Well, my Leonard would never stay in a kennel. He had separation anxiety and I guess didn't like to be confined. At first he would move the kennel all around the room with him inside it. We even tried four sandbags on top of it and he could still move it. So, when my hubby and I would come home, we would try to guess where the kennel was, and then, one day, we came into the house and found "Houdini", the kennel escape artist!!! No matter what type of kennel we bought, he would find a way to break out of it! So, we did end up letting him stay out and he tore up an entire phone book, got into the trash, pottied on the floor, just bored, I guess!!! So, we decided to do the baby gate thing to keep him away from carpeted areas of the house. That way, if he made a mess, it was easier to clean up. He is a few years older now and has calmed down and only chews on something if he hears fireworks or loud noises. He never has liked the taste of remote controls, luckily!!! He still likes to get into the trash, so I just put that where he can't get to it.
Layla is another story!!! She is almost two years old, but all puppy!!! One night while we were sleeping she found a wooden cat ornament and turned it into mulch! I was sad, as it was a gift, but I realized it is only a "thing". She still sleeps with us at night, but when we go to work, she goes into her kennel. She actually loves it in there for some reason! Although we got her a pad to make it more comfortable and it is almost completely chewed up!!! I should have stuck with old towels. She has every toy in the world, but would rather have something she is not supposed to have!!! Those funny boxers!
Anyway, the other thing I do to help Leonard when we are away is to leave one of my husbands socks in the room. For some reason, that makes him more comfortable.
Well, good luck all!
Cheryl
