glenncol Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Hi all I have a 14 week old puppy that has been indoors since getting his 3 to 4 weeks ago. We want ot get to a stage where he is out doors during the day and indooors with us when we are at home. We have purchased a kennel and as usual gone overboard with a large insulated kennel, we have taken one of his indoor beds and put it in the kennel along with 3 or 4 of his toys but he sniffs at the kennel and does not seem to have any insteres on checking out the inside of it. What is the best way to get him interested in using it? Also i would like to start him off with a couple of hours each day outside getting him use to it, it this hte best way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Hi- firstly - the kennel has to be somewhere a pup would WANT to sleep . Does it have the door facing a prevailing cold wind? BAD plan Does it get a bit warmed by the sun now? GOOD plan Can pup see the house /door ? GOOD plan Will the rain come in the door? BAD plan. Put in some of the bedding he has already used, plus a couple of your worn old teeshirts (or an old towel which you sit on for a couple of evenings ) Feed pup in/close to the kennel for a meal each day , and leave a couple of treats inside . walk away and go indoors as pup starts to eat. No talking.. just go. See if pup explores Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenncol Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 Hi- firstly - the kennel has to be somewhere a pup would WANT to sleep .Does it have the door facing a prevailing cold wind? BAD plan No this should be ok Does it get a bit warmed by the sun now? GOOD plan The Kennel is under our pergola area so it iwll get no sun Can pup see the house /door ? GOOD plan The kennel is pretty much next to the living room door so if he pokes his head out of rhe kennel he could almost watch telly Will the rain come in the door? BAD plan. No rain will get in at all Put in some of the bedding he has already used, plus a couple of your worn old teeshirts (or an old towel which you sit on for a couple of evenings ) Feed pup in/close to the kennel for a meal each day , and leave a couple of treats inside . walk away and go indoors as pup starts to eat. No talking.. just go. See if pup explores Cheers i will give all this ago tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 (edited) Similar to what Persephone has suggested - I put my pup's blankets on top of the comfy thick snooza bed mattress bought for the purpose. My kennel has a roof that lifts, so initially I held this up and enticed my pup in with a food treat, which I then gave. Did this a couple of times. Then I allowed some food treats to scatter in the kennel, and pup went in there to get them. I scattered some food treats when pup wasn't looking, so he'd get a nice surprise when he went on his own to investigate. I also spent some time on the decking (where the kennel is) socialising with friends and found my by then weary pup was more than happy to retire in the kennel. After that, it was a place he seems very happy to go when he's outside. Edited June 30, 2010 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 My prevoius dog didn't start using the kennel until it was a really cold and rainy day and there was no where else for him to be. After that, there was no problem with getting him to use it. Probably not the best way to get your dog to like the kennel though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaCharlie Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 In my experience, dogs are not stupid As far as I am concerned, he will find the kennel himself and seek it out if he needs shelter. If he isn't going in there now then he obviously doesn't feel he needs shelter (and is possibly enjoying the sun and exploring the yard). I wouldn't worry about it too much, he will use it when he wants to use it. I used to have an outdoor dog and he never went into his kennel during the day, he much preferred to sleep out on the grass or stretch out on the warm pavers. I figured he mustnt use it until one winter night when I saw him come out of it when I went to the door. If you really desperately want to see your dog in the kennel (because we all like to think that we haven't wasted money LOL) then feed him in there, kinda like crate training. I am of the school of thought though that if you make too big a deal about the kennel the poor pup will have weird feelings towards it, rather than just naturally seeking it out as a form of shelter when he is cold or wet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandybrush Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 yes raz doesnt use his kennel much, would rather lie else where, but i have found him in there when its raining so he does use it when he needs it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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