Kenneling Got Sit Style

Kennels are a standard piece of dog-owning equipment. Most dog owners understand using a kennel satisfies their dog’s den-dwelling instinct and their canine security needs. Unfortunately, after our initial dog-owning enthusiasm dims, kennels tend to be where we put our dogs when we don’t want to deal with them: during dinner time, when company’s over, when they’re being “bad.” It becomes a place of punishment and exile instead of a regular aspect of life.

Time to think outside the leash!

Kennels definitely have a place in your dog’s day-to-day life. A positive one. All it takes is a shift in how you use it.

Got Sit is all about thinking outside the box. It’s what makes our training program effective, fun and realistic. One of its perks is its adaptability. Incorporating standard dog-training tools, including kennels, is a snap and has immediate results.

How do you make the switch? Got Sit’s master trainer, Anthony Hamik, offers the following tips:

• First and foremost, your dog needs to know going into the kennel is good. Praise them when they’re in there. Remember, they’re wired to please so let them know you’re pleased. “Good boy,” treats, pats, help them associate the kennel with positive feedback.

• Use your Got Sit know-how. Teaching your dog to use a kennel is essentially teaching them a new trick. Put your Got Sit acumen to use. Go through the training steps to communicate to your dog what you want. Remember to reward them when they do it right.

• Send them to the kennel as part of training practice. This keeps your dog guessing; they won’t anticipate when they’ll be going in. It also eliminates negative kennel connotations. The kennel becomes a tool, just like the “place” platform or a ball or a Frisbee.

• Feed your dog in the kennel. Not only does this mix-up the feeding routine (a good challenge), but it also ups your dog’s association with the kennel. It’s a good place to be.

• Use the kennel consistently. Like all dog training, the more practice your dog gets, the better they become. This applies to being in the kennel as well. It needs to be a regular experience, not simply for special occasions. Challenge yourself: How can you incorporate kenneling your dog into your daily routine? At meal times, while cooking, during TV time, while you’re in the shower… The opportunities are endless.

Using your dog’s kennel on a day-to-day basis may seem extreme; however, there are major advantages to including this skill in your dog’s training. Travel becomes easier. Your dog will happily ride in a kennel for car rides, extended road trips, camping, hotel stays and airplane trips. It helps ease anxiety associated with sleeping in unfamiliar environments, such as a boarding facility or a veterinary hospital/clinic. It strengthens your owner-dog bond by presenting another scenario in which your dog looks to you for guidance.

Kennels are fantastic tools. Utilizing the Got Sit system boosts the kennels effectiveness quickly and easily. Give it a try! Let us know how it goes in the comment section below. If you have questions or need help, give us a call at 425.405.5SIT.