I have to watch Leos like a hawk if there is ever any food around. Baira knows not to touch it and learnt this from a very young age. After being told no and being seriously told no a few times she hasn't touched the cat food or anything left anywhere since about 8 months old. I can leave a plate of food on the living room floor and she won't touch it. Leos on the other hand just doesn't seem to remember. If I am in the room and tell him no and STAY in the room with him he's fine. The second I leave to the room he helps himself. He casually strolls by the cat food a takes a mouthful when he feels like it. I'm getting frustrated with him, he's 16 months old now. I just got home and let them out their crates and with in 5 seconds he had gone into the living room and had helped himself to the cookie in the bag left on on the side!!!!!!! I fished it out of his mouth, growled at him alot and said leave it no no no, then took him to where the bag was left and growled again and said no no no leave it. It won't make any difference though. We've set food up and watched him from a distance to jump in as soon as he shows an interest but how do I get him to stop helping himself? Or am I expecting too much? Is Baira learning so young unusual?

I feel your pain.  I have one GSP (now 8) that will take any opportunity for food she can get.  I am just diligent about not leaving anything around for her to get to.  With my daughter, she got plenty of opportunity.  She is also the one that eats her food in 5 seconds.  She is extremely food motivated and I think if left to her own devices, she would weigh over 100 pounds.  Surely she was a horse in her previous life.

They are all different as Splat said.

Roz.

Too funny Bev . . . we use a kids telescope so we can watch when we walk away or around the corner when we do out of sight stays for obedience.

Maple is my only one that gives me issues with this.  She has burned her lip on a hot pan . . . hence the white scar she has on her lip.  Java my youngest GSP never does it and she is somewhat food motivated, but she is motivated more by toys.  She really likes to play and if the toy is on the counter, now she might go for that.  The border collie Splash is the tattle tale.  He comes to get me with this certain look that he has that Maple is doing something she should not be doing.  Our chocolate lab Wonder is in her own world.  Never does anything wrong and is pretty much the couch potato except when you get her leash out for her daily walk.

So yep, all very, very different.

Roz

Gunner is not a counter surfer, but he will sniff around. He has NEVER grabbed something off the table or counter. He knows better.

He will smell my food if it is on the table but knows never to take a lick at it or take it. I can leave the room, go outside, run an errand, it'll still be there.

We have been in situations with little kids around where they will drop something scrumptious on the floor and he will not touch it unless told it is okay.

I think all dogs are different.

ETA: But he WILL beg like he's never been fed in his life at any and every opportunity.

Its almost as if some dogs obey because they know it is "right" and some obey because they know there are rewards/consequences.  The latter will take opportunities if they can't foresee the consequences!  Jasper (of blessed memory, the sweeti-boo) would sometimes come whining to me in the morning when I'd inadvertently left food out all night.  He wouldn't touch it but would show me and wait for permission.  Now Humphrey will help himself to anything if I'm not there to forbid it.   He's an "I'll obey when she's watching" type.