Every year, hundreds of dogs and puppies are dropped off at animal shelters, because they exhibited destructive behaviors in their owner’s homes. Think about it for a minute. Because owners did not think it was necessary to give their new puppy or dog kennel training, hundreds of dogs lost their homes, if not their lives!

Something can be done to change this.

In this article we’ll take a look at the basics of dog kennel training, including why it is effective and when it should be started.

Why Kennel Training Is Effective

To begin with, kennel or crate training as it is often called, is the process of training your dog or puppy to remain confined comfortably in their crate for a specified amount of time. The crates are usually made of heavy plastic, or stainless steel wire.

Kennel training is effective for our dogs because it is very natural for many animals, including the dog, to seek a safe and secure place to retreat to for periods of rest. In dogs, this is referred to as a “denning characteristic.” So, as responsible pet owners, when we introduce kennel, or crate training to our dogs, we are merely reinforcing the dog’s own biological imperative. We owe it to our dogs and puppies to provide them with a safe and secure retreat from the over-stimulated environment of our homes. The crate offers the animal a safe and secure comfort zone away from people and even other animals.

Dog kennel training, if done properly, is a great tool with many additional benefits including:

** house training

** short-term confinement

** safe trips to the veterinarians

** safe long distance travel in the car

** reducing inappropriate barking

** developing good house habits

So When Is The Best Time To Start Crate Training

Puppies and even older dogs can be introduced to crate training at any time. Ideally, as soon as you bring that new puppy into the home, the crate training should begin immediately. Teaching an older dog crate training, can take a bit longer, but it is not impossible. The older dog may have to un-learn some previous behaviors for the new training to be successful. The key to crate training any dog or puppy, but especially an older dog, is to make the crate a non-threatening part of their every day environment.

By setting the crate up in the living area of your home, with the door of the crate left open, you can find many creative ways for your puppy or dog to freely move in and out of the crate, as they become more comfortable with their dog kennel training.

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