For most of us, crate training saved our relationship with our huskies. Huskies are notorious for being destructive when left alone or bored. Crate training can help keep a happy husky and a happy owner It's best to start when they are young, but older dogs can be taught as well. This thread will offer some tips and tricks to crate training.

Before you start
1. Create a positive association with the crate. This is the number one rule. The crate should NEVER be used as punishment. This thread will offer several ways to help you create that positive vibe, but it's important to remember that the crate is your dog's safe space. He should feel comfortable enough to go in there to sleep during the day or take his treats in to enjoy in peace.

2. Ways to create positive association.
-Feed your dog in the crate. Meal times in the crate can help to teach your dog that all good things happen in the crate.
-Leave treats in the crate randomly throughout the day for your dog to find. This will encourage your dog to go in and check the crate voluntarily without being asked.
-Save HIGH VALUE treats for inside the crate only. Things like marrow bones, peanut butter kongs, or anything your dog considers high value. Only using these treats when your dog needs to spend a few hours in the crate will help keep her calm during crate time.

When your dog is in the crate
3. Ignore cries and whines. Don't teach your dog that whining will be responded to. Only give your dog attention in the crate when he's quiet.

4. Desensitize your dog to your leaving. Try leaving your dog in the crate for 5, 10, 20 minute intervals randomly throughout the day while you are still in the house. Always practice good crate manners (ie- ignore your dog when he whines).

Letting your dog out
5. Don't let your dog out when he's whining. Even if your dog is non-stop crying, wait for the tiniest break in her temper tantrum to let her out. Do so with praise. If your dog is older and responds well to commands, try making her sit or lay down before you open the crate.

Calming your puppy or anxious dog down
6. Create a calming environment. Occasionally, all your positive associations may not be enough, especially with a puppy who is just starting out. Here are some tips that will help sooth your dog inside the crate:
-Try putting a blanket or cover over the crate to make it more den-like.
-Leave an old t-shirt or blanket that smells like you in with your dog. (Use caution: some huskies will destroy this item. If your dog rips it apart and/or tries to eat it, do not leave this item with your dog unattended until you can be sure that she won't rip it apart and ingest it.)
-Leave the television or radio on for your dog
-Refer to above (#2) about high value treats

Extreme measures
7. Reinforcing the crate. Huskies are escape artists. If they can, some will try to escape. You may need to reinforce certain crates with a lock or clip. This should ONLY be done if the crate is just simply not holding the dog. In cases of severe separation anxiety, this can make it worse, so please exercise caution!
8. Medical calming aids. Sometimes all these things are not enough. Dogs with severe separation anxiety may not calm enough to be trained properly. In such cases, when all of the above are attempted, you can purchase over the counter calming treats or incense to help relax your dog. Sometimes even these will not have an effect. In such extreme cases, consult your vet about using a medical aid. Clomicalm is a prescription medication that can be administered to help. They are also not a permanent fix, but designed to relax your dog enough to help him absorb the training. MAKE SURE that all other options have been exhausted, however, as medication should be a very last resort.

Hope this helps!

I searched some of the other threads to try to make sure I wasn't asking a question that has already been answered, so I apologize if I missed it.

I am just looking for some suggestions on recommended brands for crates. I don't have the money to spend hundreds of dollars on one, but what is a good quality one at a decent price that you recommend?

I bought one from Petsmart and one from Walmart and i like the walmart metal crate better and it cost less. it has 2 door options and is 1" taller then the petsmart crate.

Great! I will have to check it out. Thank goodness because Petsmart is over an hour and a half away, but Walmart is just down the road from me, so it is more convenient. Thanks for the recommendation!

i got Embry's on Craigslist when he outgrew the one I got at Petsmart. No idea the brand, but it's huuuuge and only cost us $40 and was nearly new (their collie was stolen from their yard and were too upset to get a new dog anytime soon)

make sure you get caribener (sp) clips too! cuz they are escape artists! LOL

LOL.

Thanks! I have been stalking Craigslist after you mentioned it, Jennet. I think I found a good one for $15. I'm waiting on the guy to call me back to see if he still has it so that I can take a look at it and make sure it isn't made out of cheap material. You know what they say, if it sounds too good to be true....

It's crazy how cheap things are on craigslist, but deff can get ripped off so good you're checking it. Embrys was only used for a few months and is really strong and HUGE(xlarge), did smell when we brought it home but just took a quick wash with the hose to get it out.

I tried Craigslist and, as usual, I am a day late and a dollar short. They either had some really flimsy ones with doors missing or the sellers just don't return phone calls, which tells me they probably already sold the crate. I just sucked it up and went to Petsmart and got a nice one for a decent price. It was the two door one by Top Paw and luckily they were having a sale the day I just happened to pop in and I have a Petsmart card too.

