The Security of a Dog Kennel Keeps Pups Happy & Safe
Here in Montana, many people drive pick-up trucks (rigs). A rig is not complete without a big hound or two riding shotgun in the truck bed. People consider a dog’s freedom as a natural part of the Montana state bill of rights. What people do not realize is that many of those pups would feel more secure looking out from the safe confines of a dog kennel.
I became a kenneling advocate when I brought home my new Irish terrier puppy. Her breeder had given me a small dog kennel with the rest of the new puppy kit, explaining that the animal should be put in the kennel at night to sleep as well as left in the pen when the family was out of the house for no more than a few hours.
At first I was quite skeptical; worried that confining the pup in this way might be an unreasonable punishment. An Irish terrier is not a big dog that requires wide open spaces, but it is a breed that thrives on activity and becomes unruly when bored.
But I was determined to try the concept, at first putting her in at night with a treat and leaving the wire grated door slightly ajar. After only a few nights she started to go into her crate willingly, settling down on the fleece kennel liner with a couple of spins and a satisfied murmur.
If you have experienced the sleepless nights when you are trying to get a new puppy acclimated and house trained, you understand how pleasantly surprised I was. Not only did the crate become my puppy’s preferred sleeping place, it also kept the accidents at a minimum, since she never fouled her own nest.
Before long, she would head for her crate, unasked, when the family prepared to leave for work and school. During weekend days, she would often nose around in her private space during the course of her daily routine.
I came to realize that dog kennels are the modern-day equivalent of the ancient canine’s cave: a compact, personal space which is easy to defend and therefore makes the occupant feel safe and secure. A crate or pen becomes her castle; even an outdoor chain link dog kennel can become a preferred haven, provided it is used judiciously for only a few hours at a time.
As for those Montana rig dogs, I can’t help but believe that the addition of a portable dog kennel in the pick-up bed would enhance their ride. An instinctual preference for the cave-like security of the enclosed space, not to mention the enhanced safety of a well-loved pet, argue undeniably for incorporating a wire or plastic dog kennels into any pet’s training program.
Once your pup is housebroken and out of the chewing stage you may want to consider checking out some wooden dog kennels that will better match your home’s décor.
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Filed Under Indoor Dog Crates and Kennels, Portable Dog Carriers & Cages | Leave a Comment
Tagged With indoor dog kennel, outdoor chain link dog kennel, plastic dog kennel, wooden dog kennel
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