How can I keep my dog out of the kitchen?

[KorgiKardashian]

I have an open-concept home, and my Lab loves being right next to me while I'm cooking, waiting for any scraps. I rarely drop anything on the ground, so her efforts are often pointless. The walkway around my island isn't the largest, and I don't want her to get burned when I'm around the oven. Plus, sometimes I don't realize she's right behind me, and I almost fall from stepping on her. This has gotten us in dangerous situations when I have a knife in my hand, a pot of hot water, or I'm near the stove. How have you all kept your dogs out of the kitchen? She used to be so good about having a "place" where she could watch me cook but stay out of my way, but she completely ignores that now.

 

[dogsaremylife]

The only way I can do it is by blocking the entrance. Once they hear someone in the kitchen, it's a full-on stampede to get in there and scarf up any possible threats. I have an open kitchen, too, so I use laundry bins and an old baby gate to block the dogs from getting near the stove and fridge. It's not the most effective, but it works enough for me to cook.

 

[Kimberly Alt]

Something we did with my dog after we adopted her was keep her on a leash. That way, she knew the house rules. We don't really have many restrictions for her. The two main ones are that she can't be on our beds, and she cannot be in the kitchen while we're cooking. She loves to be around us (which we love, too!), so we still have her nearby so she can keep an eye on things. I would tie her leash to a piece of furniture so she could be nearby and watch, but she would be out of my way so I wouldn't step on her. I suggest trying the leash for a week or two while you're cooking meals. I bet she'll pick up on things quickly and stay out of the kitchen better.