Baby Safety Gates

Hello folks… I have a 6 y.o. black lab & bloodhound mix. He’s a GREAT dog…def the best dog I’ve ever had! He’s great with kids and people in general. BUT there’s 1 problem…
The problem, which just started recently in the past month or so, is that he gets into the trash and scatters it EVERYWHERE in the kitchen.
Here’s a little background:
He’s such a great dog when I’m home which is pretty much all the time other than when I’m working so he’s home alone for about 12 hours per day. He’s been on this same schedule for almost 2 years and I’ve NEVER had this or any other problems with him. He’s just a real chilled out dog! There was 1 time about a year ago when I left a plate on the kitchen counter and he got "stood up" on his 2 hind legs and punished it…gone before I could count to 3. So I decided to buy baby gates and put them up to block the 2 entrances to my kitchen. Everything was great until about a month ago when he broke down the baby gate and got in and ate all kinds of stuff that was in the trash. The trashcan is a taller one WITH A LID. What he does is knocks it over and it’s history…TRASH EVERYWHERE!!! I figured the gates would be good enough but obviously they’re not. He weighs 114 lbs and I guess goes through them with ease when he wants to.
I had just taken the trash out lsat night so the only things in there were some paper towels and other random garbage BUT NO FOOD! I bought 2 diff kinds of repellent and have tried both with no success. I sprayed the inside of the can as well as the inside of the trash bag hoping it would keep him away.
I really don’t want to move the can which would be the obvious solution…there’s pretty much nowhere else to put it. I’ve read about using a smaller can and putting it into a kitchen cabinet with child safety locks but like I said I’d rather not have to move the can or get a new smaller one to put in the cabinet.
My goal with this is to hopefully get some more new ideas of possible solutions…
Things to remember:
He weighs 114 lbs.
When he got into the trash last night there was NOT any food in it.
He breaks down the baby gate I assume pretty easily.
The current trash can is a larger can and has a top that closes.
I’d rather not have to move or get a new trash can…size doesn’t matter he’ll get inside it regardless I think. By moving the trash can I would just be masking his issue…I really just want to make him stop!
I’ve also put hot sauce in the trash bag itself and once again had no luck. It seems like NOTHING will keep him out!
My next move is to buy a crate and stick him in the crate while I’m at work during the day. I’d really rather not do that either.
I also read about somehow putting mouse traps on or around the trash can which is something I have not tried yet because I also have a cat and wouldn’t want that poor guy to caught up in a trap especially when he hasn’t done anything wrong.
Please leave constructive ideas/remedies if you do respond to this. Don’t need people bit$%ing about anything…

I’m basically just hoping to get some new fresh ideas from you guys…!!!

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOLKS!!!

keep tempting items out of the can.. first and fore most. Yes he will still get into it at first, because he was self-rewarded with food when he got into it before. If he finds there’s no longer food in there after several attempts, he may not be so persistant about it.

Get stronger baby gates. Im assuming you are using the pressure-mounted type. Use the kind that had hardware to actually attatch it to the wall. Abit harder to knock down a baby gate that’s screwed into the wall!

You may want to consider a smaller can just to throw food items in, so you cont have to take out the entire trash just for a few things.

Or another option is to just put the trash away when you are gone.. if he only does it when you are away.

He may also be getting in the trash to amuse himself too. He’s bored and looking for something to do. He’s home alone 12 hours, cant say I blame him. Try getting him more exercize and attention when you are home.. if possible find someone to come mid-day to walk him.

Dont do mousetraps.. all you will succeed in doing is injuring the dog.

One think you could try is a rubber mat.. the kind that has the bumpy bottom.. put it upside down at your entrances or near the can. Most dogs dont like the texture.