Cooperative Care - The Benefits of Place and Kennel Training 

Why kennel train?

Giving the dog a safe place to retreat or be confined when not supervise is an invaluable tool for dog owners. It can be beneficial to the dog to be safely out of the area when guests arrive to avoid unwanted behaviors such as jumping or sneaking food from guest plates. Chewing habits and housebreaking can be improved by kennel training and setting routine when owners are out of the house. A kennel also provides ways to safely separate dogs or kids from dogs when needed.

A few rules should apply when kennel training: 

• Always take the dog to potty before and after kenneling. 
• The kennel should always be a place of safety and positive reinforcement. Good things should be happening in the kennel like naps, yummy treats, and Kongs. The kennel should NEVER be used as punishment. A time out or break from a unwanted behavior or activity in the kennel is fine, yelling and punishing to the kennel is not. 
• Remind children to leave the dog alone when in the kennel. 
• The kennel should be big enough for the dog to comfortably turn around and stand up. If the kennel is too large, dogs can be tempted to use part of the kennel for elimination habits. Section off part of the kennel with a divider appropriate for the kennel to shorten the space/ 
• Consistency is key! Use a command that signals the dog is to go to the kennel such as "kennel" or "crate" or "load" and follow it with a high value reward to encourage good loading behaviors. Always reinforce a load into the kennel. 

Place Training is a helpful skill for older dogs!

Utilizing a space or "place" for the dog to retreat to when needed helps the dog feel safe. Think of the "place" like an extension of the kennel or in place of the kennel for dogs who may have outgrown the need for kennel training. This place should be set up like a kennel: out of the way, in a safe area, comfortable and away from cords, things that can fall down on the dog, etc. 

Benefits from place training:

• It gives the dog a place to sit when company come over and works as a visual cue for instruction. 
• Place training is a good opportunity for cooperative care tasks such as ear cleaning, nail trims, and medication administration. 
• Serves as a reminder for other humans in the home that the dog may need a place to take a breath. This place should serve as a spot free from children where the dog feels they are safe. 

Talk to your veterinarian or trainer for more information on how to introduce kennel or place training!