Hi everyone!
I'm new to the forum but I've always had huskies growing up. My boyfriend and I got a husky puppy last week. He has also grown up with huskies but have always had then a few months older. Our girl is now 8 weeks old. This is the first puppy I've had in a while and same for my boyfriend. Any suggestions on getting her used to being in a kennel all day? Last week someone was how all week. Now she is home while we work. Also any suggestions to help sleeping at night. She freaks out the minute the door shuts. Calms down then freaks out in an hour about.

Thanks!

Courtney

Welcome! Puppy came home at 7 weeks of age? That's a tad young - you may have to work a little at mouthiness - they learn that from their litter mates in play, usually 8 weeks is the minimum.

As for night time in the crate - there's lots on here most of which is hints with "patience - this too will pass. As for daytime - I hope you have someone coming in to take her out every few hours. SHe's way too young to go all day in the crate all day. She'll just learn to pee/poop in there and that is NOT what you want.

Welcome aboard! Prepare yourself for a wild ride!!! LOL

Crate training was a nightmare for me. Zhukov would howl all night long. I tried all the "tricks". Blankets over the crate, toys in the crate, long walks before bed, moving the crate into my room, even sleeping on the floor next to the crate. Made no difference.... Zhukov would howl himself to sleep and then wake up 20 minutes later and start the process all over again.

I messed up the whole process by letting him sleep outside the crate in my room, with the door closed, and had to start the process all over again when he started pooping and peeing all over the place.

During the day, I would try putting him in the crate, with the same results. He would howl like I was pouring acid on him.

My advice is, patience, patience, PATIENCE!!! I have heard that some dogs just get it early on, though I have never actually met anyone that this happened with. Seriously though, one day, it just all clicked for Zhukov. It took a couple of weeks, but all of a sudden, he would go in the crate with no problem. Now, he takes naps in the crate on his own, and goes in with no problem whenever I say "Kennel up".

Good luck, stay strong, and remember, this too shall pass.

Thanks guys!

Yeah I come home every 2 or 3 hours and let her out to do her business. Last night was the first night that she didn't freak out with being in there. Only whined to let me know she had to potty then this morning when she was ready to be up for the day. But she is always 5 steps forward and 6 steps back for the most part so we will see how tonight goes. Thanks again for the information.

Gabby loves here crate. I think she might of whined in it the first night but that was it. We had the added benefit of 2 crates though. We left on open in the living room and would occasionally make her go in it and give her a treat for it throughout the day. We also had one in the bedroom next to the bed where she would go at night and while we were gone. Not saying you should get 2 crates but I believe this is what helped us. We also fed her in the crate once a day (normally at night) for the first couple months. She associated food with her crate and she is very very very food motivated so that also help. To this day she still gets a treat for going in there.

Also - We now only have 1 crate in the bedroom. The other crate was for the cats so she outgrew it after 2 or 3 months.

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm actually about to get ready to take her for her 40 minute walk to tire her out this morning.

What do you guys do for when they have an accident in the house? I feel like she isn't grasping it yet. I know she's only 8 weeks so patients. But I want to help and to understand.

40 minutes may be too long for a puppy that young especially if it is on concrete. Rule of thumb for walks is 5 minutes for every month of age up until a year old. This is to support better joint development. Playing around on grass and what not for longer is OK for longer than that though.

As far as the peeing in the house, there are a lot of theories. If you catch them in the act leash them up and get them outside ASAP. And then lots of praise and treats when they go outside. They will get the hang of it in due time. If you do not catch them, there is really nothing you can do about it. No rubbing the nose in it, etc. Also a set potty schedule is good. At that age maybe going out every 30-45 minutes.

It took us forever to potty train - maybe like 3 months.

Hmm. Good information about walking. I'll have to keep that in mind. As for the potty training that is what we do already so I guess we just wait it out.

Thanks!

I've also been thinking of taking her to a doggy day care once or twice a week. I work next door to one. Any thoughts on that as well?

