Hey all!

Kouda FINALLY came to us yesterday night at 9:30 PM! He warmed our hearts as soon as we saw his little white face.

We went for a vet check today and the vet said minus a slightly swollen lymphnode, he's in perfect health!

There are a few things that have been making me nervous--though I know that I am a natural worr-ier. I tried looking for topics that already existed but I wasn't exactly sure it was talking about the same thing so here we go.

Today Kouda has been panting horribly! At first I assumed it was because of the stress of the new move, being in a plane and than the vet. But even a few hours after he was still panting! It was as if he had run a marathon. I know dogs will pant because of anxiety, but I was just wondering if anyone had a similar experience when they get their puppy? Was he OK? Is there anything I can do to help him adjust better besides giving him copious amounts of love?

We want to crate train him as well. Even after just a day, he goes into the crate to take a nap. When I close the door, though, he immediately starts crying. I know he'll cry but I'm also worried about his separation anxiety. There are sometimes he cries just because he wants out (like last night) but than times where when I just cook or sit in my chair and he can see me, he's fine. (As long as he knows he's not alone, I guess.) What's the best thing to do in this scenario? Is it just because he's still adjusting?

Edit: I also forgot one thing: his poops were fine last night, completely solid (I was honestly surprised). He's pooped twice today--once it was hard and fine (before the vet / panting) and after lunch it started normal, though a little more "wet", and than he went again immediately after and it was a lot less but it was very very watery. It was still "solid", per se, but kind of just barely. I know stress can do that... is that what you guys think it is?

I think most of it is related to stress but since I haven't owned a dog by myself before I'm being extra catious / worried.

Thanks everyone ahead of time for hte help! Again, sorry for repeating some questions.

That is totally normal, it happened with my polar when i brought her home at 7 weeks. She always breathe heavily and i thought it was something wrong with too i freaked out, but thats how she was and it was ok, there was nothing wrong with her thats just her lol sometimes she still does it but shes in perfect healthy dont worry he'll be ok

Ahhhhh thank you so much Michael! THat makes me feel SO MUCH better! <3

Youre welcome! Trust me being a new husky owner is different than being any other dog owner! We're special lol

Yes all normal - but keep up with the crate training. I wish I was more tough love stay in the crate for 10 minutes crying but I wasn't and now I'm with a 5 month pup having to retrain crate training because he freaks out in the crate. Crate training is a process but its good to do it when they are young.

Good luck!

+1 on tough love with crate training. I did that with my two. Siku was terrible in her crate at first. She'd scream her little head off all night long. We just toughed it out and put in ear plugs at night. At crying all night for 2 or 3 nights (I can't remember exactly how many nights anymore), she was perfectly fine after that and has been ever since ( and she's 3yrs old now).

Thanks so much everyone! We will definitely continue the crate training. Actually he still goes in there and lays down sometimes by himself already. I was really surprised! Last night he cried when we first put him in, but he eventually quieted down. He does wake me up every 2 hours at night with whining, but it's because he has to go potty!

We've only had him for 3 days, but today he trotted up to me and started barking. When I turned to him, he trotted towards the door and barked again. I took him out and he went potty! It's only been 3 days... he's only had 2 accidents in the house, the rest of the time he went outside. But, was that just dumb luck or do you think he gets that he needs to go potty outside and actually told me? I know Huskies are a really intelligent breed so I'm not sure what to think!