The problem: this behavior is self-reinforcing and usually happens when you're not in the room.
Why It's So Persistent
Your dog has learned a pattern: you present = no reward, you absent = jackpot. They're not being sneaky out of guilt. They've simply figured out when the coast is clear.
A dog who has successfully stolen food even once or twice may check counters for years. The intermittent reward schedule--sometimes there's food, sometimes there isn't--is the most powerful reinforcement pattern in behavioral science. It's why people keep playing slot machines.
Prevention vs. Cure
For puppies: Keep all surfaces clear during the first year. A puppy who never finds food on counters won't develop the habit. Prevention is easy; cure is hard.
For adult dogs: You cannot punish the behavior out of existence. You can only remove the reward and wait--sometimes for months--while the behavior gradually extinguishes.
The Core Strategy
Remove all food from counters. Always.
Every time your dog checks and finds nothing, the behavior weakens slightly. Every time they find food, you've reset the clock.
If you have children or a partner who leaves food out, you have a management problem, not a training problem. Some trainers joke it's easier to train the dog than the spouse.
Why Startle Devices Usually Fail
Products like Scat mats, penny cans, or citronella sprays work on the startle principle. For some dogs, they work temporarily.
For determined counter-surfers, the math is simple: the startle is annoying, but the food is worth it. Many dogs learn to tolerate the deterrent. Others learn to check whether the device is armed before surfing.
Train an Incompatible Behavior
Give your dog somewhere to be during food preparation that isn't the counter.
Teach "place" or "go to bed." When you're cooking, send your dog to a mat in the kitchen. Reward them periodically for staying there. Over time, "you're cooking" becomes the cue to go to their spot--where good things happen--rather than patrol the counters.
This works because the dog has a clear job that's incompatible with surfing. You're building a new habit to replace the old one.
Why This Works
You're attacking the behavior from two directions: removing the reward (no food on counters) while simultaneously building an alternative behavior (place command during cooking). The old habit weakens from lack of reinforcement. The new habit strengthens from consistent reward.
Expect months, not weeks. A dog with years of successful counter-surfing has a deeply ingrained habit. Progress isn't linear--your dog will test occasionally, especially during high-value cooking. Stay consistent. Every failed attempt weakens the pattern.