In the previous article, we explained what an indoor shed is, what it can be used for, and when it will be used. Now let’s see how you can get your dog used to using it.
Obviously, you can never lock an adult dog in an indoor kennel and expect him to be completely peaceful. Dogs need to get used to using it gradually. The ideal thing is to start this process gradually while your dog is still a puppy. But if you are very patient, you can also teach this new order to an adult dog!
The following are the steps you need to follow to accustom your dog to an indoor kennel::
Start by putting a plate inside the kennel and feeding your dog there, so he will have a chance to learn about the environment inside the kennel. The dog will focus on the food and will not worry about where he is eating; when you see your dog eating calmly in the hut, try closing the door while he is eating. If he stops eating and tries to go out, open the door and try again the next day. On the other hand, if he seems happy with the door being closed, it means it worked. After he has eaten, take him out and show extra love so that he understands that he is doing something good.
After a few days like this, try putting delicious food in the kennel for the dog to enter the indoor kennel and automatically search for food. Once he gets used to it, close the door (for a short time) while the dog is there looking for food. If he becomes agitated, open the door immediately. Being inside should be his own choice, he should never be forced to do it!
After a few days of training in this way, give Rex a real reward, such as a skin bone, while he searches for delicious food inside the hut. If he keeps chewing on the bone inside the shed, that’s a really good sign. This means that the dog begins to feel the shed as his own personal shelter. On the other hand, if he wants to go out, close the door for a few minutes, but do not go away. If he doesn’t go back to chewing his bone at this time, take the bone when you open the door and close the door so that the dog can’t get in. At this point, the dog will be the one who wants to return to the kennel. Practice this exercise again in the following days. Keep using these techniques until you understand that the dog is happy to stay inside and goes there on his own. Remember that the domestic shed should be located in a safe and quiet place. This should be a real shelter for your dog, a place where he feels safe and secure. This is the reason why your dog should not worry or get bored while eating or relaxing inside the kennel.
If you are patient and consistent in your actions, you will succeed in this effort! The dog will see the indoor kennel as its home and will happily enter there on its own, or even stand in the kennel with the door closed when you need it to carry it in your car for whatever reason. In the next post, you will find some tips on choosing an indoor hut that suits your needs.
Source: How Can We Get the Dog Used to the Domestic Kennel?
