How to Bond with Your Dog in the Kitchen

Spending quality time with your four-legged family members is always fun. But when it comes to your time spent in the kitchen, Fido can often feel underfoot, whether you're trying to cook or clean up after a long day. But there are fun ways to engage with your dog in the kitchen, giving you more bonding time, and preventing him from getting in the way — or trying to steal your culinary creations. Here are a few ideas.

1. Teach Fido Good Kitchen Manners

There's no better spot to teach your pooch some manners than in the kitchen. Work on commands like "Sit," "Stay," and "Down" between stirs of your famous spaghetti and meatballs. Rather than table scraps, give him something delicious and healthy as a reward — like Milo's Kitchen® Chicken Meatballs. You'll have a perfectly-trained pup and an amazing dinner ready in no time.

2. Create a Spot for Your Furry Sous Chef

Your pup just wants to hang out with you wherever you are, so why not make him his own little spot in the kitchen? Set a crate or a comfy dog bed just inside the kitchen so he can observe your culinary expertise as he takes a rest. If your kitchen is a little cramped, make creative use of your space by placing his snuggle spot right under the kitchen table or breakfast nook. And don't forget to reward him with tasty treats for being such a good assistant.

3. Give Chef Fido Something to Chew

You're busy sampling sauces and nibbling on those freshly-baked cookies, so why not give your furry assistant something to taste, too? Fill a chew toy with your pup's favorite treats — Milo's Kitchen® Steak Grillers Recipe dog treats work well — and let him chomp away at the tasty goodness inside. Not only will this keep him busy, it will make him feel like he's a part of the action, and discourage him from gobbling up any ingredients that slip off the counter during food prep.

4. Let Him Help Out

If your pup is all brushed up on his manners, take his tricks to the next level. Teach him to open or close cabinets for you to truly make him the ultimate four-legged culinary assistant. Tie a rope to your pantry door or cabinet and teach your pup to pull on it with a command like "Pantry." This way, you can say the command and have your canine companion open the door for you while you gather your ingredients. Then say "Close" and treat your pooch when he pushes it closed with his nose or paws.

5. Play Kitchen-Appropriate Games

Rather than letting your pup do his own thing in the kitchen — which could include counter surfing and other mayhem — play a few games with him. Hide your pup's favorite toy somewhere in the kitchen and have him find it. Use it to play a little fetch while your baked goods are getting golden brown in the oven. Then have him gather his toys in a basket as you clean up in the kitchen. The possibilities for games are endless, and you'll both have a great time enjoying each other's company.

Want to learn more about training your pup and other activities you can do with your furry friend? Check out these tips, all here on The Noseprint®!

Photo Credit 2: "hi there, I'm Lisa" by Roman Schurte via Flickr. License info.