I don't know if this will help or not. Heidi is not allowed in the kitchen so she doesn't have a chance to counter-surf, but she is allowed in the family room and we eat in there a lot. Shes been know to steal our food when we are not looking , but my agility instructor told me to tell her "MINE" when she gets near it, and its been working. I will leave something yummy on the end table and then I will go hide somewhere where I can see her but she thinks I am gone, and then when she goes toward it I jump out and say "MINE!" in a stern voice. Its been working very well so far. Just a though. Maybe you can set something up like that? So maybe you can try that with the counter, be like "MINE" when she goes toward the counter, and the lady said that when she does have something in her mouth be like "NO!!! DROP IT!" I haven't been able to use that one because I have been trying to STOP her before it gets to that point. I don't know if that helps or not.