I've used a pet fence that I bought at Petco. Its segmented fence pieces, similar to a metal crate, but they aren't boxed together... think of crate panels linked to together than can be folded up into different sizes. You can accordion them so they stand on their own, though a large dog could knock it down, if it wasn't anchored...

Its kind of like the one shown on the link, but the one I have is not exactly the same.

You can fold it up and lean it against the wall. And then when you want a barrier, you just stretch it back out again. And if you zig zag the panels, they stand on their own and are fairly sturdy.

Here is a link that might be useful: picture of wire pends

Maybe shake a can of coins when they cross a certain point into the kitchen? My cat hates that sound; I shake it when she gets on the mantel, and she gets right off.

Is there a visual "line" they cannot cross? That would be helpful.

My friend used those electric shock mats, but sounds like you have wide doorways so that probably would not work for you.

I watched Dog Whisperer the other night. A fire station had a dalmation puppy, and they needed to train him not to leave the station by way of the driveway. There was a line in the cement where the big door came down. If he crossed the line, they pushed him back and told him he could not cross the line. He sat there and barked (yipped--a puppy) at the firemen, but he was getting the point not to cross the line.

I'm probably not much help, but these are my thoughts.

Thank you for the great ideas. Yes, there is a "line" where the hardwood floor starts into the kitchen and the carpet ends at that point. I have NO doorway it is all an open area so maybe I can keep using the technique of saying "OFF" and then when they back up offer them a treat.I just keep my pockets full of treats at this point for all kinds of rewards. They are awesome pups and seem to be really smart so maybe I haven't given the technique we have been using a fair shake. All of us in the home use the same command "OFF" when we see them cross the line. I like the can idea as well. We have been using that for them when they start digging in the yard. It works part of the time. This is great to have a forum to come to for support. It is a trying time and it seems from the time I get up until I go to bed I am training. Thank goodness they sleep great through the night in their crate- I am just exhausted at the end of the day. Thanks again for taking the time to answer my plea- Have a great day! Jules
PS- I love the Dog Whisperer- what a great guy!

Others will probably think differently but I think you should eliminate the treat. If you're not giving them the treat at the correct time the pups may be thinking they're getting a treat because they crossed the line, not because they stay behind it. They may also be immune to the command 'off' if they're hearing it all the time.

All my dogs know the word 'out' and also know not to cross the line into the kitchen unless I call them. I only stand where the boundary is and use the technique similar to what the DW uses. Usually all I have to do is point at them with a certain look and they know not to cross the line.
It's not really that difficult, you just have to stand your ground and never let them in the kitchen. Even if you have to pick them up and place them outside the boundary, do so. The less you talk to them the better.
Oh, also......try not to overdo the praise every time they stay behind the line. After a few minutes of them staying out of the kitchen, then they can have a treat.

I have an eleven month old Chihuahua mix and started out from the day I got her just saying a firm OUT or GO when she came into the kitchen or dining area.All I have to do now is look at her and point to the other room and she's gone!LOL

I agree with Annz. You are rewarding them for stepping across the line, training them to do it so they get a treat! Don't do it!!! LOL!

Yes, the DW is just great. I love that show. That fire station episode was good. That little dalmation really had the "guys" trained before the DW got there and messed it all up for the pooch. It was so cute to see him yip at the firemen when they made him stay behind the line. He had run away a couple times, and it was just a matter of time before he got hit on the busy street. In the end, the puppy had been trained to stop, drop and roll so he could go to elementary schools and teach the kids.

Pet gates come in all sizes. Training is great, but may now always be reliable when you're out of the room. A baby gate is a big help if you have a counter-surfer.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pet gates come in all sizes

In my humble opinion you are doing everything right, - I agree holeheartedly about no dogs in the kitchen when I am cooking, of course the smells you are producing are hard to resist for those sensitive noses - you just need to take an extra step - too often we tell dogs what we dont want and leave it at that, your command of OFF is great, follow it up with putting them in the spot you want, This can be achieved by having them follow a training treat you have in your hand, guide them to a place outside of your kitchen and put them into a sit stay position. If you are consistent you should be getting results in a week or so, good luck

I usually just use "sit and stay". I don't mind the dogs in the kitchen as long as they are sitting and not getting in the way. And I usually have to do a few reminder grunts to keep them in place.

I do have the convenience of a pocket door that can separate my kitchen from the rest of the house. Which is quite handy.

I trained my dog to stay out of the kitchen, mostly because she's a giant breed and takes up too much room. Our kitchen is just an "L" with an island, in the corner of the great room, so there's no door. The two entry points are at the ends of the island.

I trained her to stay out of the kitchen by just saying "out of the kitchen" every time she'd come near. I kept saying it and pointing in the other direction until she walked away. Then I'd throw her a small treat and say "good dog" and "good out of the kitchen." It didn't take long for her to catch on, and now I don't have to treat her any more (but she's six years old).

I have these suggestions:
Don't use the "off" command to keep the dogs out of the kitchen. Save "off" for when you want their feet on the floor, as in get off the couch, or get your paws off a person. I'd say "out" or "go" or something like that. Or just "no," which works well for any behavior you don't want them to do.

Also, don't let them see the treat in advance, no matter what the command. The dogs will learn better if they have to perform the command before they even know they'll get a treat. You shouldn't have to treat your dog every time he does something right; just use treats for training. And keep the treat in your closed fist or pocket until they obey.

Hope this helps.

PS. One down side of my dog not coming in the kitchen--if I drop an egg on the floor, she won't come in to lick it up. I have to clean it up myself. LOL

If I want my dog out of any room, I just say OUT - never trained her with the word "out", but somehow she knows. Maybe the more you repeat it, the more it will sink in.

Here's another thought. I trained my dog when she was a puppy to not go into the street (unless on a leash with me, and I had to go first if we were on a walk). I lived in the suburbs then, and even though there weren't many cars driving by I was nervous that she may see a squirrel or something and run across the street at the wrong time (I know many disagree about keeping dogs off leash, but that's another topic). So to train her against temptation, I would keep her on a leash and have a neighbor that lived across the street throw a ball into the street. The second her front paws hit the street and left the sidewalk, I did I quick pull of the choker chain and said NO. When she avoided temptation, she got praise and/or a treat. It took a few times of doing this and she knew to never go into the street. I would then take her on walks, and as soon as we came to the end of the block, I tempted her by throwing something into the street....if she went for it she got a quick leash yank, if she didn't go for it she'd get a treat and praise. It's now 10 years later and she will not step "paw" into the street during a walk until I give the go ahead (on leash of course).

This can work the same way for you. Just substitute the kitchen floor for the street in the above training technique.

Best of luck, however you decide to do it.

Thank you again for all who responded. I love the ideas and will use them in some aspect of their training. Sometimes they will be running around the room and I can see them put on the "brakes" to avoid the floor so I think what I am doing might be starting to sink in. I agree that the downside is that they are little garbage disposals and keep the floor free of crumbs and such. I weighed the pros and cons and decided for everyone's safety that them staying out of there is best. My daughter has an Alaskan Malamute and he stuck his whole head in the oven one day. OUCH! Thank you again for all of the great ideas!