I have been reading over lots of different threads dealing with separation anxiety and I am to still be a bit lost. I recently adopted my 3yr girl Misty from a shelter and things have been great. I don’t have any issues with her until I put her in the kennel. I was told by the shelter that she could be left alone in the house without causing damage and she was completely kennel trained.

I left her in my bedroom on the first day I had to leave and she chewed up some blinds, had an accident, and broke a mirror. I wasn’t too concerned but knew that I needed to kennel her next time because she was clearly trying to adjust to her surroundings here.

The next time I had to leave, I put her in the kennel and she went in just fine (in fact she didn't seem to mind the kennel at all before I locked her in). I put a thick sheet over the kennel to make it more den like for her, had a bed and several toys in there. I took her for a 3 mile jog that morning before putting her in the kennel. When I got home (4 hours later), she had the sheet inside the kennel and shredded to pieces. Still, I wasn’t overly concerned. Maybe she wasn’t use to the darkness and not seeing her surroundings.

Next time I took her for her morning jog and put her in the kennel with her bed and toys. When I was leaving, I could hear whining. 4 hours later I came back to the kennel being bent in places, the bed stuffing everywhere, and the kennel in a different location then where I put it (about 5 feet). I started to suspect that maybe she wasn’t as kenneled trained as I was led to believe.

I spent the next couple of days (off from classes) working with her. I started giving her treats and lots of praise when I would get her to go into the kennel and sit inside of it. She is still very hesitant and then I put her food and water dish in the kennel and she goes in there to eat and drink. I have her favorite toys inside. She wouldn’t have a problem until I shut the door. She would start panting and whining. I ignored her and gave her praise when she stopped whining and laid down. I would let her out when she was quiet and seemed less anxious. I could still tell that she was having anxiety being in the kennel.

This time when I came home, I found that she had broken out of the metal kennel and was wondering my room. She didn’t do much damage besides for attacking the blinds again, destroy a pillow, and enjoying some Mint Oreos. Now I am very concerned. I don’t want her to hurt herself trying to escape another kennel. I was thinking of an outdoor kennel, but several people said that Huskies are known to get out of them very easily. But I was thinking that might be a temporary solution while I work with her and her anxiety issues with the kennel inside.

The paperwork and previous owner (according to the shelter) says that she was kennel trained, left alone in the house, and didn’t have anxiety issues. I’m not sure if this is a combination of new place, environment, and lack of training coming together or not. I am just a little lost on how and where to go from here. I don’t want to cause any more harm or stress to her. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!