Me and my partner have recently started renting our own place which has enabled us to bring home our other amstaff that has been staying at my partners fathers house. she's now a yr and 3 months old and was staying at my partners dads house for about 6 months, before she went to live with him she used to love her kennel we usually had problems getting her out of it. but since being home with us she wont go near the kennel.while at the fathers house she was kept in a enclosed concrete area which is our main reason for renting to get her back onto grass im not sure if that is why she doesn't want to go into the kennel because she is scared of being locked up again, we have tried everything to get her into the kennel putting food in there to try get her in to show that its a good thing, i sat in the kennel and tried to call her in she looked in then ran away, i put her in it and got her to sit and just talk to her calmly to let her know it was alright in there but she sat for like 2 minutes then freaks out and barges past you. At the moment there is not covered area out of the weather apart from the kennels so that is why we need her to use the kennel. we have put in an application to get approved to put up something up to provide the shelter but not sure if the owners will let us or how long they will take to approve this. if anyone has any ideas that could encourage her to use the kennel that would be great.

Toss her fave toy/treats in there & don't push her into compliance. She will go back in again I am sure. Thats how we got our boy to use his crate.

thanks i tried that but she wont go in to get it the toy and treats have been sitting there for 2 days i kept it there to check and see if she went in when we are not home.

Harley is exactly the same. He will sit in the rain to avoid going into the kennel. I am not sure why because Bella uses it... maybe that's why?! I just let my dogs inside now so its really not an issue any more.

If it were big enough, I would try crawling in there myself and hang out with some food until she joined me. You've got to make her realize that the kennel isn't a negative thing (punishment), more of a secure place to hang out and relax in. Bob

thanks I have tried that 2 I sat in the kennel for bout half hour with a chicken wing in front of me and she sat about a metre away the hole time staring at me

Put her meals in there, and don't feed her anywhere else or any other time. She'll eventually get hungry enough and go in and eat.

-Ashley