You don't have to be Paris Hilton to give your pooch the luxury of its own private space. A kennel with the simplest fittings can instill independence, discipline and a sense of ownership in your canine. But if you want to pamper your pooch with the best in canine housing, the options in India are limited but certainly not non-existent. Any good pet store will have a basic kind of kennel, usually of the small variety. But if you wish for a larger one, designed specifically to your pet’s needs, you can go to Bengaluru-based kennel manufacturer, Sunil Kumar. A proud pet parent himself, Sunil wanted to give his Pomeranian a space of its own and built it a wooden kennel. “I realised that the product I had created would help other pet owners too. So I got into designing and manufacturing kennels full-time.”
Sunil's B.V.M. Enterprises builds kennels of all sizes and varieties. “In my experience, I’ve found that dogs like the smell of wood and prefer it to concrete or ceramic. Emphasis is laid on making the kennel cozy and well aired. A lot of owners also request special designs with balconies or ones that look like little huts.” The idea of a kennel for the pet is one that is only just taking off among pet owners in India, as manicured Victorian-style lawns for a kennel is not possible due to the limited space here. However, portable kennels and foldable ones are very popular as they are used for training and transporting dogs. Mumbai-based dog trainer Pooja Sathe says, “A kennel is essential in toilet-training a puppy. It is also a space where a dog feels safe. And, when guests come over, the pet can be kept in its kennel rather than locking it in a room.”
Canine behaviourist, Natasha Chandy, recommends the use of a kennel. Referring to the use of a kennel as crating, she says, “Even in small spaces, an indoor kennel can be very useful as it teaches the pet that it has its own space to retreat to.”
The location of an indoor kennel is of utmost importance. “The dog house must be ideally away from the bedroom and kitchen. One can set it up close to the dining area, as that is where the family spends most of its time. Even a covered terrace will do,” says Natasha.