Jump to section
Your Husky is a special breed. He likes to talk. He likes to scream. He likes to sing. So when it’s time to crate train your Husky, be aware that he will let you know the entire time he's in there exactly how he's feeling. He's okay. This is just his personality.
If you are unfamiliar with crate training, now is the time to start with your Husky. A crate provides a safe place for your pup to go when you are not home, when he is tired, or during the night when it's time to sleep for several hours at a time. Crate training your Husky can save your home from damage he may cause when he misses you while you are away. Over time, as your Husky gets used to his crate he will see this as his personal safe haven. This will be his bedroom when he's sleepy during the day and needs a nap. This will be the place he goes when you are not home and he needs to be protected just as much as your belongings need to be protected.
When you crate train your Husky, you are teaching him boundaries. You will be teaching him where he will be during certain times during the day such as when you are away from the house. You can train your Husky at any age to begin to use the crate. However, the younger your Husky is, the easier this training will be and the more your Husky will view the crate as his personal space. You can decide to crate train your Husky only during the day, giving him free reign of the house during the night when you sleep, or you can crate train your Husky to only sleep in the crate or both. Eventually, you will notice your Husky going into the crate on his own when he feels sleepy or at bedtime, or when he just needs a break from the world.
Crate training is easy to do when you're well prepared. You will need a crate large enough for your Husky to stand up and turn around. There is no need to get a separate crate for a puppy and an adult. But you may consider blocking off some of the space in the crate while your Husky is a puppy, so your pup doesn't use the extra room as a potty. Be sure to have lots of soft, clean, comfortable bedding in the crate as well. Your Husky will want some entertainment while he's in the crate, so some new toys for him to chew on while you're away will help to keep him happy and entertained. You will also need some high-value treats to encourage him to go into the crate and remind him he's safe while he's training.
The Nighttime Sleep Method
Most Recommended
3 Votes
Most Recommended
3 Votes
Place the crate
Be sure to put your Husky's crate in a place where he will be comfortable sleeping at night. You may want your Husky in or near your bedroom or in a quieter area of the house or even a popular family room area. Either way, be sure you can hear your Husky if he's a puppy and is still potty training.
Play and potty
Take your Husky outside for one last trip to the potty. While he's out there, play with him for a few minutes and wear him out. It will be easier for your Husky to train for nighttime sleep in the crate if he goes to bed sleepy.
Good night
Begin to use a command phrase such as "good night" to train your Husky when it is time to go into his crate for nighttime sleep.
Treat
Give your Husky a treat and place one inside his crate, encouraging him to go inside to get it. His crate should be all set up with bedding, making it a comfortable place for him to sleep all night.
Door
Once your Husky is inside the crate and settled comfortably, close the crate door. You may need to hang out for a few moments encouraging him with a soft voice to stay and go to sleep.
Whining and crying
If your Husky cries after putting him in the crate, use a calm voice to tell him again to 'go night-night' or bid him good night. You can offer him one more treat before bed but eventually walk away and let him whine until he's asleep. You may want to stay close by so he knows you're near and still has that sense of security rather than thinking he has been left alone.
Bedtime
If it all possible, put your Husky in his crate to go to bed when it's time for you to go to bed as well. This will mean your Husky knows the house is quiet and you are sleeping too. If your Husky's crate is in your bedroom he should know that you're nearby.
Husky puppy
If your Husky is a puppy, try to remember he can only hold his bladder for about an hour for every month of his age. This means if your Husky is 3 months old he may wake two to three times during the night to go potty. He should whine and let you know he needs to go. When you let him out of his crate, carry him outside rather than letting him walk so he doesn't stop to go potty in the house. Outside of using the potty, let any other whining go with a simple treat and a wish for a good night sleep.
Patience
Have patience as your Husky is getting used to the crate for nighttime sleep. When he wakes in the morning, let him out of the crate and take him outside to go potty right away. It's always a good idea to give him a reward when he wakes up as well. Over time, your Husky will get used to the crate and begin to go directly to the crate at night time for overnight sleep on his own.
The Relaxing Place Method
Effective
2 Votes
Effective
2 Votes
Crate
Set up your Husky’s crate in a place where he can rest and sleep overnight. This could mean moving the crate at night or investing in two crates. If your Husky is older, you might just want the crate for night time sleeping. If he is younger, you may want it for daytime use while you are away.
