With improving health care and better standards of living the life expectancy of dogs is on the increase with some small dogs even living as long as 22 years (though the average life expectancy is 8 to 16 years). With this in mind you will want to make sure that as many of the pet accessories that you buy for him last a long time as possible. Wooden kennels are the most aesthetically pleasing type of kennel but they are also prone to gradual deterioration if they are not looked after properly.
A dog kennel guide will give you good advice on the types of kennels available and on how to build one yourself if you wish. The most important thing that you will need to remember is that your dog’s home will be outside in all weathers and seasons. The summer sun will dry out the wood, causing it to split and crack while rain will cause the wood to rot over time. The best way to ensure the longevity of your kennel, therefore, is to treat the wood regularly with a wood stain product. Another answer is to buy a kennel which has been made from pressure treated wood. This is where the wood has had wood preservative chemicals impregnated into it under high pressure making it last much longer than untreated wood.
Your kennel will also not last as long if your dog tends to worry away at the entrance, chewing lumps off it. The main solution for this is to make sure that your dog is kennel trained as early as possible so that he actually sees his kennel as his own private sanctuary and will not feel anxious when left in it. Start by putting a comfy bed and some fun toys inside it to entice him in and then leave him there for gradually longer periods of time so that he becomes slowly accustomed to his new home.