Which Kennel?

Dog kennels come in many sizes and designs, from $25,000 ‘pooch palaces’ modelled on the owner’s house, to sturdy all-weather structures for a working sheepdog or rescue animal.

The type of dog house you choose depends on climate, the size of the animal, if your dog will live there all year round, whether the kennel will be used for whelping, and if a number of dogs will share the same structure. You will also need to decide whether to buy a kennel ready-made or, if your craftsmanship’s up to scratch, obtain or draw plans and build one yourself.

Chaining a dog to a kennel

A dog should never be chained to a kennel except for short supervised periods. Dogs are social animals, genetically determined to live as a group. A chained dog will suffer psychological damage, and may become highly aggressive. A chained animal does not even make a good guard dog: a burglar may easily circumvent a chained dog but will be disinclined to enter a house containing a free-running animal.

A chained dog, unused to human interaction, is liable to attack anyone without warning: a child wandering nearby, the postman, other animals. When he feels threatened he may attack immediately because the chain prevents the normal fight-flight response: he’s forced by the chain to fight.

Kennel Roofing and Ventilation

A peaked kennel roof makes an ideal space for wasps, hornets and other types of insect or animal to build their nests, while a flat roof, with a slight incline to allow rainwater to drain, solves those problems and gives the dog somewhere to lie when it’s hot or he’s on guard duty. The roof should be removable for ease of cleaning.

Dog houses should be raised a few inches above the ground to keep them free from damp and to allow air to flow underneath.

Kennel Size

If your kennel is too small a dog will be uncomfortable and it may do itself permanent damage if he has nowhere else to sleep. If it’s too large he won’t be able to heat it with his body ambiance and may freeze in harsh weather. So measure your dog before buying a kennel and choose one which allows him room to turn round, plus a few extra inches.

If he’s a growing dog then your kennel should have removable panels to mirror his growth. To control of the size of the internal space is also important if the kennel is to be used for whelping. There should be room for mother and (growing) puppies, together with space for her to turn round.

Kennel Psychology

A dog is naturally territorial and will feel protective towards Propecia Online his kennel. Children should not be permitted to crawl inside, and should be taught to respect the dog when he’s in his kennel. However, the owner should always remain ‘top dog’ and periodically exclude the animal from his dog house. It should be made clear this isn’t punishment but, rather, the human owner asserting his natural rights over all the dog’s territory. Such exclusions can be combined with cleaning and repairs. Once the kennel is ready again the dog can be rewarded and allowed re-entry.

A dog house should not be used as punishment. The dog should associate his kennel with safety and comfort, not somewhere he goes when he’s in disgrace.

Multiple Occupancy Kennels

Large kennels are available for more than one dog. If the dogs don’t get along a partitioned design can be chosen so each animal has his own stall.

Conclusion

A well designed and maintained kennel is a must for a working dog which normally will not enter the owner’s home. It will protect him from heat and rain, and appeal to his den and territorial instincts. But a house pet may also appreciate a kennel for similar reasons. On hot nights he may prefer to sleep outside, and when the family is in the garden his kennel is somewhere for him to retreat, away from noisy children and younger dogs.

Kennels also can be beautiful and a welcome adornment to garden or yard. They represent a traditional aspect of country living and many humans take pride in a well turned-out kennel.

It’s an exciting time when you bring home that adorable little fur ball. You are on your way to a lifetime of companionship and loyalty. To make generic drugs without prescription the most out of your time together you want to make puppy potty training quick and easy. Here are some helpful tips for you and your new friend.

As soon as you get your new pet home take her outside to relieve herself. Use a phrase such as ‘go potty’ every time you take her out. Don’t let her get distracted and start playing until she has gone to the bathroom. When she’s done praise her and play with her. Let her know she did a good job and that you are proud of her.

Dogs are very smart. Some breeds seem to respond better to training than others, but you should be able to train your dog fairly easily no matter what breed you have. Dogs are also very clean generally. They don’t like to mess near their ‘den’ or where their food, water and bed are located. This is why crate training can be so effective.

When puppy potty training using a crate remember to take into account what your puppies adult size will be. If your puppy is going to get a lot bigger than her puppy size you will need to buy a crate that can comfortably accommodate her full grown size. She should be able to stand fully upright without having to hunch and be able to turn completely around. There should be enough room to accommodate her bed and several toys.

Since the crate will be a lot bigger than your puppy this poses a problem for puppy potty training. If she has too much space to move around she can get far enough away from her bed to relieve herself. To eliminate this problem all you have to do is fix a temporary partition to close off a part of the crate. When she grows up and needs more room simply remove the partition. That way you can get the most out of using a crate for puppy potty training without having to purchase two different sized crates.

Keep her crate close to where the family spends a lot of time. Dogs are social animals and love spending time with, or close to, their family. Remember the crate is only a tool for puppy toilet training, your puppy isn’t being punished. Whenever she can’t be adequately supervised put her in her crate. Give her a nice soft bed and a few chew toys. When she’s not in her crate leave the door open. Eventually your puppy will think of her crate as her den and will go into it on her own.

These simple tips can help you make puppy toilet training much easier and less stressful. For a complete guide on housebreaking your dog get a copy of ‘The Ultimate House Training Guide’. This is a comprehensive, step by step system devised by dog trainers and veterinarians. This information can make puppy toilet training so easy neither of you will have any trouble!

Education begins at home, but it doesn’t end there. It’s important that you supplement your dog’s home schooling with a good obedience class – or several! Why is obedience school so necessary? Well, here’s a starter list:

1. You and your dog will learn more advanced commands. You’ve got a good start with “sit” and “let’s go,” but in class you’ll master exercises like “down,” “stay,” “heel,” “stand” and “come” as well – the vocabulary she’ll need to become a really responsive and trustworthy friend and partner.

2. Your instructor can address your specific needs. Books and videotapes are great, but they can’t stay after class to discuss your dog’s individual problems or strong points, they can’t demonstrate new moves to you, and they can’t tell you whether you’re holding your leash funny or giving your dog a confusing command. There’s really no substitute for the one-on-one attention and suggestions of a good instructor.

3. You ‘II learn from the other people and dogs in the class. Your classmates may have new ideas for you, or you may pick up tips just from watching them. And you’ll find that they’re sympathetic to your problems and proud of your successes in ways that your non-dog-loving friends may not be.

4. Your dog will get used to other people and dogs. This is a biggie. No amount of backyard practice can teach your dog to behave in the presence of other exciting people or pups. online prescription drugs without a prescription And if your dog is still a little worried about the world at large – and many of them are – dog obedience classes will give her a chance to make friends and gain confidence. So even if you’ve already been through dog obedience classes with another dog and know the ropes, it’s a good idea to take your new dog to a class of her own.

5. It’ll give you an incentive to train your dog. Let’s face it, sometimes it’s tough to get motivated for your daily training sessions when you know only a couple of exercises and you don’t have an instructor and classmates to keep you from getting lazy!

6. You’ll have a terrific time. Dog obedience classes is fun! You’ll make new friends (I know several married couples who met in obedience class) and get lots of exercise, and your relationship with your new dog will soar to new levels. And who knows? You might just get hooked on dog training and find yourself with a new hobby.