I have an Australian shepherd puppy (6 months old) that just won't learn?

Well, if you trained dogs for 20 years, you certainly didn't learn much. Your dog steals food from the kids because YOU allow him in the kitchen when they or you are eating. He pulls food off the counter and stove because you leave it within his reach.

Since he's "smart as a whip" why do you suppose he can't catch o to potty training?! Do you think he's trying to be spiteful or some other nonsense. Since he didn't pee all night when crated, what does that tell you? Crate him at night, and for the time being crate him when you can't supervise him. Other than that, he MUST be supervised until the potty training issue is resolved.

AND, if you are NOT catching him in the act, then he does not KNOW it's wrong! That is dog training 101! He should not be left unattended at all times!

No, he doesn't know it is wrong, despite what you would swear is the case.

Use the crate every single time you are not watching him. If he isn't neutered make sure you do that before he has started marking territory.

Get him seen by a good trainer who can guide you as to a good method that is right for him and you. This dog needs consistency by every family member.

With the help of a trainer, you can get this dog going in the right direction. Hopefully you can have him stay away from the kitchen and dining room. (there are indoor fences that can help with that, but require professional installation and training with a collar that would shock him if he went the wrong way.)

Find a trainer who is familiar with the breed. You are right --they are super-smart.

Google crate training.

Keep him out of the kitchen or dining room when you all are eating, and do not allow your kids to eat around the dog. Not even for snacks. Put food out of his reach. Make sure not to leave chairs near your counters or stove. Make sure food isn't left on the table. This is what we call dog proofing the house.

My first dog helped himself to our first Christmas Goose we ever had. My mom(I was 16 or 17) had put it on the stove, and we went to church. My mom thought she had it pushed back far enough. Jake was a Belgian Sheepdog mutt, and came up to our knees(we are 6 feet tall), so we aren't sure how he managed that. Anyway, we got home from church, to find he had the roasting pan on the floor, no goose, and him licking his chops. We thought it was hilarious. We just ended up having sides for our dinner...Next year my mom kept the goose IN the oven when we went to church.

So the dog is left to roam the house unsupervised all of the time? You have to SUPERVISE puppies. They do NOT know that something is "right" or "wrong" and you can't prevent things or correct things unless you catch them in the act. Get a leash and a crate. For the next 3 months the pup gets to be literally tied to you or crated at all times until YOU teach him what is appropriate and not appropriate.

He knows it is wrong, and he is not left unsupervised. The only time he will pee in the house is when no one is looking. The only time he goes into the kitchen is when he knows no one is in there. He does know it's wrong.