Crate training a husky is a fun process; unlike most dog breeds huskies are very easy dogs to motivate and very energetic.
The husky is so adorable and great with people even strangers that they don’t make good guard dogs.
Huskies love to run around that’s why crate training is great to control their environment and lay down some rules.
In this article, we will be providing you with a full detailed profile of the husky that will help you understand the different crate training steps you have to follow.
We will also be suggesting the best tools you need to do so faster and better.
Husky and profile
Huskies are active dogs that need plenty of exercises as they fall in the working category dogs.
These bad boys could run for miles and still be able to play some more. Huskies are playful dogs and they love human contact even with strangers.
Before going into the crate your husky will need more than just a short walk. That is the hardest part of crate training a husky.
Are huskies aggressive?
Not at all huskies are very friendly dogs that love to play. They are active and have very fun facial expressions.
They are great family dogs and fun to have around, they do get well with other dogs.
Although they still have the prey instinct and will jump on cats if not raised together at a young age.
Are huskies good with kids
Huskies are one of the greatest dog breeds to have around kids. A husky will keep the kids entertained for hours and yet there is no need to supervise.
There is no risk of the husky exerting himself or hurting a kid and that’s what makes them great with kids.
Are huskies active
Huskies are active, athletic dogs who need a lot of exercises; They feel much better when they have a function to accomplish as they are a working dog breed.
Play sessions using interactive toys are very important when crate training huskies. They help make the bond stronger and motivate the dog.
Huskies should always be on a leash outside as they could go for a run at any moment. They also need to be microchipped if they get lost which happens often for these mischevious outgoing dogs.
Husky behavior problems
There aren’t many behavior issues that may affect your crate training; huskies are not aggressive dogs and they can tolerate some alone time if you have to go out for a while.
The barking is the only potential problem you might have to deal with when crate training a husky, especially at night.
Huskies get too excited and that should be taken into consideration when leaving while he is in the crate.
Crate training a husky puppy
Due to their energetic nature huskies are better crate trained at a young age.
The crate training basics for a husky are the same for every other dog; you only have to take into account their overdose of energy that you have to take down before getting in the crate.
The first step in any crate training program is choosing the perfect crate for your dog. When we say the perfect crate we are talking about the size and type of crate.
What size crate should I get for a Husky?
When choosing the best crate size for your dog you need to know what makes it perfect.
- The dog should be able to stand in the crate without touching the top of it.
- When he lays down the dog’s front should not be touching the crate.
- The crate should not be too big for the dog just a few inches larger than him.
- The dog should be able to turn around inside the crate to get out.
So based on the size of the husky the perfect crate size for him would be :
DIMENSIONS: 42-Inches long by 28-Inches wide and 31-Inches tall.
A crate with a divider is important since huskies grow significantly from puppy age to adulthood.
Huskies also need a little more space than regular dogs as they are hyped dogs that love to move around.
In some cases, a chewing-proof heavy-duty crate is needed for some aggressive huskies.
Best crate for a husky
Huskies are relatively large and strong dogs full of energy so not every crate would work. Avoiding soft-side crates is a must since huskies just chew their way through it.
For calm dogs that aren’t showing too much excitement around you and the family, your best option is a wire crate.
Wire crates are sturdy enough for a husky and they offer plenty of open space that helps with the early stages of crate training.
The one I personally recommend is the midwest double door wire crate (you can check the current price on Amazon).
The double door option is very helpful and it is the one I use for most of my dogs.
Husky proof crate
If you have a more aggressive( not necessarily bad behavior could be over-excitement chewing …) you need something stronger.
For the husky, you don’t need something too strong just heavier and more sturdy.
I would suggest getting the ITORI heavy-duty, crate their crates are very easy to move around and assemble and not that heavy.
Choose the 42-Inches crate for your husky :
Introducing your husky to his crate
This is the first and most important phase when crate training a husky. They are by nature very curious dogs so it won’t take too long for your little guy to start exploring.
At first, you want to secure the crate door or doors if you opt for the double door crate; this will help you avoid any incidents that could make the husky afraid.
When first introduced to the crate you don’t want your dog to feel trapped; this is exactly why I always use a double door crate to have the extra open space.
Just walk your dog around the crate with his leash on and don’t force it, let him explore.
When your dog is comfortable enough around the crate you can move on to the next step.
Exploring the crate
In this phase, you will need some training treats to help you lure the husky in the crate.
Crate training a husky without treats is a hard and time-consuming task.
However, using too many treats could be harmful so you better check out this article about training treats, how much you should use and which are the safe brands.
