My 9 week Lhasa Apso pup (Cookie) always barks when we are cooking or washing in the Kitchen?  I've come up with a theory:

We've only had Cookie for 4 days and he's settling in really quick and he's very intelligent and independent.  We keep him in the living room most of the time and he likes it but we never let him in the Kitchen cos' we are scared incase something drops on him etc so he always just sits at the door and watches us while we cook or wash up.  The problem is, he's starting to bark at us if we go into the kitchen now.  Do you think he's barking because he's scared incase we'll get hurt as he thinks that the Kitchen is like a dangerous place?  Last night, I sat with him on a chair at the kitchen door while my girlfriend was cooking and let him watch and he seemed quite quiet, so you think I should hold him and take him around the kitchen to let him see what we do in there?  I tried to put Cookie in the kitchen last night, thinking maybe he wants to go in that's why he barks, but he just walked out and sat near the kitchen door again......maybe he does think it's like a dangerous place or something and don't whan us to get hurt!?  Do you think I have a valid theory?  And do you think letting him look around while holding him in the Kitchen will help?

He is barking for attention because you have left him out.

Ignore him, he needs to learn to be alone to grow up into a competent adult.  Speak/fuss him only when he is quiet otherwise he will be directing operations in the house....... ;)

When we leave Cookie in the living room by himself he doesn't bark it's only when we are in the Kitchen, so surely it not because we left him right?

He's a really independant dog and doesn't mind being by himself.  He's really quiet when when go to sleep and when we are having a shower or when we are on the computer in the other room.  It's only when we are in the Kitchen.  So I'm thinking it got to be something else.

I agree with tohme on this one.

Can he see you when you are in the kitchen? And when you are busy doing other things in other rooms, can he see you then?

If I am in a room that any of my dogs can see me in but can't get to me, they are more intent on joining me as they feel left out. They are pack animals and like to be with their "pack" as much as possible so it stands to reason that they want to be with you.

My male is extremely independent, laid back and contented, but this doesn't deter him from wanting to be with me, however well trained he is, at every opportunity.

It depends on how you intend to train him, if you don't mind him shadowing you all the time, then this won't be a problem for you, but if you want to have time to yourself occasionally and expect him to grow into a competent adult that is perfectly happy with his own company from time to time, then you must give no attention when he barks or he will very quickly get the idea that when he barks, you always go to him..............

I would guess he's barking because he's feeling left out - you've gone somewhere he's not allowed! Would I be right in guessing that he's allowed to follow you into the computer room if he wants? That the kitchen is the only place he's banned from?

Put the idea that he's trying to 'save' you right out of your mind! Even Lassie had to be taught what to do, to make people believe s/he appreciated danger! ;) :D Baby puppies, like baby humans, have no concept of 'danger' whether to themselves or (this comes much later in humans) to others. Cookie isn't trying to 'save' you - he's miffed that he's not allowed in!

Congratulations on having a pup that happily stays on his own when you are sleeping (something which others on here have found fraught with difficulty!), showering or using the computer etc.

Whilst I agree that he is not trying to 'save you' and yes, he might be feeling 'miffed', I would also allow that he might just have noticed a difference in your behaviour about the kitchen.  Whatever the motivation, if you really don't want him in there, you will have to ignore the barking.  If ultimately you want to allow him in there, I would take him in when he is being quiet, when you are not wandering around with boiling hot fat, and totally ignore him in there.

Thanks for the advise guys.

Having read all your replies, I think he is more miffed than anything.

In our home, we only let Cookie in the living room and no other rooms, the Kitchen is actually one of those open kitchens where it's joined onto the living room and there's no door between the living room and Kitchen, just an archway.  When we leave the living room to go to our bed room, computer room etc we close the living room door behind, he stays quite and does his own thing after one or two whines, but when we are in the kitchen and he can see us, he probably barks cos' as you said, he can see us but not allowed in!  I guess I understand now, he probably confused.

Before, I slowly introduced him into the Kitchen and he seems OK, so I'll see how he is tonight.

Apart from the kitchen problem, he's actually very intelligent, independant and a good dog, especially at such a young age.  God Bless the little fella.

Well done for keeping your sense of proportion and realising that this is a minor confusion, not your pup trying to take over the world.

Of course, tomorrow when you find him driving the car ...

LOL! :)

If only my pup can use the toilet and shower that would be great! :)