Counter surfing lab

Question
QUESTION: 1 year old chocolate Labrador retriever, female, spayed. We more or less rescued this dog from a family who said they could not handle her. She was extremely rambunctious when we got her but has been doing well until recently. Lately she has started counter surfing. This is causing a lot of tension in the family and I would like to work on training her to stop. She seems to know she has done something wrong starts acting droopy and runs to her crate. I have asked the rest of the family to stop leaving food on the counter but that does not always happen and I want to keep my dog safe as well as keep her being my dog (personal problem I know!) This is my first Lab,(I have only had various terriers in the past)she is extremely sweet but much harder to train than any other dog I have ever had. She is also extremely large (85lbs and very tall). If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them and thank you very much for your time.

ANSWER: Some Labs can be quite difficult, combining intelligence, strong will, and an appetite that won't quit.  I cringe when I see them recommended as a good first dog.  Great dogs in the hands of a good owner.  

A mousetrap is very effective in making a dog leave something alone. Most dogs will stay away from anywhere they were surprised by a snap. The best part is that it is not you that is correcting the dog. It works whether you are around or not. The mousetrap is very patient and is always on task as long as you reset it.

If that seems too harsh, try this:

Counter Surfing

Does your Foster Puppy counter surf; constantly checking the tables and counters for a tasty morsel that he is sure was left there just for him? If so, teach him The Can Can! For The Can Can you will need about 6 cans (empty pop cans with a few rocks or pennies inside them and a little piece of duct tape over the hole works well). Stack the cans in a pyramid on top of a piece of cardboard or paper to which you have attached a piece of string. Tie the string to the object that your Foster Puppy most desires from the counter top. It may be a dish towel or if it is food he is seeking, use a paper towel that you have used to pat down a piece of meat or maybe some meat juice. Then wait. When the object is snatched from the counter top the pyramid of cans will come crashing down, startling the thief. Your puppy will be caught in the act red pawed! You have just created a self correction! It may take several repetitions to get the point across, but soon your puppy will decide that it just isn't worth taking the chance.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What is your recommendation for jumping? This dog will not jump on me but if it is not someone who has worked on training her not to jump, she tries. I am well aware that exercise plays a large part in obedience and work on that constantly but would like some suggestions on getting her training to generalize to more than just me and my husband. Thanks!

Answer
When it comes to jumping and biting, it is easier to teach the dog not to do it to you than others.  One of the most effective techniques is to step backwards when the dog jumps up and let it fall to the floor.  It absolutely must not get any petting at all until all 4 feet are on the floor.  The toughest part is getting others to do it.