Kennel Training your English Springer Spaniel

There seems to be some controversy about dog kennel training. Many believe that cages, kennels and crates are today’s answer to quick convenient punishment. Others point out that many dogs find comfort in their own place and some find quite strange places to call their own- the washing basket, the tumble drier, the bottom drawer…..

Crate trainingWhen kennel training your English Springer Spaniel you must ensure that you do not put your dog in there when he has been bad as tempting as it may be. Also don’t leave your dogs in the kennel for more than four hours due to the fact that they will need to stretch and need the toilet. Many dogs start to feel uncomfortable after four hours and then they begin to get anxious. Dogs that spend too much time alone in their crate when they are young may not socialize well with people and other pets. The purpose of crate training is to use the crate to teach your dog good bathroom habits and the proper things to chew. It should never be a substitute for quality time with you. A lot of people aren’t using kennels properly and therefore end up with more problems then they had started with.

There are many benefits of using the crate training technique when it comes to teaching your new English Springer Spaniel puppy proper behavior. First, a crate will offer your pup a warm, secure environment to sleep in. Second, your pup will have a secure area when you are not available to keep a close eye on him. This can save you from finding any number of items that your puppy might decide to chew on, like your shoes, the bedspread or your new sofa.

The first thing you need to do is identify the reason that you are using dog kennel training for. Is it is for housebreaking? Chewing? Making a mess? Once you have identified the reason you then need to utilize the cage to your advantage. All dogs should feel at home when they enter their cage. Food and water should always be available to them and comfortable bedding. For chewing problems chew toys should be available in the kennel and no where else. If he is caught chewing elsewhere, show him his chew toy in the crate and don’t shout at him.


Potty Training with a Crate or Kennel
Crate training your English Springer Spaniel is one of the most effective means of housebreaking your pup. Dogs learn early on that they should not eliminate in the same location that they sleep. This means that spending time in his crate will help your puppy to learn that he can hold his urges until he is in the proper spot to go. Dogs must be trained just like little children are trained and thus they should be introduced to correct dog potty training at an early stage when they are most receptive to learning and which will ensure that your dog goes out and does its business where it has been taught to go.

A good way to start is to crate your dog so you can keep a close eye on your pet while he is being trained to do his potty in the proper place. It is best to purchase a crate that will allow your pup to turn around and stand up, but is not too large that he will be able to find a corner to eliminate in. Since you may want to purchase one crate that will grow with your dog, you can find larger crates that come with temporary dividing walls. This way, you can section off a smaller area of your crate for the puppy, and move or remove it as your dog gets bigger.

Inside of the crate, you can place a blanket for sleeping and a chew toy or two along with his food and water. When you bring your pup home, show him his crate, but do not shut him inside right away. It is best to let him go in and out of it at his will at first, until he gets used to the space.

Once your pup is accustomed to his crate, usually within the first few hours after coming home, you can use this space to confine your pet at night and whenever you are not available to keep a close eye on him. Do not shut a puppy in a crate for more than a couple of hours at a time, unless it is for overnight sleeping. Your puppy may need to eliminate very frequently at the beginning, sometimes every hour. Once you notice your dog start to get uncomfortable in his kennel take him out and let him do his business. Once he has, praise him and continue to repeat. Make sure that your dog gets outside to go to the bathroom regularly and spend time playing and cuddling with him as well.

You may think caging up a dog is cruel but in truth it is not. What happened to us when we were small? We were left in our cot or playpen to play, that is what you are doing to your dog, nothing cruel or inhumane… just practical.