fluff1234 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 (edited) Hi all, this is not a puppy, however unsure what part too post in as it is a problem, so move if need be :) I really need advice or insight in what to do :) We have had our husky girl 14 mths now, she is just over 5 yrs old. We also have an almost 2 yr old sammy boy. We crate our dogs at night, for various reasons, such as the bed is ours, we have cats, so they need to stay in our bedroom so the cats get free run at night and our sammy boy eats EVERYTHING and isnt a great sleeper at night. So she has been crated from day one, ONLY at night at bedtime. She has gone through spells of protesting by us having to leash her and put her into the crate or carry her but over the months this stopped and every night for the last several months, she has gone in fine, they get a last wee, treat, then walk to their crates, treat to go in and a few treats through the door, then bed and sleep, no issues. Suddenly over the last month, she has decided she no longer wants to go in and refuses to come, so back too leashing her and putting her in and now for the last week she is frantically scratching and digging to get out from anything from 10 mins to a hr, she initially stopped when we shouted but now ignores us and digs until we fall asleep and even refused the treats in the crate last night. unsure what to do???? I would be happy to let her out of the crate at night, but worry about time with my husband at night, littlest child often join us in the bed at night and then we would have to let the other dog out and he would be a pest, everything would need to be out of reach and he is tall and can reach all the bedside cabinets and I wouldnt be able to sleep wondering what mischief he is upto and he would howl the place down if she was out and he was in, so help, what do you think has happened or how we can fix this, she never dug to get out even in the early stages, just refused to get it, until now! (during all this, our sammy boy happily just lies down and ignores her!) Edited March 8, 2015 by fluff1234 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Have you tried doing more work with the crate during the day? Then it is not seen as such an 'only nighttime and I don't like this routine' thing. Making the crate a fun place to be, feed in the crate. treats in the crate, leaving doors open and throw food in there etc. Could also try Crate Games Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluff1234 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 Thanks, the crate is located ther other end of the house, in our bedroom. I know our sammy boy hates it during the day, so we got rid of the lounge ones, he only went in at night and tolerates it just fine, happily going in by himself, never tried her in during the day as it would mean moving it everydday from the bedroom to the lounge room, should I do this then? There isnt really any space for it but can squeeze it in temporarily but it hasnt room for permanent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluff1234 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 If it was only her I would just not bother as she is pretty good in the house, but we cannot due to the other dog! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I would just use it where it is :). A few times go to the crate with the Sammy, throw some treats in there with the door open, have Sammy go in there, throw in a few more while in there, feed dinner in there etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airedaler Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Do you think she may be a little cramped in the crate or perhaps has hurt herself in the crate somehow? Perhaps a larger space may help. I have been through something similar with my 5.5 month old pup recently. She refused to go into her bed which she had been doing every night since I had her quite happily. I found that a chicken neck was a very high value treat for her and fortunately was able to correct the issue (at least it seems so) within a week or so. Could your girl be hurting somewhere? I wonder if my problem was not in part due to teething, hence a sore mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluff1234 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 its a huge crate, double her size, so no she hasnt been hurt. It started when we didnt latch the crate properley and she got out, now she is trying to get out everynight! She is fine all day and evening and I let her out over the last 2 nights on the leash and straight outside, incase it was toilet issues and she just lay down in the grass! its like she has settled with our family, and usdeenly decided she doesnt want too sleep in there, if we let her out or take her unleashed she jumps and lies down on the bed! I think thats where she has slept in the past maybe? and decided now she knows us and is happy there she wants to be maybe??? I may try the feeding meals in there during the morning and night? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluff1234 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 Thats why they are in the bedroom, hers is a 42" and his is a 52" they are very large crates, she only fills half :) they were bought for night use only or when we go out, but I dont really leave them, they go most places with me, so she is only been left in it at night with us in the same room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluff1234 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 thanks, will try that with both dogs, breakfast and evening meal :) I would just use it where it is :). A few times go to the crate with the Sammy, throw some treats in there with the door open, have Sammy go in there, throw in a few more while in there, feed dinner in there etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheena Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Maybe she is finding it too hot in the crate over summer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluff1234 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 we have the air con in there for hours before we go to bed, so its cooler in there than anywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluff1234 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 We have just closed all the bedroom doors and opened the gate to the corridor where the bedroom is at the end of, will need to make sure kids keep doors closed or everything of the floor, this will make it easier too feed meals in the crate and to spend a few times going into our bedroom and throw treats in throughout the day, they usually get a chewstick once a day, so going to excitedly run into the bedroom with it and put it in their crates instead. Just done steak in there, throwing it in for her, she wouldnt even come out fo the front room and hid when she saw we were going in the bedroom, our sammy just sat in there as he has no issues with the crate LOL, she wouldnt even come in the bedroom at first, then slowly went near the crate watching me, so I threw several pieces and she went in and out then I came back into the lounge room, will do it again later and feed in there, but unsure what will happen tonight, as i I still need to push her in or carry her in tonight, is that an issue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluff1234 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 After family discussion we maybe leaving the crates open tonight and locking the cats in our daughters room, so they can only go in our room or the corridor and see what happens as we are just so tired and stressed currently. She is frantic when she is digging like she does in a storm, and we are really over it at the moment... after discussion with hubby we think its fear. The way she is starting to react is like in a storm and its frantic digging. She is such a laid back girl normally. She does get frightened with sudden movements and loud noise but spent a lot of her days running away from her old house, I know her old owners, she is a friend now through getting our girl and I know they tried with her and are lovely amazing people but hae never had a husky and how much work they are, she was in the yard so took of and couldnt keep her in, so rehomed from fear of her getting lost, stolen or hurt... so wondering if she maybe fearful through experiences on the 'road' ! but otherwise, she is such a lovely girl, she likes to be near us and we went through the whole year, we realise she has never really been happy in the crate. Whilst the digging is new and the frantic panting, the behaviour not going in and having to force her has happened more than a few times over the year, she just didnt make this much fuss loudly. BUT she is now comfortable with us, know she will not get hurt, she trusts us and now she is loudly protesting.. She was a free wild spirit before we got her, so maybe caging her isnt the answer :/ I just hope she doesnt jump on the bed all night, expecially when me and hubby get much needed private time LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I will suggest then that you purchase some ADAPTIL products to use with her - she may be more comfortable .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluff1234 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 thank you, I will get some on payday this week :) I will suggest then that you purchase some ADAPTIL products to use with her - she may be more comfortable .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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