Soft and peaceful
Make the crate a nice place for your Husky to be. You’ll need soft bedding and some toys that are safe to chew on. If your goal is for night sleeping only, one soft toy might suffice so he is not awake entertaining himself too much.
Treat inside
Place a treat inside the crate to encourage your Husky to get in. He might stay and sniff around or lie down on the bedding. He may also eat the treat and come right back out. If he lies down, give him another treat. If he comes back out, try again with encouraging words or a different high-value treat.
Sit outside
While your Husky is getting used to the crate, sit outside blocking the doorway and talk to him. If he’s ready to play, he won’t be interested in staying inside too long. Bring him back after some play. If he’s sleepy, pat his bedding and encourage him to stay. Offer more treats if he’s lying down.
Quiet
Once he’s settled down, quietly close the door and sit outside the crate. If he goes to sleep, walk away but stay close by in case he wakes.
Timing
Pay attention to the clock the first few times your Husky is in the crate. If he is a puppy, he may need to go potty every few hours, even during the night hours. If he is getting used to the crate and is house trained, staying in too long might turn him away from wanting to be in the crate during times you need him to be, such as for night sleep or when you are at work or away.
Potty
As soon as you take your Husky out of the crate for awake time or playtime, be sure to take him outside to go potty.
Nighttime
Place your Husky in the crate at night for night sleeping. Try to wear him out a bit with some playtime before bed. If he needs to go potty during the night, take him but place him back. If he’s whining to whine, give him a treat during a quiet spell and then ignore him. He will get used to staying in the crate.
Patience
Do not overuse the crate. Use it for times when you know you will be away from your home and cannot keep an eye on your Husky, during short moments you are home but worry about keeping your Husky unattended, such as during your shower, and at night time. Be patient with your Husky as he gets used to using the crate for those moments he is alone or sleepy.
The Workday Method
Least Recommended
1 Vote
Least Recommended
1 Vote
Timing and location
If at all possible, try to crate train your Husky over the course of a day or two off of work or over a weekend. Place the crate in the area your Husky will be happy to be and an area where you are comfortable having your Husky while you are away from the house.
Crate introduction
Introduce your Husky to his crate by placing a treat inside and encouraging him to step in to eat the treat. Be sure the crate is set up with soft bedding and some entertainment in the form of safe to toys while you are away during the day.
First day
The first day you introduce your Husky to his new crate, leave the door open at first as he gets used to the space. Encourage him to go in the crate when he is sleepy after meals and after play time. Be sure to take your Husky out to go potty before he comes in to nap.
Stay close by
Your Husky will want to know that he is safe and secure. He will find security knowing you are nearby. Over the course of the first day you will eventually begin to close the crate door but stay close so he can hear you and see you. If he's napping for a long time, keep the door closed but encourage him to stay inside with a treat.
Second day
After your Husky has spent a day getting used to the crate and how it works, spend the second day putting him in the crate for short periods as you do simple tasks around the house. Only this time, close the door each time. So for instance, as you wash dishes put him in the crate and close the door. Keep these sessions fairly short before opening the door again.
Naps
On the second day of your Husky crate training, when he takes naps be sure he's in the crate and for every nap he takes, keep the door closed for the entire nap. If he whines while still awake, offer him a treat but keep the door closed. Walk away, staying close by so he knows you are near and he is secure. Once he wakes, open the door and take him out to go potty.
Alone
Once it's time for you to leave the house and leave your Husky alone, place him in the crate with the door closed. Always give him a treat for going into the crate and close the door. Be aware of how old your Husky is and how well has trained he is. You may need to come home or have someone let him out during the day to go potty.
Coming home
Once you come home from the end of your workday or tasks out of the house, let your Husky out of his crate and give him a treat. Be sure to take him out to go potty right away so he doesn't have any accidents in your house after being in the crate for some time.
Written by Stephanie Plummer
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 02/06/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
More articles by Stephanie Plummer
Training Questions and Answers
Hi there, Our dog does great in the crate eating, sleeping, and just hanging out, but not so much when we leave for work. He eliminates in his crate every time we leave...It's early in our training process, but I am wondering if you have any tips and tricks to expedite the process? Thanks!
