Box acclimation or kennel training

This is the most important part of the trip. Many things can happen. Delays, cancellations, route deviations, etc. but .... if the pet is well acclimated there will be no suffering.

Train your pet to learn to like the kennel. Veterinarians recommend leaving it open in the house with a chew bone or other familiar objects inside so that the animal will spend time in the kennel.

Box training is a simple process, especially for dogs, and its purpose is to provide "confinement" for reasons of safety, protection and illness.

You may find that putting your pet in a box is cruel or inhuman and can cause your pet to resent or suffer psychological damage. However, pets see the world differently than people. Your pet should see the box as its comfort zone, its shelter, its room. Your pet will feel safe, not frustrated, once they get used to your kennel.

The first association of the pet with the box should be pleasant. We found that the following tricks work best:

Before starting with kennel training, it is best to place the box in the room most used by the family or next to the animal's food. This will allow you to associate this new piece of 'furniture' and its addition to your personal space.

First, remove the door from the box! Often, the swinging door is what scares the pet. Encourage your pet to enter voluntarily by throwing a treat to the bottom, praising them with enthusiasm when they enter, then letting them come back out.

For a brief period, install the back door and remove until the pet does not care for the difference. Once your pet enters the kennel, persuade him to lie down and relax, using food if necessary. Close the door briefly when you sit next to the box or when people are in the room.

When you feel that your pet will remain silent in the kennel, leave it alone for 15 - 30 minutes. If all goes well, you can leave it for longer intervals. During the trip, the animal will be in its crate for a long period, so it is better to train longer intervals.

Box training can take days or weeks, depending on your pet's age, temperament and past experiences.

It is important to keep three things in mind:

• 1. Don't let your pet notice your anxiety to see him inside.
• 2. The box must always be associated with something pleasant.
• 3. Training should take place in a series of small steps - don't go too fast.

Finally, if your pet has past traumatic experience there may be a need to hire a trainer. But in most cases this is not even considered.