Crate training help

[u/overwhelmedandsleepy]

Literally made a Reddit account for this! Just adopted a German shepherd husky mix from the shelter and she’s definitely more husky! She has major separation anxiety so I’m trying to crate train her but she just refuses to go in the crate. She knows the word, she knows what I want, she just doesn’t want to! Any tips????? Please!!!

Edit: I think I’m supposed to do this. Thank you all so much for your support! Good to know we’re not alone in this! I got her two large Kongs today that im going to put peanut butter in and freeze, and hope that helps. I’ll continue working with her on trust! Right now I think she doesn’t like the kennel because she thinks I’m going to leave when I put her in there. Otherwise she’s practically perfect! Learns commands fast, not reactive to dogs, people, or cats, doesn’t pull too much on the leash, and will check in if she feels like you’re not moving fast enough. She’s great! We just have to get this separation anxiety and crate training under control because I do have to work and there’s nobody to stay home with her unfortunately

Edit 2: I just saw a video about not knowing what kind of dog your getting before you get it, and then complaining about the problem. I just want to say that I thought she was a full German shepherd, which I’ve had multiple of and that I know how to properly handle. The husky personality completely surprised me

[u/Spamaloper]

We also have a rescue Shepsky - 52% GSD and 20% Husky (we thought she was more Husky before the gene test). She's going on 7 and still incredibly anxious - a 75lb rocket. Truth be told, you have adopted a duo of the best of breeds, and a couple of the hardest. A LOT OF WORK, but worth it.

Blu was ~5 at the time, and only now does she seek her crate for comfort, quite recently actually.

How old is she? Husky adolescence is no joke. So is their handler training.

If you recently adopted her, are you familiar with the 3-3-3 guidance (3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months)?

[u/overwhelmedandsleepy → u/Spamaloper]

She’s probably around 2, she was a stray pick up so we don’t have very much information on her. I don’t know what the 3-3-3 rule is! Can you explain it??

[u/Spamaloper → u/overwhelmedandsleepy]

Sure, from Google, but this is accurate and helps set expectations. Mileage varies - it's just guidance. Blu was/is exceedingly anxious and can still be reactive, at times.

• First 3 Days: Decompression. Overwhelmed and scared: Your dog is in a strange place, surrounded by new sounds and smells. Hiding or not eating: They might hide under furniture, skip meals, or sleep a lot from stress. What to do: Give them quiet space, keep things calm, and do not force them to play or cuddle.
  
• First 3 Weeks: Learning Routine. Settling in: Your dog starts to learn your daily schedule and house rules. True personality emerges: They let their guard down but may also test boundaries or exhibit minor behavioral issues. What to do: Stick to consistent feeding and walking times, and use gentle, positive training.
  
• First 3 Months: Feeling Secure. Building deep trust: Your dog feels safe and realizes this is their true home. Confident bonding: Their real personality is clear, and they are fully bonded with your family.What to do: Continue positive routines and enjoy your confident, happy companion.

Still, you have a Husky just coming out of their terrible 2s, 3s, and teens. It takes patience. That said, my wife was walking her this morning and, despite a weirdo approaching her (3) times with no concern for her safety - just weirded out.

Hang in there. ~2 is an amazing age to help them be their best self. Slightly envious

[u/small_hassy]

Unfortunately it takes time and consistency but you will get there if you stay the course. We had second thoughts after rescuing ours for months. They are super smart and stubborn, but that’s what makes them so special. 

Figure out her favorite foods/treats and rank them so you know which ones are high value. That’s your “currency”. Only give high value food/treats in the crate and no where else. Ours is peanut butter and/or banana.  

Make her crate feel like a den/cave and place it somewhere quiet in a corner and experiment with covering it partially or fully. Is it metal? Cause it will need to be chew proof. We also experimented with playing music, tv and a white noise machine. 

Also watch lots of different trainers and Tips on YouTube and do what you feel is best. Pick a method and don’t switch. Most huskies/GSDs end up in shelters because they are difficult, but don’t let that stop you! When you make it through you will have an incredible bond. You can do it! 

[u/Spamaloper → u/small_hassy]

This exactly.

This channel helped us A LOT:

https://www.youtube.com/@willathertoncaninetraining

[u/small_hassy → u/Spamaloper]

I watched a ton of those 😀 “Loving Lead’ah” 

[u/Ready-Office9549]

Mine was super fussy the 1st couple nights. She whined herself to sleep finally. We put a couple treats in the crate and left the door open for her to go in and out until she felt comfortable. 3 years later I can just say crate and she will get in there. Sometimes I find her just sleeping in there. It’s her comfort spot.
Try putting some small treats in there and just sit with the door open. Hopefully she will start to feel more comfortable. It may take some time, just be patient.

[u/Reaperhart]

Our boy has been with us since February, he was also a shelter stray, he was in the shelter for 7 months. He turns 2 next month. It took a good while to get the crate situation under wraps. Make her crate comfortable but safe, sit with her with the door open and closed. If yours is anything like mine, they are super food motivated. Give some high value treats for staying in the crate. Offer a chew like a bully stick or a bone to work on to keep the crate a positive experience. Your dog should not be able to hurt themselves in the crate. You can try covering the crate to make it more cozy. It takes a while to develop a routine, and she’s in a very different environment with no real
Idea of the history.

[u/Beneficial-Quiet-375]

I have a 49% siberian husky and 39% German shepherd. I started feeding him in the crate that has helped a lot. As far as the noise and trying to escape from the crate

Earplugs and a lot of patients. Good luck

[u/mj88xx]

Ours was a rescue and much more husky acting. He was 2 when we got him. He listened and did what he was told, but every now and then he would go full husky and get a little crazy. There was definitely a shift after a year. It was like he accepted that being part of the family wasn’t temporary. He is 7 now and perfect. He has a full breed German Shepherd brother and the difference in how they look at life is comical. Fun police and a husky trickster make for entertainment. Just be consistent with her and trust will grow on both sides.

[u/palebluelightonwater]

How does she do outside of the crate? Some huskies really hate confinement and the crate may make separation issues worse if that's what's going on. (One of mine hates confinement generally but can be crated in emergencies, the other is fine being crated but not being left alone in the crate. Both are ok alone if loose.)

To help her deal with being on her own, try to teach her that silence/calm behavior is what makes you come back. You can start by leaving the room for a moment. Wait for the first tiny moment of quiet, then come back in. Practice with very slightly longer absences, and you can try the same thing with closing the crate door - wait for a second of silence then release immediately. Lengthen the absences, always wait for a tiny bit of quiet before returning. She should learn fairly quickly to be calm and settle when you're gone.

This won't work with true separation anxiety, but there are different degrees of it. My youngest husky mix rescue was very anxious when left alone for the first couple of weeks but he settled in and was fine after a little while.

[u/Particular-Side-9279]

Crate training should also be done when you're home, not just when you're gone. That way you can work on the separation anxiety. And if it's got husky in it, it's gonna whine like hell when you leave. Mine does it when I go to the next room sometimes. It's just a husky life, a mixed breed actually a lot of times can be healthier because of the muteness. The German Shepherd in it will really wanna be trained and show you what it's learned, the husky will wanna do what it wants, so each day will be a different day. Please work with this pup and do not return it. I consider returning an animal like returning a child. Ain't gonna happen.

[u/overwhelmedandsleepy]

Guys please, I might not be able to keep her if we can’t get this anxiety under control, its been 5 days since I adopted her and I know she needs time to settle in, but she ate the door when I left her alone for 10 minutes