How To Train Your Dog To Keep Out Of The Kitchen

It makes sense that your dog or dogs would prefer the kitchen to all the other rooms in the house. Because dogs are scent- and appetite-driven animals, they can find the best fragrances and tastiest foods in the kitchen. In many homes, the kitchen serves as a gathering place for family members to converse, relax, and, yes, eat.

Unfortunately, dogs and kitchens don’t always get along. Smaller dogs may crowd your feet while you cook to snag food scraps or crumbs, increasing the likelihood of an accident. The last thing you want to do when carrying a sharp knife or a pot of boiling water is trip over your dog.

Many larger dogs are also more likely to rummage through the trash in the kitchen looking for food scraps, take food from people before they can eat it, or even break into refrigerators or pantries when there is less supervision. Of course, this makes a mess, but the dog may also get hurt or ill.

Given everything mentioned above, it would seem sensible always to keep your dog out of the kitchen.

How to Keep Your Dog From Entering the Kitchen

The most straightforward technique to keep your dog out of the kitchen is to erect a physical barrier at the entrance. Keep making sure the door to your kitchen is constantly closed.

Suppose your kitchen does not have a door. In that case, baby gates come in various styles and, when appropriately used, usually are very secure.

There are a few issues with this strategy, though. First, the physical obstacles cause discomfort for the human members of your household.

They could also not be practical for homes with open floor plans or wider entrances than a standard doorframe. Training might be a better option as a result.

How to Train Your Dog to Stay in the Kitchen

Making it clear that they are not welcome in the kitchen is the key to teaching your dog to stay there.

First, create a distinct barrier between the kitchen and the room behind it. If they have two different types of flooring, such as carpet and tile, this will probably work on its own. A simple masking tape on the door frame will work in that situation. This will help your dog create a boundary in his mind before you start training him.

Sit down with your dog close to the kitchen door once the boundary has been established. Sit in the kitchen facing away from the dog. Reprimand them calmly and tell them to leave the kitchen if they try to enter. Whenever they pass the boundary, congratulate them. Repeat this several times, providing incentives if necessary to persuade others to enter. Be calm and dependable.

In the long term, you’ll need to establish a zero-tolerance rule regarding your dog being in the kitchen. Stop what you’re doing right away, look them in the eyes, and move closer if they come in while you’re still cooking, so they have to leave. They should keep their steps and go if they make a left or right turn. As soon as they emerge from the kitchen, keep moving forward.

Repeat this each time they enter the room!