House Training & Kennel Training

One of the most common problems with a puppy is house training. Included in that is Chewing. Both problems can be solved by the same tool. A kennel, which is an enclosed area for the dog, becomes it's "bedroom", or home, so to speak. Many people feel it is a punishment tool, but this is not so. The kennel becomes the most secure place in the world for your new baby, whether old or young. It stops problems such as housebreaking, chewing, and food thieves. It becomes the fix all to many problems, when USED PROPERLY. No dog should EVER be left in the kennel for extend periods of time without bathroom breaks. No dog should EVER be kept in the Kennel because you "don't feel like watching him". Just like you would not keep your child in their bedroom their whole life, the dog should NOT be kept in the kennel his whole life. The kennel does not take the place of love, affection, and obedience training!

Before you bring home your new baby, you should go shopping. You need to buy food bowl, water bowl, brush, leash, and a kennel. How do you know what size the kennel is? Well, if you know what size the dog will be full grown, that helps alot. If you don't see the parents, you will have to "guess" on his future size. The Kennel should be large enough for the dog to comfortably stand or lay down when full grown. That doesn't mean large enough to play ball, or to spend his entire life there. He needs to have a home that will be comfortable, yet not too large. If you get TOO large of a kennel, the puppy will end up soiling in half of it, while laying in the other half. This is not a good thing.

The dog should be INSIDE the kennel whenever you are sleeping, not at home, or unable to watch the dog. Usually, it's not good to keep the dog inside for more than 8 hours straight. Young puppies cannot hold their bladders for a full 8 hours, so you must get up at night about half the way through, and take him outside. As the pup matures and grows, you can extend the NIGHTTIME bathroom visits, but would recommend if you cannot come home from work, to hire a dog walker to come out and let your pup out during the day for a bathroom trip.

How the dog feels about the Kennel: Most dogs in the wild make "DENS". Dens are small caves usually in rock or other areas, where the dog feels at home. Puppies are born and raised there, and automatically STAY there while Mom is out looking for food. It's where they feel MOST secure. Even as adults most dogs and wolves love to return to "home" to remember that sense of security. Even older dogs, introduced to kennels beyond puppy hood, begin to love their Kennel.

Case in Point. Our Lab, Beauty was raised without a kennel. She virtually destroyed our entire home throughout her puppyhood, and was nearly IMPOSSIBLE to housebreak. When we got our second lab, we decided to try kennel training. Lisa stayed in her kennel when we were not home, or when we were sleeping, or when we could not watch her. The results were astonishing. Not only did she not destroy anything, but she was also a breeze to housebreak. She only had one accident in the house. Even once she was allowed out of the kennel when we were not there, we still kept it, open, and in the living room. One day, Lisa was wandering around looking lost. I was slightly confused, because usually she would go to her kennel to rest if bored with my watching tv. When I looked over, there was BEAUTY, laying in the kennel. This, the dog who had to be forced inside the first day we tried to get her in, had decided, on her own free will, that the kennel was THE place to be. For the next 6 months Beauty would beat Lisa to the kennel and lay down, while Lisa stared at her broken heartedly, wanting HER kennel. Eventually we bought a second kennel, and Lisa, escatic, immediately made herself at home.

Types of Kennels: There are several types. I usually use the AIRLINE KENNEL types because we travel now and then. There are also WIRE fold up kennels, that transport to and from the home to the car, to family, or anywhere else much easier. It does not really matter what TYPE of kennel you get. If your dog cries while in the kennel, and you have a wire one, simply take a towel or blanket and cover the kennel for nighttime security. Sometimes this is all that is needed. The pup will lay down and go to sleep.

Kennel Training a New Pup: 

Is it as easy as I've said? Not in the beginning. Especially if your dog has not been inside a kennel before. Patience is definitely a virtue when making changes in ANY dog's life, whether a pup or an adult dog. Pups will cry when first put in a kennel. A gradual move into it may be in order. This is done simply by feeding the dog INSIDE the kennel, placing it's toys inside the kennel, or anything the dog thinks of as pleasant! In the beginning, kennel stays should be short, starting maybe with as little as 15 minutes. Then add a few more minutes each time. Before long your dog will learn that you ARE going to let him out, maybe not that moment, but you will let him out. That is very important for him to know. Postive reinforcement and praise are a BIG MUST in this case. Do not get angry with your pup for not wanting to stay. Simply pop the top of the kennel lightly and say "QUIET". Then, when the pup is quiet, take the pup out and play with him. NEVER let the pup out of the kennel while he is crying! Because it teaches him that if he cries you will let him out.

If the pup is new, and is it's first night away from Mom or Litter mates, crying may become excess.  Try putting the kennel in the bedroom with you, so you may speak if the puppy cries too much.  Some people even sleep next to the kennel on the floor, so the pup can see them, and they can reach in with their fingers to comfort the pup.   This is an exceptionally trying time for the new baby.  Patience is definitely in order.  If you get upset, this will upset the pup even more.  For he or she will not understand WHY you are upset... just that he is lonely and afraid, and then you got angry, making him even MORE afraid. 

Some people will take a pup to bed with them if they cry too much.  That is your option.  It's not recommended, however, because pups usually will then think that if they cry, they can sleep with you.  However, sometimes, in order to keep sanity, an hour of sleep together may just be what is needed.  Then place the pup back in the kennel, while he is sleeping.

Kennel Training an Older Dog - This method CAN be used for both older and younger dogs, but is a MUST for the Older dog you wish to kennel train!

#1: Take the kennel completely apart.
#2: Put his food inside the bottom portion of the kennel (this is assuming you are using the airline plastic type of kennel).
#3: When he's able to eat out of the bottom portion with no distress, put the top on, but leave the door off.
#4: Throw his toy inside when playing games like fetch. Feed him inside, make it fun to be inside the kennel.
#5: When he's able to enjoy games of fetch, put the door back on.
#6: continue as in #2 and #4. Leave the door OPEN at all times.
#7: Send him in using your "kennel" command. Call him right back out. Praise him for being good.
#8: Send him in using your "kennel" command. Make him lay down. Praise him for being good, then call him back out. Remember, the door is STILL open.
#9: Send him in using your "kennel" command. Make him lay down, and stay, for about 15-20 minutes. The door is STILL open. A key method to reward him DURING this stay is to have treats in front of the kennel. Every few seconds, give him one. As he learns this technique, expand the length of time between "reward treats". Do not think of this as bribery, but a reward for the stay WHILE he is staying.
#10: Once all other steps are done easily and calmly, do the same as #9, but close the door. You CAN still give treats thru the door if you like, as his reward.
#11: Once #10 works ok, do the same, but leave the room for 5 minutes. Come back, open the door. Do NOT make a big deal now for opening the door. Speak in quiet tones, and tell him he's good for staying in his "kennel".
#12: Gradually increase his time alone in the room until an hour or two works fine.
#13: Once all other steps are done easily without fuss, place him in his kennel and leave the house for about 15-30 minutes. Drive off. When you return, open the door, and quietly praise him, then send him outside to do "his business".
#14: Gradually increase his time alone with you gone, and before long, you have a KENNEL TRAINED dog!

As you can probably tell, this method takes QUITE a while.  So take your time, keep your patience, and teach this dog how to be in a kennel. :)

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