Welcome to our first blog post. We’re brand new at this, but buckle in because we’re going to take you on an educational journey about kennels. We’ll discuss different types of kennels, when you should kennel, the benefits of kenneling and everything in between. Let’s dive in!
First and foremost, there are essentially four types of kennels. The most common are plastic or wire kennels, but there are also fabric kennels and aluminum kennels. You can find different variations of these kennels, but we’ll keep it simple to just those four types. Each kennel has pros and cons, and can benefit dogs in different ways.
Fabric Kennels (Least expensive ($))
PROS | CONS |
Easy to move/lightweight Easy to car travel with Quick setup | Less durability Difficult to clean Easy to escape |
Wire Kennels (Slightly expensive ($$))
PROS | CONS |
High airflow Comes with dividers to accommodate growing puppies Folds flat for easy storage | Heavy Can rust Medium difficulty to escape Possibility of damage to teeth if dog chews Easy to clean bottom tray |
Plastic Kennels (Medium expensive ($$$))
PROS | CONS |
Portable Lightweight Easy to clean entire kennel Difficult to escape More privacy | Doesn’t fold flat for storage Low airflow Eyesore for decor Plastic can absorb smell |
Aluminum Kennels (Very expensive ($$$$))
PROS | CONS |
Escape-proof Durable Easy to clean | Heavy Doesn’t fold flat for storage Eyesore for decor |
While it’s quite taboo to relate children to dogs, they actually do have similarities. New parents wouldn’t keep their baby awake all day because they know that sleep is important and they need time to get things done around the house. The same goes for new puppy owners. Kennels don’t discriminate against size, age, or breed of dog! Puppies need about 18-20 hours of sleep per day and adult dogs (over 2 years of age) need about 12-14 hours per day. Providing them with a safe space to relax and sleep is one of the best things you can do for your dog.
Kennels help dogs learn how to self-soothe and how to deal with their anxiety in stressful situations like fireworks, thunder storms or major construction. Kennels also make it easier to safely transport your dog. In a potentially dangerous situation, you will be thankful that your dog will easily go into their kennel within seconds.
Specifically for puppies, kennelling can keep them safe while you’re unable to supervise them. Kennelling a puppy will help them to be housebroken much faster than puppies who are never kennelled. Puppies also explore the world with their mouths, so kennelling can prevent puppies from chewing or eating anything they shouldn’t be. Personally, it was one of the things we worked on first with Roo. It didn’t take long for her to love her kennel and it was a huge peace of mind to us that she was always safe when we weren’t home.
There is always a chance that your dog will get hurt at some point in their lives and may need to be on kennel rest for a period of time. If you plan on traveling, sending your dog to daycare, have an unexpected overnight stay at the vets, or if you simply just need some dog-free time, a kennel will be necessary.
The earlier you start to kennel train, the smoother it will go. Kennel training your dog is the gift that keeps on giving. It will help prevent separation anxiety, stress, destructive behaviors like counter surfing or chewing the wall (I’m talking to you, Husky owners) and stress. Did I say stress twice? The first was for the dogs, the second was for the owners.
The easiest part of kennel training is knowing when you need to kennel your dog. It’s quite simple, really. Potty, train, play, free time, potty, kennel. Repeat until the day’s end. Depending on your dog's age and energy level, your routine may vary on how many times you shuffle through this in a day.
We’ve talked about what kennels there are, why you should kennel train your dog, when you need to kennel, now let’s talk about where your kennel should be and how to kennel train.
If there was a party in your living room, would you pull up a pillow and blanket and fall asleep? I probably could, but this isn’t about me. Your kennel should be placed somewhere that has low traffic and in a dark area. Your bedroom, a spare room, a second bathroom are all good choices. If you can’t make the room dark, as long as your dog isn’t a blanket chewer, throw a blanket over your dog's kennel. Maybe you’re a millennial who has a dog den under the stairs like in Harry Potter. If so, I’m jealous.
Kennel training should be fun and knowing what your dog values will be a game changer. Max and Snow, for example, are highly food motivated. When we were kennel training them, they got all the good food in their kennels such as lick mats, kongs, food puzzles, bones, chews, and their every day meals. Roo was different, while she loves food, her toy drive is higher. We played fetch by throwing her ball into her kennel. We also played tug while she was inside the kennel with the door open. She hasn’t eaten many full meals inside her kennel, but all of her higher value “treats” are given to her in her kennel.
I think I’ve rambled on long enough, and if you’ve made it this far, wow! Until next time, remember Progress not Perfection.
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