Kennel

I got a new Black lab puppy. I have to put him in the kennel before leaving for work in the morning. I return 4 hours later to see him. By then my roommates have woken up and let him out and stuff.

The problem is when I initially put him in the kennel he throws a little fit. Barks a bunch. Any pointers on how to condition him to like the kennel? I would like him to like the kennel because he will be spending a lot of time in it when duck season comes. Any tips and tricks to get him to like it more/chill out when I put him in there would be great. Thank you

Just don't let him out when he is throwing a fit. Ride the wave. The more he is in there the more it will become his safe place.

Put a lock on the kennel so no one can let him out . Get a shock collar to use while he's in the kennel .

Ignore this...if you're fine with your roommates letting him out so be it. It's not getting in the kennel that's the problem. It's you leaving him. He will get used to it. DO NOT use a shock collar on him for any reason other than actual training or hunting. Command him with "quiet" and he will learn. He's a pup and wants to be with you. I'm sure someone can add some tips but I have been through many GSP's and they all learn the kennel is not a bad place. It just takes time.

Try giving him a Kong dog toy filled with the bacon flavored filling. That should entertain him for a while, by then he will be calm enough.

Dogs learn to love their kennels. If you put a shock collar on a puppy when he is in his kennel...he will certainly not like it. This is a great article about how to get your puppy used to crate training...

http://www.retrievertraining.net/crate/kennel.htm

Shock collar is a tool to be used in training. It is not a fix all tool when your dog is being bad. Your new pup has to has a solid foundation of obedience/training before the shock collar is even used. If you start using it now your pup will start thinking of the kennel as a bad place, and if you start using it now without solid foundation work he will lose interest in training. I just rescued a 1 year old chocolate lab from a guy that didn't have time for him, and he told me he used a shock collar on him all the time. So, now anytime you put a shock collar on him just to get used to wearing it he doesn't want to work or retrieve. As soon as you take it off of him he's a completely different dog, and another thing it just depends on the dog. If I was you I would put in the work with his obedience to start. I hope this helps.

I think the shock collar comment was meant to be a joke.

Are you referring to an outdoor kennel or a crate?

Yessir it was , sometimes I just let comments run with it and see who actually catches it for what it is .

Just to let all know I have had Cocker Spaniels , Springer Spaniels , Boxers , Pomeranians , Poodles , Afghan , mutts and Scotties and Dobermans and loved each and everyone of them and never owned a shock collar , never miss treated one and kept each and everyone in great health .

what about using a stop barking collar, not the field training collar. They have served me well with dogs kenneled outdoors and barking.

I have a four month black lab. The first couple nights my gosh I thought I would never get a minute of sleep. I have found that ensuring you exercise your dog adequately and making sure they are mentally stimulated makes the kennel much easier. A tired puppy is a good puppy as Bill Hillman says. I have found that in the morning when I have only been able to throw the ball a couple of times enough to get her panting good I put a kong stuffed with a liver patee mix which is frozen in her kennel. She looks at me and I think she is saying Go to school Adam I want in my kennel! I think that is helpful. Tons of liver recipes online but start slowly and don't do a lot.

A bark collar is a very effective tool for a vocal pup in the kennel. Every pup is different. Some stop after a few nights when they get past separation anxiety, others never stop.

I'd not go for the bark collar at this point.

#1 if at all possible never reward noise. Pup is only let out when quiet.

#2 at night I like to raise the crate up off the floor on a chair or table so the pup can see you. This has helped tremendously the first few nights. Then move to the floor.

#3 Feed the pup in the kennel. They learn to like getting in it pretty quick when its meal time.