Hi all,

I hope this question hasn't already been posted somewhere else. We are a new husky family. Our girl, Luna, is 12 weeks old. My question is I've read a lot about digging and I plan on setting up a digging box in the yard BUT we're hoping to have Luna be an indoor dog whenever we're out. She will have a contained space that will be dog friendly but I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions on a "digging" area I can set up indoors for her so she's not using the couch. I was thinking of a section with old rags where I can "bury" some treats or toys as I would in a sandbox but wasn't sure if anyone had something their husky liked that was inside.

Thanks so much!

It is my experience that "couch digging" has less to do with digging and more to do with both "hey, there's a lump in my back" and equally frustration/boredom. I would think long and hard before leaving an uncrated husky in the house unattended. At least not for several years.

The thing with the rags idea is if your puppy would chew/eat and then swallow any of them, you could potentially have a husky puppy with a blockage.

I don't really have any great ideas for you, my two are inside when I'm gone but they mostly just lay around/sleep til I get back. I wouldn't recommend giving bones or chews because those type of things should always be supervised, about the only thing that comes to mind to keep a puppy occupied that I've read people in here have used is maybe a Kong

Personally, I think that what you're looking for is the worst of the alternatives.  Giving her permission to dig in anything in the house is very apt, imho, to have unexpected side effects.
With my two, Avalanche is much more comfortable being outside than in so when I have to leave the house for very long, he's outside on a long lead (and thankfully I live where I can leave him out with no expectations more than a(nother!) hole in my 'yard').
Sasha gets put on a 'house leash' that's tied so she has about 10 feet to roam in.  My only problem with her is that she'll tinkle in the kitchen if she's left free otherwise she's fine.  ( and I swear she waits till she hears the car door slam then runs to the kitchen! )

Er ... btw, if you're afraid that she might be going to 'dig' in the couch then maybe you ought to rethink your idea of "dog friendly" (curmudgeon hat in place, sorry)

While I don't crate, have never before even had a dog that I've had to leash when I go out, I'd strongly suggest crate training her until you're confident (if that ever happens) that you can leave her alone while you're out.

@amymeme I love that picture!!!!!

aljones wrote:

Giving her permission to dig in anything in the house is very apt, imho, to have unexpected side effects.

Have to say I strongly agree with this statement.


I wouldn't encourage indoor digging or any indoor "destructive" behavior especially when one is not around to supervise. I see no reason why an outdoor digging box would not be sufficient to get her digging desires out. If she's plenty exercised, both mentally and physically, then she will likely spend most of her indoor time sleeping...hopefully.

Such good advice on here! I would like to second the Kong idea. Stuff that puppy and freeze it overnight and she'll be quite occupied with it for maybe an hour or so. Really your best bet is to exercise her before you leave. Anything she could dig in you run the risk of her eating.

Sorry I know it's hard to keep them occupied while you're gone. Some other things that might be worth looking into are dog daycare or a dog walker depending on how long you're out. I know most daycares in my area offer discounts for half days.

*edit oh my god Amy is that nail polish remover on that end table? Whoever took that picture sure lives dangerously lol.

Thank everyone!

Amymeme-Great points and I LOVE the pic.
Arctic_wind-also great points and the pups are adorable
aljones-I hadn't thought about the fact that it would give her permission to dig in the house. I will definitely figure out something else.
Huskyluv & Ruflower-I plan on getting her exercised and leaving her with kongs.

I think I'm overly anxious about keeping her occupied. Trying to be a good mommy.

If you don't object to leaving the tv on while you're out running an errand, I would suggest finding a movie to play for Luna while you're out. It'll be one thing that could hold her attention for a little while along with a kong or some favorite toys (make sure to inspect them first before leaving them alone with her for a prolonged period of time). Our pup Red loves 101 Dalmatians and Hachi so we have been sectioning her off in the living room with the tv running while we're running some quick errands.

I would love to keep Red outside but we don't have a fenced area yet, we live on a main road and there have been coyote attacks on dogs in my area. If you have the means to safely keep Luna outside while you're out for long periods of time, I would suggest that. She'll have more freedom to run around and investigate the outdoors and not destroy your household furniture due to boredom or curiosity.

Forgot to mention that I agree with Al on the crate training. You will want to get that done first before you start leaving her home alone and unsupervised or else you will get some doggy surprises when you get home.

I have gotten my husky some treat puzzle toys. One I can put food in it and he has to turn the top to get food to drop. I also have a treat toy like a Kong and I put his treats in there for him. I also have a camera facing his kennel so I can check in on him while we are gone. He is 11 months old and can be trusted out in my room for about an hour. If I know I will be gone any longer, I will kennel him.