First-time dog and puppy owners are faced with any number of choices for leads, feeds, toys, and more. Given the size of the pet industry, choosing what to get your dog is often harder than one might assume or expect. Where your dog sleeps is no different, and we are often asked whether we recommend owners use an outdoor kennel, proper bed, or crate.

While we do not object to outdoor kennels as somewhere a dog can temporarily relax during the day, we never recommend that family dogs are allowed to routinely sleep in them. Outdoor kennels ultimately serve to separate a dog from their family and keep them out of the home. While this aligns with old-fashioned and obsolete views of a dog’s place in the family, there is no place for it in the current day and age. Given that protection dogs should remain as close as possible to their family, an outdoor kennel can actually undermine how well they can perform their main role.

Instead, we recommend combining a traditional dog bed with a crate. Dog beds offer optimal comfort, while a crate mimics cave or den-like conditions they naturally find safe and calming. Proper crate training offers a range of additional benefits including reducing separation anxiety, unwanted messing in the house, and promotes relaxation during potentially stressful times. Crates encourage dogs to perform natural nesting behaviours, and we ensure that all of our dogs are crate trained.

For advice on how to crate train your dog, please DM us on any of our social media feeds, or email [email protected].