I just ordered a crate on Tuesday and it arrived today (Thursday). Super cheap $53, free shipping. The brand is called "Champion Dog" they come in Black, Blue & Pink. This one is the 42"(L) x 28" (W) x 31" (H) it even comes with the divider and has 3 doors. (Plus, they also have bigger ones.) And walmart had a sale on Large dog pillows for 9.00!

What exactally are the carabiner clips for? To uses as extra door locks or what?

Pink Crate

How sturdy is that pink crate? And where did you buy it from? That's an awesome price!

That's a very good price, my 36" crate was $55 and my 42" crate was over $100. Ours didn't come with carabiner clips but it would have been nice. Our boy figured out how to push the tray out the bottom of the crate and we ended up having to put a lock on it so he couldn't push the tray out, a clip would have been really nice for that.

Wow that's so cheap!

Sara- The bottom tray is a real tough hard plastic, but right now thats my only concern. The shipping box says 28lbs. It's wire and seems to be built pretty good it also has the divider piece. I got it on ebay from seller "DummyDeals" This was the heading.... 42" Folding Dog Pet Cage 3 Door Crate Kennel w/ Divider.... if you search that it will come up and you can check out their store of other sizes and items. I also love the blue one!!


Val- Sorry hun it didn't come with the carabiner clips. I noticed they were mentioned above so I was asking what they were used for in case I needed to go buy some. Didn't mean to cause confusion in that.

I was really shocked at the price cause it does say retail is $109 plus it's in way better shape than a rabbit cage/wire crate we have in the basement (which is like 20something" and we paid $60 for it) The other one I ran across was only about $67 I think and it was like 6"L 1"H 2"W bigger than the other one. That's why I ask you last week if a 42 would be ok.

I finally ordered a crate for Storm. His Denver foster mom said he did not like his crate and was getting better after a couple of weeks. I can't remember if she fed him in his crate, but she did say he bent the gate within 2 minutes...

So, I'll be crate training Storm once it arrives...

Ginger did not like her crate at all in the beginning! And it was SO difficult to find a high value treat in the beginning. When I learned that cheddar cheese and Beggin Strips were her fave, I started using those and with the help of my mom-in-law (who has a very calm and gentle demeanor about her), in one night, we were able to get Ginger in her crate and sit. Whew!

I'm thinking I may be flying her out to help if I need her. Hubby has a hurried and frustrated energy when things don't happen right away. I have that to but I have WAY more patience than he does!

Here's hoping that crate training for Storm is relatively easy...

Are the Midwest brand crates okay quality? They're pretty cheap on Amazon, plus I get free shipping. And it sounds like most of you use carabiners as extra locks for the doors. Are they just the regular, pretty cheap carabiners that people use for their keys and on backpacks and stuff? I don't trust Winter in his plastic crate when I'm out of the house for more than an hour, so I want to get him a wire crate. Thanks in advance, everyone!

Midwest crates are pretty good, most people I know love their Midwest crates. I have a Midwest x-pen and I'm very happy with it. None of my crates are Midwest though.

Thanks for the info, Val. Is your more expensive crate one of the Kennel-Aires or something similar? They look wonderful, but I don't really want to spend that much money if I don't have to.

No, I don't have a Kennel-Aire either. I bought my chihuahuas' large crate from Walmart and have no idea what brand it is and my other one (for my sibe) was a hand-me-down from my mom so I don't know what brand that one is either. I bought my Midwest x-pen personally and I knew a lot of people liked Midwest which is why I opted for that brand.

My parents have a Midwest crate for their yorkie and it's given them no problems. I have a Top Paw 42" crate for Drogo (PetSmart brand crate) and it's been great so far. Has a door on the front and side. Seems sturdy enough, though Drogo never acts a fool inside it so I'm not sure how it would hold up if he threw a tantrum. It was a good price though, pretty sure I got it 30% off - think it was around $60-65, if not cheaper.

That's good to know, Kimberly. At 30% off, the Top Paw one is about 10-15$ less than Amazon's usual price for the 42" Midwest crate. Coolness.

Just try to keep an eye out at PetSmart for deals on crates. They just had one for 50% off but it ended. ;_;

Beth, Amazon also puts their Midwest crates on sale every so often. If you're not in a rush to buy one you could wait for a decent sale to pop up whether on Amazon, Petsmart, or any other store/online store.

Not sure about the Boston area but keep an eye on Craigslist. The Buffalo/Rochester NY C/L has them listed quite often.

Thanks, everybody! I don't think I need one immediately - he seems to be doing okay in his plastic crate as long as he's covered up, and then he typically goes to sleep. Funny, I know. I'll keep an eye on prices and on Craigslist, and go from there.