of his reach but he is quick. Just yesterday my daughter put her plate on the table and turned around to pull her chair closer and he grabbed her sandwich that quick. I have caught jumping on the counter a couple times just looking for food on there. He knows he shouldn't do it. As soon as we catch him and say "no" or his name he puts his ears down and lays down. Any suggestions? So far he seems like a quick learner and is a good dog but we aren't sure what to do about this.

Answer
Hi,

This is a very common problem with larger dogs.  All those tempting snacks that are just about within reach!  I call it counter-surfing.   There is 2 part solution here.  First, don't leave food unattended, as it is too much temptation for the puppy.   Second, when you are working with food in the kitchen, teach him to lay down in specific spot.  Remember, there is a command for getting off of something, like the couch or the counter etc, that is "OFF"  The command for laying down, is "DOWN".   You puppy will get confused if you use them interchangeably.  I would teach the puppy, "GO TO YOUR MAT".   Use a lure, small piece of dog treat, and get him to follow it to a spot where you have put a mat, old towel, small piece of carpet,etc and tell him "GO TO YOUR MAT", give him the treat when he gets there.  If he knows "Down" then after a few days of luring him to the mat, you can tell him to DOWN.   Soon you should be able to tell him "go to your mat" and he will go there and lay down.  This will help with many situations.   If you need more clarification on this excerise, do a follow up question.   Oh and if you catch him counter surfing - tell him "OFF" in a stern voice, but do not use his name.  Never use the puppy's name when you are reprimanding him.  Also I would suggest some beginner obedience classes to help you with basic commands etc.   Both of you will have fun.

Hope this helps!

Lori