How do you stop counter surfing?

[momof2boys]

My puppy is 7 months old and is driving me nuts eating everything and counter surfing. As far as eating furniture and woodwork, drives me nuts but I try not to leave him in a room alone at all. Most of the damage to the house/furniture occurred when my husband is home with him. I keep trying to tell him he can't be trusted alone but apparently my husband is a slow learner...
If we aren't home he goes in a crate, he has toys, marrow bones etc. This week i've been trying to do some repairs and he keeps licking the spackle out of the holes on the wall, wtf!? We have a chair we are throwing out b/c he chewed it so much, I have other pieces of furniture that look awful b/c of the chewing. If I need to do a few things that require I take my attention away from him for too long I will put him outside for a few minutes (fenced). There he is eating my wooden deck railings, drives me nuts but they are being replaced so I don't care as much. Though once they are replaced I will NOT be happy. They are being replaced with vinyl in a week or so, i'm hoping he won't like chewing vinyl.
Anyways, the other issue we have is he counter surfs. He is tall, not sure what mix he is, the shelter think great pyrenees mix. Definately mixed with something tall. He is 7 months and 86 pounds and all legs! I will be in the kitchen with him and he'll jump up and help himself. Dinner time drives me nuts b/c I can't leave any food on the counter while we eat but I also can't leave food on the table while i'm serving dinner b/c he can just walk over to the table and help himself. I should just stick him in his crate, but its upstairs in our bedroom and he whines and barks the whole time, so that kind of defeats the whole relaxing dinner atmosphere as well. I would like to be able to sit down with my family and eat a relaxing dinner, just three times a week is all I ask (I work four nights).
Any ideas on how to stop the counter surfing and chewing!? He has the potential to be such a great dog, but man, I can't wait until this puppy stage is over. Its safe to say I will never get another puppy, from now on I want an an adult dog who is done with the chewing!

[redheadbaker]

1) How much exercise is he getting?

2) Block his access to the kitchen. When I was a kid, our GSD mix was not allowed in the kitchen. We had carpeting in the living room/dining room, and linoleum in the kitchen, so there was a clear boundary that he wasn't allowed to cross.

[momof2boys]

He gets a fair amount of exercise. He goes to doggy daycare two days a week, and comes to work with me one or two days (when he's at work with me he can play with other dogs for about an hour three times during the day.
On days he doesn't have daycare we play in the yard or take him for walks.
I just heard from the person who has his brother, he is the same way. I hope this is something they outgrow!
Keeping him out of the kitchen would be difficult, our house is very open concept. I've tried using long gates with him but he's so big he plows them over. And quite honestly he doesn't listen so telling him to get out would fall on deaf ears!
Still trying to get him into puppy classes, its been a struggle. I finally found one that would work with my work schedule and they are taking the summer off. I found another place that is looking into opening up a sunday session so i'm on their list to call once they do.