So, my dog, Max, suddenly decided he’s not a fan of his kennel anymore. For weeks, it was no problem. He’d trot right in, no fuss. Then, bam! He started acting like the kennel was a monster. I was stumped. I needed to figure this out, and fast, because the kennel is essential for when I’m out of the house.
Troubleshooting Time
First, I checked the kennel itself. Maybe something was poking him? I ran my hands all over the inside, feeling for anything sharp or uncomfortable. Nope, nothing. Cleaned it out thoroughly, just in case it was a smell bothering him. Still no luck.
Next, I thought, maybe he’s associated the kennel with something bad? Did I accidentally shut the door on him once? Did something scary happen while he was in there? I couldn’t think of anything specific, but I decided to try a little “re-training” anyway.
Operation: Kennel Love
- I started by just tossing treats into the kennel. Max loves treats, so he’d cautiously poke his head in, grab the treat, and back out quickly. Progress!
- Then, I started feeding him his meals in the kennel. Again, he was hesitant at first, but the lure of food is strong. He’d go in, eat, and come back out.
- The next step was to get him to stay in there a little longer. I’d give him a chew toy, something he really enjoys, and encourage him to go in. He’d go in, chew for a bit, and I’d praise him like crazy when he stayed.
- Finally, I started closing the door for very short periods. At first, just for a second, then gradually longer. I’d stay right there, talking to him calmly and giving him treats through the door.
It took a few days of this, but slowly, Max started to relax about the kennel again. He realized it wasn’t a punishment, and it wasn’t scary. Now, he goes in without a fight, most of the time. There are still occasional moments of hesitation, but it’s a HUGE improvement. I think we’ve mostly kicked the kennel-phobia!
