Hi all: New husky owner of a ~1 year old, had him about four weeks. He is learning fast and already knows lots of commands. When I do punish him, his punishment is to go in a hall closet for 1 minute (instead of hitting etc).

Lately, he started "hanging out" or sleepong in my bedroom closet or pantry with the door open, even when I'm home. Do huskies prefer confined and dark spaces? I'm wondering if this is because it's cave-like. For the record: I don't crate-train him.

Should I crate-train him? Try a new punishment that is not about the hall closet? Get a puptent for him to enjoy as his own dark space? Allow him to sleep in the closet? Thoughts?

Thank you.

Spider my husky/wolf has about 500 ft of tunnels and dens that she built in the backyard. When the snow melts they collapse and she starts tunneling again. She has a love affair with small dark spaces you woulndt know she fit into. Squirt (husky naid mix)on the otherhand loves her crate and the pile of blankets she wedged between the wall and the bed its really about have a safe space the dog feels is theirs and usually they like it to be enclosed because it makes them feel secure

Punishment as you are suggesting really doesn't do much for dogs. Their attention is pretty much in the present. So a quick, sharp "no" and redirecting the behavior to something acceptable is more to the point.

My big wooly likes hidey spaces. Particularly when the neighbors are target shooting or in hunting season. Or thunderstorms. His favorite sleeping spot is at the end of the hall leading to our bedroom. With the door shut, its a nook with 3 sides. Sometimes I find him at the top of the stairs - we keep all the bedroom and bathroom doors closed up there (we're just 2 now) and he sleeps with his back against the door, can't be seen downstairs (first time, I thought I lost him, couldn't find him anywhere!) Or behind a chair in the sunroom. Or - as now, in my other guy's crate. Which is really too small for him.

Spider is bigger then my german shepherd in all but weight and that is a large cat crate

Hah! Just re-read all the posts here. I looked at the picture of of the dog in the crate, was thinking it was of the dog with the problem with the vet and was about to ask to have a full picture posted, 'cause - are you sure that dog isn't part wolf

So. Wait - I'm totally confused.

That dog is part wolf and no not the one with vet issues

Thank you all! I plan to make a move cave-like space for Lassen based on your great advice. xoxo

I've been coming in late with some of my responses - excuse me or not....
With the possible exception of some of the Australian canids, I think all dogs (and doglike creatures [dingos/coyotes]) are den animals.  They want a small place that they can curl up in and feel safe.  With mine: my Alaskan will fill the space between my chair and the wall - especially when it's loud outside; with Sky it's her crate (or maybe Sasha's crate, dogs!!); with Sasha it's the corner at the end of my couch.  While they're all open to the 'sky' they're all compact spaces.

And agreeing with @amymeme again, nope any punishment that's longer than a few seconds is for your benefit, not the dogs.

This is a disgusting practice. Let's throw you in a closet

I still cant believe spider fits in that crate