Jan. 8, 2020
Gary's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello, First, know that at 3 months of age your pup cannot hold his bladder any longer than 4 hours during the day - if he is left in the crate for longer than that he will have no option but to eliminate in the crate. If he is eliminating in the crate within the first thirty-minutes of you leaving, the issue is more likely anxiety or the way you have the crate set up. Make sure that the crate is only big enough for him to turn around, lie down, and stand up - too big and it won't encourage his natural desire to keep a confined space clean and he will likely pee. If you have a wire crate and it's too big, you can purchase a wire crate divider to make a larger crate smaller by blocking off part of it - then you can adjust the size as he grows. Second, make sure there isn't anything absorbent in the crate. Remove any soft bedding, towels, or other absorbent things if there is. Check out something like www.primopads.com to use in the crate until he is fully potty trained and past the destructive chewing phases (which will likely increase again for a while around 6-8 months while jaws are developing. If the issue is anxiety, I suggest working on building pup's independence and giving pup a dog food stuffed hollow Kong when you leave to keep him occupied. You can let the dog food sit out in a bowl ahead of time, mix a little liver past or peanut butter (NO xylitol - it's toxic to dogs) into the dog food, loosely stuff the mixture into a couple of hollow Kongs, insert a straw through the entire Kong out both holes, then freeze them overnight. When you leave, give one of the Kongs from the freezer to pup. The next day you can give the second one, then re-make and freeze. You can also purchase additional Kongs to have ready. Independence building: Place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omg5DVPWIWo Crate manners: https://thegooddog.net/training-videos/free-how-to-training-videos/learn-to-train-the-good-dog-way-the-crate/ Distance Down-Stay: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/train-your-labrador-to-lie-down-and-stay/ Also, practice keeping departures and greetings super boring. Practice leaving for short periods and returning super often - 1, 5 or 10 minutes around the block, changing your leaving routine so pup isn't anticipating your departure for as long - giving them less time to become anxious beforehand and able to calm down easier, and when you get home, if pup can hold their bladder, ignore pup, leaving them in the crate for 5-10 minutes. When you free them, follow the crate manner's protocol above- keeping exits calm, then ignore pup for another 5 minutes (you can take pup potty during this time just limit interactions). You want to condition pup to feel like your arrivals and departures are no big deal. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Jan. 8, 2020
Hi!! I would like to ask you for some advices to crate train my puppy, yesterday was the first day she slept in the crate and all night she was screaming, ALL NIGHT I just ignore her, I didn’t know what to do. Also I don’t know what amount of food should I give her? And at what time after she ate should I take her to potty! Please I really need a lot of advices for crate train her. Thanks!!
July 16, 2019
Arya's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello Luisa, Most puppies cry ALOT the first two weeks - usually the first three nights are really bad, then there are a couple weeks of just a few minutes of protest when you first put them in but they get quiet after that - If you don't let them out when they cry so they can learn how to settle down. You can give a food stuffed chew toy during the day and an empty durable chew toy at night. The exception to not letting them out of the crate is when they need to potty. At night your pup really will need to go potty 1-2 times at night for another month or two because of her small bladder at this age. If she has been awake for at least three hours, then she will need to be taken potty on a leash at that time - keep the trip super boring and on task- then put her straight back into the crate after she goes potty outside. Try to let her out of the crate to go potty when she is quiet for a second - it doesn't have to be long, but try to catch her in a quiet second if she has been crying for a long period of time (if this isn't possible then just do the best you can - you don't want an accident in the crate). If she falls asleep, then just take her outside when she wakes up and starts crying to be taken potty after at least 2.5-3 hours - which is what should happen once she adjusts to the crate - crying when first put in and when she needs to potty, but not in between. She will be able to hold her bladder for longer than 3 hours once she adjusts to the crate and stays asleep more, but may still need 1-2 potty trips every 5-6 hours or so if she wakes to pee, for a little longer. Keep those trips boring and calm too, then straight back into the crate - no playing or treats or she might start waking up to play too. Finally, follow the Surprise method from the article linked below to speed up crate training and help her become calmer and quieter sooner. Practicing during the day lets you use treats to reward calmness to help speed things up. Do NOT give food at night though or she will probably stay awake hoping for treats. Practice the Surprise method during the day several times a day, spacing out sessions if you are home, or for at least thirty-minutes in the evening and more often on the weekend if you work during the day. Surprise method: https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
July 16, 2019