A dog house, to a dog, is his own personal private space and helps satisfy that inherited instinct for den-dwelling.
The Advantage of a Dog House
Dog house training has some advantages in a practical sense. The dog house is always a place to put the dog when he is misbehaving. It is also a great place to put the dog when you have company or when you are out working. Inside his dog house, your dog can avoid fear and confusion from the outside world.
Placement of a Dog House
When you are dog house training it is very important to keep the dog house in one place. Dogs are social animals so picking a spot for his home should be around where the family spends a lot of time. Make sure that you also place the dog house where the wind is to the back of the opening and place it where there is available shade. The best way to think about the placement of the dog house is to think of it as your place and make it as comfortable as possible.
As a Puppy
Dog house training should start as a puppy and his first experience in his "safe place" should be an enjoyable experience; let him know that it is safe for him to enter. To get him inside, throw his favorite toy inside and encourage him to retrieve it as this will let him know that it's safe. After he enters, let him come right back out and don't try to trap him in there by standing in front of the opening. Once he comes out, praise him and continue to play with him but don't throw his toy back inside for a little while. Remember, this is a place for him to relax and you don't want him to associate it with play time.
Older Dogs
You can teach an older dog to adapt to a dog house, but unlike a puppy he may be already set in his ways and might not take to a new environment. No matter the age of your dog, once you have completed your dog house training you need to teach your children that the dog house is his security blanket and when he goes into his home he should not be bothered and that he wants to get away from the outside world.
A dog, no matter how friendly, has the instinct to attack when it feels trapped and if your children are bothering the dog while in a dog house the dog will feel trapped and attack. That's why dog house training is just as important to your dog as it is to the rest of the family.
