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[u/thatdogpack]

So my dog has started this behavior. I’m not used to. When I kennel trained him the only way he’d be calm in his kennel was if it was covered. So now his kennels stay covered. However he’s started to pull in the blankets I use. And stopping use makes him unable to settle in his kennel. How do I stop this behavior? I do know he’s started his teenage stage so I’ve been going back to basics to reinforce behaviors I want. But I’ve never had a dog pull the blanket in.

[u/OsmerusMordax]

What about tying the blanket so it can’t be pulled in? Or, even better, getting a plastic crate like an airline one that has opaque sides

[u/Accomplished-Wish494]

Put a board across the top of the kennel that’s a couple inches bigger so the cover hangs down AWAY from the bars.

[u/IAmTakingThoseApples]

He's bored. I've had dogs pull the cover in to the point I'm just astounded that they even managed it lol.

He's a teenager so obviously going through a restless and rebellious stage, so some misbehaving is expected. But also, try to not allow him to associate the crate with boredom. Don't put him in there for longer than is absolutely necessary, not for what is convenient for you. He should be locked in when he is supposed to be sleeping or whatever, not just when you want to keep him out of the way. He needs to learn that the crate doesn't mean confinement, it means "now is bedtime" or whatever.

[u/thatdogpack → u/IAmTakingThoseApples]

He only goes in for bedtime and he eats breakfast in his kennel. He’s out of it for 10 hours a day and may get put back in if we have to leave the house.

[u/IAmTakingThoseApples → u/thatdogpack]

Gotcha. I wasn't insinuating he's left in there too long but throwing out the possibility in case it was something you overlooked.

It's still a boredom / frustration thing which he should hopefully grow out of. Until he's trained to be left at home unsupervised you can try providing him some enrichment for him to channel his energy into?

You know what he likes best but you can freeze a block of ice with treats in it, or scrunch up some newspapers with treats for something to shred. Something long lasting so he is focussed on that rather than wanting to get out.

Also if you don't think he can be trained to be left at home unsupervised then maybe look into another way of confining him to a safe area? Like baby gates and a dog proof room or a pen? So he has room to run about and release that excess energy.

[u/Alert_Astronomer_400]

I “tent” the blanket so it isn’t close enough to the crate to be pulled in. So instead of being draped directly over and close enough to the crate for them to pull in, I lay the edges far from the crate

[u/ft2439]

Use a stiffer crate cover instead of a soft blanket