By tossing a treat in the crate you will be able to lure your husky in there and once he gets in reward with another treat and verbal praise.
don’t rush things and never force him in, just keep doing the same thing until he picks it up.
Huskies are smart dogs soon yours will offer to get in the crate to get the treat.
Keep repeating this process until he offers to get in the crate on his own then you are ready for the next step.
Bonding with the crate
Now that your husky is feeling comfortable in his crate going in and enjoying the treats; you can move on and start making him feel good about the crate by associating it with happy things he likes.
Of course what a better way to bond with the crate other than food.
You need to start feeding your dog his meals in the crate; any place dogs associate with food is a happy place and you need to use that.
While the dog is feeding in the crate you need to be next to the crate at first. You also want to close the door gradually so he doesn’t feel trapped.
You can also use toys to spend more time in the crate or to make the between you and your husky stronger.
Huskies are intelligent and playful dogs so the best toys for training are interactive dog toys.
Every play session is a training opportunity that you need to jump on especially in the early stages of crate training your husky.
You can check out this article I wrote about the 4 types of dog toys and how they are used.
Chew toys are also great at keeping the dog distracted in the crate; the one I strongly recommend is the kong (you can check the current price on Amazon). Not only does it help with the chewing, but it can also be filled with treats to keep the dog interested for a while.
You only need to fill it up with some treats and secure it to the crate and your husky will stay there on his own.
Making the crate the perfect den
Up to this moment you’ve used toys treats and play sessions to get your dog used to be in the crate while open. Now is the time for the final step so you can actually leave your dog in his crate and move on to do something else.
You want to start that by closing the door of the crate while the husky is feeding. Once he finishes his meal praise him inside and open the door.
Then next time, keep the door closed for five minutes after the meal while playing with your husky and verbally praising him.
You want to use a chew toy or a plush to get your husky busy in the crate after his meal while you increase the time he spends in there.
If things are going as planned and you are crate training your husky without incidents keep increasing the time with the door closed. if your husky shows any signs of rejection you might be going too fast and want to slow things down a bit.
As your dog is getting more and more relaxed in there you can now move around the room instead of sitting next to the crate.
Slowly start moving around the house away from him for five minutes then go back and praise as you are walking past him. Keep doing it and increase the time up to the 30 minutes mark which a good sign that you can leave your husky alone and leave.
Can a husky be left alone?
Huskies do love the company and are very friendly even with strangers. However, they can tolerate some alone time during the day.
If you have to work you can leave an adult husky in his crate but not for long. If you have a lunch break you can take him for a walk then go back to work. You can also use a dog walker if you can’t make it for lunch.
Buthuskies are happier around people and other dogs than left alone.
In case you have no way to go home during the day or hire a dog walker a playpen is your solution.
You can install a playpen for more space and place the crate inside it and leave it open.
The playpen allows your dog to enjoy more space and toys while at the same time control his environment while you’re absent.
The playpen I suggest and use in the Yaheetech Heavy Duty (Check current price on Amazon) I like this one and recommend it for dogs like the husky because they are real escape artists and very energetic.
Low-quality playpens don’t last long with huskies, this one can also be used outdoors which is great for me anyway as it comes in different size choices.
The playpen can also help crate train a super energetic dog that doesn’t show progress with the regular crate.
How long can I leave my husky in a crate?
Huskies are actually smart dogs and fairly easy to train if you do everything by the ook you can expect it to be done in less than 4 weeks.
Note that every dog is different and it will also depend on what kind of habits he’s had prior crate training.
Rescue dogs often tend to be harder to crate train than new puppies; which is normal since they already have acquired old habits you have to break.
The one thing that could really set you back when crate training a husky is to reprimand or punish your dog in the crate.
Never use the crate for a time out, the crate is considered a safe place and should stay that way.
Crate training a husky at night
This is the hardest part of crate training a husky puppy. most dogs especially those that are not very active will fall asleep in the crate if you take them for a walk or a playtime just before bedtime.
However, huskies are very energetic and won’t get exhausted after a short potty walk. You will need some serious playtime and a long walk just before bedtime. This way your husky will be less willing to object or whine in his crate during the night.
If your husky is whining in his crate at night just ignore it. If you let him out while whining it’s a sign that whining is a way out.
never let your dog out while barking or whining try to break his whining habit, then when he stops reward and praise him until he knows it’s time to sleep.
Final thoughts
crate training a husky is fun and easy if done right, just don’t force your dog nor rush him into it.
be patient and use the toys and a well-sized crate to avoid any incidents; you can also use the playpen to make the process easier and faster.
Never use the crate or playpen for punishment, and to be honest if you don’t catch your dog in the act there is no need to punish him as he does not understand why anyway and you are just confusing him.
