I adopted a 4 year old husky, got her before previous owner sent her to the kennel. So straight from their home to my home. Honestly she's an almost too perfect of a dog so far. We are going on day 4. Hasn't pooped or peed inside once. Shes eating a few full bowls of dry food a day. Has not chewed on anything. Is already welcoming to me petting her. Has been manageable with the leash so far. Spends most of the time napping inside and is quiet as long as I give her a good pet and some attention every hour.

Only problem is, she's still terrified of everything in my apartment. I realize I made a mistake on this, that I should have bought a crate before hand, put it in her room, and put her in the crate immediately for first few days. Unfortunately, nothing I read beforehand said to do that, so I just let her wander around initially. The spot she picked to be comfortable is smack dab in the middle of my living room. I've tried walking her into the other room a few times, where I want her to go for the nights because the room is husky-proofed, but she seriously freaks out when I try to walk her in there and I don't want to push her and stress her out more. The same thing for the bathroom, which the bathroom makes sense to me, she might recognize the tub and not want a bath? But the other room is perfectly good, just filled toys and blankets. I put her water/food bowl in there for a day or so hoping she'd go in and she basically didn't eat or drink for like 8 hours till I brought them back out. She initially seemed to always want to sleep at my feet, so I started sleeping in that room to show her nothing's wrong, and hope she'd get okay with that room. But now she just sleeps in the living room and doesn't sleep at my feet. I don't want to push her as I understand she just needs to get comfortable first and not be anxious/stressed, it's only been 4 days. How long should I wait before trying to get her comfortable with the other room and what exactly is best to do? Like so far she's done nothing bad sleeping in my living room, but I'd like her to be in the husky proof room at night. I do have a crate arriving tomorrow that I am going to put in the main room, but also feel like she's going to be terrified of it and refuse to go anywhere but the middle of the living room.

I'm guessing that sleeping in the living room is her best place to keep track of you. It sounds like you've got a charmer there and a long as she's not doing any of the things she shouldn't I'd leave well enough alone.

Huskies, like a lot of other dogs want to be with their person ... and it sounds like you've become hers. The fact that she isn't always at your feet is good, in my mind, since it says she's becoming more comfortable. If you can, I'd let it go with the status quo for the time being. First, she needs to learn that "this" is home and that you're not going to just be a half way point. If you just put her in the crate expect something that will probably 'rouse the neighbors ... she's going to be unhappy.

You've got the right idea with not wanting to push her ... but it's going to be weeks before she's really comfortable. I'd just let her do "her thing" she'll relax, but it may not be as soon as you'd like.

What's a charmer?

I'm just kind of thinking now, if she has to be by my side for a month or more every hour every day, how do I go get food at the store? Like take her and leave her in the car, then run in and out of the store as fast as possible?

She also doesn't seem to poop or pee nearly as much as I'd expect. Like one poop a day and two pees. Is that normal? or also an anxiety thing?

Also got her a nicer dog bed, put in the living, but refuses to go on that too, even when I put the blanket she likes on it. Like she seems to think she's not allowed to be on anything soft and squishy, I'm thinking the old owners may have really disciplined her into a fairly barebones life expectation.

A charmer is a charming person --- or in this case charming dog.

I have three dogs here and all three want out in the morning before/after getting a drink and once again just before we all call it a night.  They may ask to go out during the day but it's normally to urinate and come back in.  Avalanche, my older Alaskan Husky, is apt to stretch out in the sun fir an hour or so but most of mine want to be close to where I am.

You're getting (have gotten) a crate and the safest place for her when you can't be there is in the crate.  However crate training her is going to be a major hassle.  There are threads dedicated to crate training a dog but the best way I've found is to find their favorite treat and put it in the crate - and the only time she gets that treat is when she goes into the crate to get it.  It'll take a bit for her to get comfortable with the crate even that way.  Once she goes in to get the treat without a lot of hesitation then just shut the crate door - don't latch it, just shut it -- she'll figure out that she can just push it open.  There's a thread by Koda about crate training here that may help.

You've said that you can go into another room without her being a velcro dog, what's she do when you go out of sight?

Once you know that you can shut and latch the door and leave for a while then you're good to go to the store.  My concern is her willingness to handle the crate with the door shut, some dogs freak out and destroy the crate or hurt themselves so you're going to have to "play leave" a few times to see what happens.  Most dogs, once they're comfortable with the crate, seem to figure "Oh, dads go to go out so it's my nap time!" and that's all they do until you get home - nap!

I agree that her previous owners may have been overly strict from what you've written, now it's on you to show her that life can be nice and enjoyable.

Let me emphasize this, that crate is going to be the safest place for her when you're not right there.  It keeps her from chewing things - which she might to work out anxiety - or other destructive behaviour.  Leaving her in the car while you shop is illegal in some states (you don't say where you are) and dangerous if it gets warm since "warm" easily builds to "too hot" quickly.

Not using the dog bed? My guys prefer the floor, preferably the slate floor. Maybe will lay on a towel but a dog bed? Forget it - a waste of money. I suspect it's 'cause they're too hot.

If I leave the room she typically just lays on her blanket in the living room, periodically looks through the door at me. She seems to be remarkably well-behaved, in some ways almost seems to good to be true? I worry is she going become less anxious in a week and starting doing something crazy.

I live in WA state, it's still cold her, I definitely wouldn't consider leaving her in the car for a moment if it were hot out, but it's a good point that made me remember to look up that laws about that, it says "(1) It is a class 2 civil infraction under RCW 7.80.120 to leave or confine any animal unattended in a motor vehicle or enclosed space if the animal could be harmed or killed by exposure to excessive heat, cold, lack of ventilation, or lack of necessary water."

But I also looked up and my grocery store will bring groceries out to me curbside, so looks like I can do that for a number of weeks too if needed.

She also doesnt chew her bones at all either and I got her like three good ones of variety. Nor does she play with any toys at all.

It takes a while for a dog to accommodate to new surroundings. And you don't know how she was disciplined in the past. As for toys? Neither of my guys are the least bit interested. They do like their frozen beef bones though.

I have a Velcro boy - husband says he waits by the front door when I'm gone. I do believe you'll need to to crate train ( though, say the moment looks like crate will have to be in the living room.) You certainly can't be held hostage by a clingy dog. I'd start with very short jaunts away from her - take the trash out, a walk around the block, a trip to the post office short to begin with and extending the length of time alone. Don't make a big deal out of leaving or coming back. When you're home, good about your business and don't fall into a routine that encourages her neediness. Sit in another room, read, use the computer, do housework, whatever, just not always being right there attending to her. Good luck.

Not just new surroundings but new situations can also throw them off. I have one i take everywhere but at the suggestion of a behavioral specialist it was recommended i build a chain link concrete pen with a top for spider. Anyway spider is not well behaved. Luckily we dont have laws like that in Colorado, but they can call 911 if the dog seems to be in distress.

Sometimes you have to go on the if it isn't a problem dont cha ge it mentality. If she is 4 she has probably been left before.

Well putting a piece of roast chicken in the other room makes her walk right in like there was no problem at all...