I have a 17 week old  male puppy and also own two bitches, so i need to at some stage to  put my puppy into the kennel. My kennel has a good run and is insulated but would like some advice  on how to train him to stay in the kennel over night  and what kind of heating i should use. Also is it to cold to put him outside just yet? All advice welcome thankyou

Wouldn't it be better to put the older bitches in the kennel? Then they have company and warmth together and I am assuming they are used to it? :)

The other thing isit is easier to keep the male indoors with you when the bitches are in season, than having him outside possibley howling to get to them, at least if he howls indoors then it will limit the nuisance to neighbours.  The two girls can keep each other company outside so won't mind being thre while in Purdah (though some bitches prefer to be alone when in season).

We find it easier to bring our 2 boys inside when the girls are in season (1 generally brings another in) then we take the boys out the FRONT door, out the FRONT gate, then UP the lane, and the girls out be BACK gate, and DOWN the lane......saves the boys "serenading" the girls so much :D

Margot

Thankyou for all your advice. My bitches are 2 years old and always lived in the house never been in the kennel would this be unfair on the girls.I would  feel like im pushing their noses out. Also what kind of heating would be advised as its a low roof? The dogs have enough room to stand up and move around.

All mine are in the house 3 males 3 females have child gates up every where so when the bitch come in season can keep the males in another room as they get on well togather.

Hi Lee,

You dont say what breed of dog you have.

Why dont you try putting all 3 in the kennel for a short time each day, dont make a big issue about it but put some of their bedding in there and perhaps a few of their toys aswell so there is something familiar inthe kennel. Gradually over the days if their happy you could increase the time they spend in there. Once they are happy in this environment how about alternating who goes in and with who so they dont get set in a set pattern.

I have a drop down heater lamp but dont really need to use it in the summer

I have 4 Goldies, 2 bitches and 2 dogs.  All of the dogs are in the house during the day and evening, during the winter the boys sleep in the utility room while the girls are in the boiler house outside. Once the weather is warmer and drier they all go out in the kennel.  Like everyone else I find it easier to keep the dogs in the house when the girls are in season, which is at the same time. 
I once made the mistake of leaving the dog in the outside yard and put the girls in the conservatory while I niped out. On my return I found that somebody had visited and left the gate open to my inner garden!! my dog was found having almost eaten his way through the wooden conservatory trying to get to his woman!!!!! I have to admit it is a very trying time........

We have a cage where when girls are in season they take it in turns to be in there.

Would have child gates up but all except our old boy can get over them!  None of them mind, we just had to do a "swap" and It was more of a fight to get the girls to stay out teh cage untill the boys where out the way, they fly into their cage!

To get your pup used to the kennel I would feed him in there.  I would also put him in there when you get back from a walk.  Often they are happy to settle then and if using a biscuit or bonio as bribery, this makes it all the more a joyful experience.

I've got a heat lamp in my kennel but I don't use it.  They have vetbed and beds they get into protecting them from the draught.