Many dogs go into their kennels spontaneously once you have placed it in the yard or in the living room but that’s not always the case. For most dogs, dog kennels and dog carriers are viewed as a form of caging and reclusion, if they aren’t perceived as a den. However, in nature an animal takes great care in choosing its den. We will discover useful tips about crate training: how to accustom a dog to its kennel or how to accustom it to its dog carrier.
Crate training | Where to place your dog kennel?
Before understanding the process of crate training, we have to evaluate another very important factor which is kennel placement, especially if you want to keep your dog in the garden. The dog kennel must be placed near the house, in a sheltered place that is that is far from the gate especially if the gate faces a busy street. In this case, the dog could perceive the kennel as a place that isn’t safe because of the noise, and this could induce a so-called performance anxiety in your dog, because it might think that it must become a guard dog. At this point, you might find yourself with a dog that barks continuously for any reason. Even at the leaves that fall from the trees just to carry out the task that used assigned it.
If you live in colder climates, we recommend buying a heated kennel. There are many dog breeds that are particularly sensitive to the cold so in this case, your dog will look for a warmer spot in the garden and outside your house, such as near the heating pipes or where there is no cold wind. You must not forget though that a dog considers a kennel as a shelter, not as a point of reference. You have to be its point of reference.
How to crate train a dog | Kennel training
In order to accustom your dog to its kennel, you need to proceed gradually and be very patient. The first step it to make your dog must understand that its dog kennel is not a hostile place, but a comfortable and safe place to rest. Put something delicious inside it for your dog, a treat, its blanket or its favorite toy. After that, see if your dog is drawn to what you’ve hidden inside its kennel or not. Generally, they are. Their first reaction will be to slowly come closer, and then it will peek inside the kennel, sniff around, and quickly go inside, taking the ‘treasure’ and quickly getting out.
During this first phase, dogs are uncertain: they understand perfectly that there is something good inside the kennel, but they are still doubtful. You must make them understand that it is definitely not a trap but a safe place! So you will repeat this exercise many times, trying not to be seen while you observe so as to give them the time they need to examine situation. In other words, they have to get used to the kennel and bit by bit as they become familiar with the kennel, they will stay longer inside.
If you know how to kennel train a dog with this technique you can adopt it to accustom your dog to its carrier, following the same principle. Of course, in the case of a dog carrier, proportional to your pet, you must not close the door during the first step once it goes in, or you will have to start all over again and it will take you double the time.
