Kenneling Basics

Kenneling Your IG

I won't go into too much detail about kenneling because there's a lot of good information out there. I do just want to address a few things that I see all the time.

Do you feel bad when you have to put your dog in the kennel? Are you sad about it? Here's why you shouldn't.
-Your dogs can tell you're upset, and they feed on it. If you think the kennel is bad, they will associate the kennel as bad.

-Dogs feel most comfortable in a confined space. If left free in a big house, they can become more anxious than if in a kennel or confined to one room. This is why the house is often "destroyed" when you come home.

-IG's have housetraining problems. Yes, you already knew this! Dogs will not soil their beds if at all possible. However, if their bed is on the couch, there is nothing that says the corner of the room is part of their bed. When dogs are kenneled, they tend to sleep, so their bodily functions will slow down and they won't need to potty as often.

-Their kennel is the coolest place in the house. What, it's not? Why not? The kennel is filled with fluffy comfy blankets, and you know what? Treats magically appear in the kennel, and your dog gets the best treats when they go into their kennel. What, they don't? Well, they should :D

You probably sense a little false incredulity in that last one. But I'll be honest with you. One of my dogs will break down the door to get into the kennel room, and he'll sneak into the kennel room whenever he can. Why? Because he knows there's always good stuff down there. Us leaving for work is the best part of his day because he knows that running into that kennel and sitting down = treats. He's a bit of an extreme example, but my other dogs don't mind the kennel either.

Here are my kennel rules:
1) Woohoo, we're going to the kennel, who wants treats!!! Going to the kennel is happy, and it shows in my voice. I'm never sad or reluctant. Kennel IS happy, point blank.

2) Dogs never go in the kennel as punishment or when I'm angry.

3) Don't force/shove the dog into the kennel. Whenever possible, lure them in with a treat. When you place the dog in the kennel, it's not their choice to go in, and that will slow down the desensitization process. This doesn't mean you're giving them a choice, you're just letting them think it's their choice ;-P Close off the room or block them so that they can't escape, and eventually they realize their "choice" is to go into the kennel, and then they are rewarded for their choice.

3) The dogs always get really really good, special treats for kenneling. Treats they don't get in other situations. And lots of them. I'll often toss a handful of cut up sausage or chicken into the kennel for them to root around and find. When first kennel training, throughout the day put treats in the kennel when the dog's not watching. Eventually they'll figure out that treats grow in the kennel. If your dog goes into the kennel on his/her own, praise and give a treat.

4) And this one is very important. You are NOT happy or excited when you come home. I still have to remind my husband this weekly. He will run into the kennel room "Hi buddies!!!" in a loud happy voice. This is bad! Because - you coming home should be nothing special, it should be mundane and boring and nothing cool. If you coming home is exciting, then being let out of the kennel becomes the coolest thing ever. We want being IN the kennel to be the coolest thing ever!