We take Gabby to daycare - normally twice a week. She loves it and it gives me the day off from walking her. Really great if it is a rainy day. (I tend to keep track of the weather and take her on the crappier days) You will probably have to wait until she has all her shots to take her as most require all the vaccines to be up to date.

If the people that work there are good, it is great. Good way to socialize her and have fun. The current place we take her to works with her on some of Gabby's issues. (bullying little dogs mostly) If the people are not good, It can be a nightmare. The dog can pick up bad habits etc... In our case, my fiancee took her to a daycare in MO that wasn't great. They would let Gabby eat poop all day, she would come home bloated and have the runs that night and the whole next day. Their response was, well we pick it up and put in the trash. (the trash was a very short can that she could get into)

I work next door to her vet. We took her in for just a check up and they said they do doggy day care. My boyfriend suggest that we do it but everyone that I know has dogs laughed and said that she "isn't a kid and is a dog" so I was hesitant but I feel bad for not giving her enough activity during the day. I trust the people at the vet. It's a very nice place. She is going in next week for her 2nd set or shots. I will have to check out the info for the doggy day care. Thank you so much. I really appreciate having someone else's opinion.

Also, Oakley is my baby. We can't have babies so she is basically my baby. Just want to point that out. Lol

I understand the looks from people when you tell them that you take your dog to daycare... I get to work later on days I take her and when I tell them the reason i always get some sort of comment.

Right! I just don't like her being cooped up all day. The last puppy I had, a yellow lab, had no problem being home alone all the time, loved her kennel, slept thru the night, potty trained easily. She was so mellow. I dont have her anymore. My ex kept her. Now Oakley on the other hand is complete opposite training wise and activity wise and I don't want her to go stir crazy and doggy day care isn't a bad price here. I've been strongly thinking of doing it. Will probably walk over after I let Oakley out and see what they cost for day care. Plus she is my forever baby and I want the best for her.

I've been looking around at daycare near by for Oakley. Did you feel that your dog bonded with the daycare people more than you? Oakley is young and I don't want her to get confused with the daycare people and myself. Any thoughts?

Not at all. Shes been going to day care since she was 4 months old and is still bonded more with me than any other person. Bonding isn't about how much time you spend with your puppy but how you spend the time with them. I am sure it helps to some extent but it isn't everything. When we got Gabby, my fiancee was spending much more time with her than I was. She was in school and was only gone for a few hours a week but I think that mine and Gabby's bond is stronger than my fiancees and gabbys. I would get home from work and play with her and was always the one to take her on longer walks. I believe walks are one of the best forms of bonding. There are also so many other dogs at daycare that the people there don't focus on just your dog so they don't really form that bond.

I started taking Zhukov and Colby to the daycare at the beginning of the summer. Zhukov LOVES it! He will go straight to the front door and when we get in, will go with the handler right into the back with out a second glance back at me. Colby, on the other hand, sometimes acts like we are hauling him off to the adoption center. Granted, Colby is older and has been with me almost 24/7 and only separated from me when I would go to work.

However, for Zhukov, I felt that daycare was a great alternative. He got to interact with other dogs in a controlled, supervised environment. He gets ALOT of exercise. He comes home at night and eats and then crashes out. We even boarded the guys there when we took our son up to college. I really don't feel like there was any bonding issue and the only problem that I have had is that they both come home STINKY! (they smell like other dogs lol) Also, on one occasion, Zhukov came home in a highly aggressive mood and was acting like a jerk to everyone in the house. He calmed down by the following day, however that one evening was a nightmare.

That being said, I think that doggy daycare is great for my dogs. Give it a try and see how it works out.

Thanks for the advice everyone!
The day cares I've looked at won't take her till she is 16 weeks. So I got about 8 to wait yet and second choice has a wait list so I'm waiting to hear back from my first choice. Thanks again everyone, I love this place.