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Helping Your Dog Adapt to Kennel Life |
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You can't teach old dogs new tricks, especially if the trick involves getting that old dog into a new kennel.
Your dog should be treated as part of the family. In fact, most people who own dogs as house pets wouldn't dream of cooping their four-legged pals up in cages. As members of the household, these dogs have the run of the home and interact freely with the rest of the family. But, let's face it; situations do change. There may be a time when you'll need to be separated from your pet, such as a family vacation. If this happens, your dog may need to spend time at a dog kennel.
Most dog kennels keep the pets in specially built kennel cages . While these cages are roomy and comfortable, the transition can be quite traumatic for your pet, particularly if he or she has never been in a cage before. For this reason, all dogs should be made comfortable with a kennel cage. By training your dog to sleep in a kennel cage today, you'll greatly reduce the amount of stress and discomfort your dog will feel if he or she needs to stay at a kennel in the future.
Time for Training
The best time to train your dog to sleep in a kennel cage is between the ages of three to eight months. During this time period, your puppy will be most receptive to all types of training. It is also during this age that people usually take their pets to trainers or "puppy schools" to learn the basics that all dogs (and owners) should know. This is the optimal time to get your dog used to staying in kennel cage.
Stay, Boy, Stay
The training process for kennel cages is relatively simple. The dog is ordered to enter the cage and sit, and should be left there for a few minutes at a time with the door open. Over time, the pet owner or trainer will place the dog's bedding inside the kennel cage, enticing the dog to enter the cage voluntarily. In doing so, he or she will be happy to relax there awhile. It's important to keep the door open until your dog is completely comfortable with it. Within a week or so, when your pet is completely at ease sleeping inside the cage, you can shut the door. Begin by keeping the door closed for brief periods, and then extend the trials until the dog comfortably sleeps through the night with the door shut.
Dogs need their own personal space, so having a kennel cage for your dog's sleeping quarters can benefit both of you. If you prefer not to use the cage all the time, then you should repeat this exercise for a few days each month. Your dog will remember the experience and will not develop a fear of the kennel cage. Then, if you are called away from home, he or she will be much more comfortable in the new kennel surroundings.
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