A reminder for all the new puppy parents... Training involves several key areas, and rest is often overlooked in daily routines. One of the best ways to teach the importance of rest is through kennel training ~ which also plays a major role in successful housebreaking. The Importance of Structure in Training a Dog Just as you need to give your dog direction on how to physically and mentally exercise, you need to also teach them how to physically and mentally rest.  Without teaching a dog to rest, they are left lost and bored. They will fill their own time with arbitrary activities and self-appointed jobs like:  chewing on shoes, destroying furniture, pacing, getting into trash or becoming vocal out of pure boredom.  These are temporary outlets for that energy, but over time, these activities become ingrained.  The "off" switch is a big piece of a vital puzzle of training. Dogs that develop these behaviors are primarily due to a lack of external structure. Establishing structur...