Dog Kennels and Crates

A kennel is any structure or shelter for dogs. A kennel is also known as a doghouse, and can be a dog's sanctuary or "safehouse" from the world. Many owners like to crate train their dogs to avoid them soiling in the house. Most dogs will avoid soiling their own house or den, and crate training provides the dog a house while providing the dog owner a method to prevent soiling in the household. Many happy dog years will be spent relaxing in the kennel or crate!

A crate should be approximately 1.5 times the dog's length. The dog should be able to comfortably stand up, turn around, and lie down. If there is too much space in the crate, the dog may soil in a corner away from the sleeping space. The crate should also not be used as a prison and it is recommended that the crate door be closed only when you are home. The dog should not feel threatened in any way by the crate. The dog should also always be taken out to potty after being released from the crate, as the dog most likely will have to relieve itself after being confined for an extended period of time.

Dogs Years

Does one dog year equal seven human years? The answer may surprise you. There are many misconceptions in how to compare a dog's age to a human's age. We want to be able to celebrate a dog's "yearly" birthday. We want to be able to compare ages of different dogs. We want to be able to gauge the longevity of man's best friend. So, we try to find a way to relate a dog's age to humans.

One general theory out there is that one dog year may equal seven human years for a certain small amount of time, but it certainly doesn't stay that way for much long. Many factors come into play, and there is no one clear cut answer. The ratio is higher with youth and decreases a bit as the dog ages. Generally, the first couple of years represent 18-25 years of human aging, although this varies with size and breed. So, essentially a dog's adolescence passes by in the short span of 2 human years. Can you imagine going from baby to mid 20's in two years?

In general, dog age compared to human age can be categorized by size of dog - small, medium, large, and extra large. These groups can be identified by 0-20 lbs, 21-50 lbs, 51-90 lbs, and over 90 lbs respectively.