How to Kennel Train a Stray Dog

Finding a stray dog can be intimidating and scary to both the dog and the human, and training and integrating him into your family takes lots of time and patience. Kennel training provides a sense of safety and security for all members of the home and can be done fairly easily with a few simple steps. It's important to follow proper procedure to ensure the whole family benefits from crate training.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Choose a kennel large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around in. Crates come in a variety of sizes and materials. Plastic or metal crates are best for regular, household crating as collapsible, fabric kennels are not intended for long-term, unsupervised use.

2. Set up the crate in an area of the home where the family spends a large amount of time like a family or living room. Place a cushion or soft blanket on the floor of the crate and leave the door open.

3. Call the dog to the kennel and talk to him in a relaxed, happy tone. Reward him with praise or treats for going near the crate or stepping inside. Use a cue word such as "Bed" or "Crate" when rewarding him to begin word association. He will naturally be inquisitive about the crate. Reward him every time he comes near it to reinforce the positive association.
   
   

4. Encourage your dog to get inside the kennel by tossing in small treats or a toy. Let him step inside on his own terms rather than forcing him in. Reward him for any progress he makes towards moving inside the crate. This step may take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days.
   
   

5. Feed the dog his meals inside or near the crate to develop a positive association. Keep the door open until the dog seems comfortable eating inside. Then, close the kennel door with subsequent meals. At first, open the door as soon as he is finished eating. With each meal leave the door closed longer and longer until he is comfortable for at least 10 minutes inside the closed kennel.
   
   

6. Condition the dog for longer time in the crate by calling him into it with a command and treat for short periods while you are at home. Praise him for entering the kennel on his own and increase the amount of time he spends inside with each training exercise.

7. Kennel the dog when you leave once his is comfortable with at least 30 minutes in the kennel while you are at home. If he shows no signs of fear or anxiety during that time, you can be confident he will be fine while you are away.

Tips & Warnings

• Put a favorite chew toy inside the kennel to occupy the dog while you are away.
• If crating at night, place the kennel near or in your bedroom to reduce feelings of isolation the dog may feel. To dogs, even sleep time is an opportunity to bond with their owners.
• Never force or push your dog inside the kennel. This will only create fear and anxiety. When properly trained, many dogs view their kennel as a den where they feel safe and secure.
• Do not give in to whining. If your dog whines or barks when placed in the kennel, wait until he stops to let him out. Otherwise, he will learn that whining and barking gets him out of the crate.