Why Dogs Shouldn't Lick Plates in the Dishwasher and How to Stop Them

Most of us would welcome some help around the kitchen particularly when it comes to loading the dishwasher. That does not mean that we want help from our dog! For many dog owners, the process of loading the dishwasher is made even more difficult by the involvement of the family pet. Research from the UK has revealed that as many as one in six owners let their dogs lick plates. Others are not so keen. So, is it okay for our dogs to lick the dirty dishes in the dishwasher? How can we stop them from doing this? Here we explain exactly why you should keep your dog away from your dishwasher. We also tell you how to keep dogs out of dishwashers in the dishwasher in five easy steps.

Why Do Dogs Lick Inside Dishwashers?

It doesn’t take dogs long to work out that there is food inside a dishwasher! Dogs have an excellent sense of smell and as soon as you open the dishwasher door they will be able to detect the odor of food on the plates. What’s more, it is at their level so they don’t even have to reach up to get into it. This makes it quite hard to stop them from getting inside it. Dishwashers are opened several times a day and this presents multiple opportunities for a quick doggie snack!

Some dogs can even tell the difference between the sound of dishwashers being emptied and them being filled. They don’t bother turning up for the clean plates! But as soon as their owner starts placing the dirty plates inside, they come racing into the kitchen!

Should Dogs Lick Plates in the Dishwasher?

In theory, it doesn’t seem like a problem for dogs to lick dirty plates in the dishwasher. After all, they are about to be washed in gallons of hot soapy water so what is the problem?

It is not okay for dogs to lick plates in the dishwasher because they could ingest human food that is harmful to them, come into contact with detergents, or cut themselves on sharp utensils. It also leads them to think that whatever is on human plates belongs to them.

Why You Should Keep Your Dog Out of the Dishwasher

Firstly, it is not safe for your dog. Dirty plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery are inevitably contaminated with human food. A lot of this is very bad for dogs. Some human foods that can cause severe illness in dogs include onions, garlic, chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol. There could also be small bones which are a choking hazard. It is also dangerous for dogs to lick sharp knives as these can cause severe cuts in their mouth or on their tongue. Dishwashers use powerful detergents and some of these can be left on surfaces within the appliance. They can cause irritation in your dog’s mouth or even illness.

Letting your dog lick plates and cutlery is also not healthy for you. Dogs can carry a range of micro-organisms that are harmful to humans including bacteria such as salmonella. Whilst most pathogens will be killed during the dishwasher cycle there is a possibility that some could survive. Also, it gives your dog the impression that it is perfectly acceptable to lick human plates. This means that they could be licking any plates when your back is turned and you could then use those plates for your own meal!

Finally, it does not help your dog to realize that there are boundaries. Human possessions and food should be out of bounds for dogs unless we specifically offer it to them. They should never be allowed to take it for themselves. This is an essential part of dog training and keeps your dog and your property safe.

Step-By-Step Guide on How to Keep Dogs Out of Dishwashers

The way in which you stop your dog from licking plates in the dishwasher is to teach them impulse control and delayed gratification. Your dog needs to learn how to control their desire to lick the dirty plates – this is impulse control. They also need to learn that if they wait until you have finished something good will happen! This is delayed gratification. However, you need to build this up in stages.

Step #1

You need to do the groundwork and teach your dog some basic commands before starting this training. The commands you need to work on are sit (or down) and stay (or wait). Once your dog has mastered these you can move to the next step.

Step #2

Give your dog something else to do as you load the dishwasher. Take them to the other side of the kitchen using a leash if necessary. Put them into a sit or down position and walk towards the dishwasher. If they get up, go back and put them back into their position. Repeat this until you can make it to the dishwasher without your dog moving. Return to your dog. Praise them and give them a treat. Repeat this several times until your dog has mastered it.

Step #3

Position your dog as in step #2, walk to the dishwasher, open and close the door. Return to your dog, praise them, and reward them with a treat. If your dog moves, return to them and put them back into position. Repeat this several times until your dog gets the idea.

Step #4

Position your dog as in step #2, and walk to the dishwasher. Open the door and put in one dirty plate. Shut the door, and return to your dog. Praise them and give them a treat. Repeat several times over several days.

Step #5

This step is all about building up the time that your dog waits for the praise and a treat. Start with loading two plates and gradually work your way up to several. Eventually, you should be able to get your dog to wait until you have completely finished filling the dishwasher. They will have learned that they get a treat once the dishwasher door has closed. Now, your dog associates sitting quietly with getting a treat as opposed to licking the plates in the dishwasher and getting a treat. You have replaced one sort of gratification with another. You have also taught your dog to wait before they get a treat.

All dogs can slip up some from time to time and so do humans. There may be occasions when your dog loses concentration and dives into the dishwasher for a sneaky lick of some plates. Don’t despair if this happens. All you have to do is go back to step #2 and gradually build up again. The good news is that it will not take as long as the first time you tried to do this!

Keeping Pups Out of Dishwashers

If you are the proud owner of a new pup, it will be some time before you can keep them out of the dishwasher! Puppies simply do not have the self-control to keep away from something that they find irresistible. They will also not have mastered the basic commands of sit and wait. Therefore, you need to adopt a different strategy until you can train them. The best thing is to keep the puppy out of the kitchen whilst you are unloading the dishwasher. You can do this using dog gates and other types of pens and dog barriers. You could also pop your puppy in their crate whilst you are loading the dishwasher.