Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi! New to the board! *waving* We rescued a one yr old female sibe over the holidays from a breeder who claimed the prior owner had to give her back due to loosing her job etc.

Last Janurary we had to put our 12yr husky down, even though we're familiar with the breed, some things are 'new' to us with Kita. Kita is a great pup, very energenic, lovable and extremely smart. I forgot about the puppy biting, chewing anything that you love, did I mention how smart they are?! LOL

The prior owner had her crated a lot, since we've had Kita she has no problem going into her crate at night and even takes naps in it around lunchtime, she has a great schedule but we're trying to wean her from sleeping in the crate at night.

I'm lucky enough to be a stay at home mom, so Kita has a lot of attention between us and the kids. She'll pick up a shoe when she needs to go out, jump on you when her water bowl is empty and even sits nicely at the back door when she wants to play on the deck!

My only concern is I'd like to have her sleep with us? She gets very excited and jumps on the bed and only thinks we want to play, when we just want to sleep. We have a couch in our room (which Minnie used to sleep on for years with a cover) and I'd like for her to use it as a bed too!? I've given her treats on the couch and only once she's taken a nap on it.

How do I slowly 'uncrate' her bedtime routine and teach her that her couch is for night time too??

Thanks so much!
~Michelle from Michigan

Habits can be hard to change even good ones. She probably feels very safe in the crate and that is what she considers her den so to speak.

Have you tried just leaving crate door open, then when she comes on the bed give her a command of down/stay.

They do snuggle good don't they. <G>

Cheryl

Her crate is currently in our walk out basement, near the sliding glass door (easy potty access in the morning) We had debated putting her crate in our room because of our two cats. (Brodie 6, Scootie 1) Now that they have all 'gotten along' I'm sure it wouldnt be a problem to place the crate in our room? The cats can deal with not sleeping with us.. Huskies are more cuddly anyway (until we kick her off in our sleep and she goes on the couch) LOL

Thank You for your advice! (as hubby drags the crate up two flights of stairs while I type)
~Michelle

>>Her crate is currently in our walk out basement, near the sliding glass door (easy potty access in the morning) We had debated putting her crate in our room because of our two cats. (Brodie 6, Scootie 1) Now that they have all 'gotten along' I'm sure it wouldnt be a problem to place the crate in our room? The cats can deal with not sleeping with us.. Huskies are more cuddly anyway (until we kick her off in our sleep and she goes on the couch) LOL
>>
>>Thank You for your advice! (as hubby drags the crate up two flights of stairs while I type)
>>~Michelle

>>>>>>>>>>

I'd suggest taking this more slowly. She is still in the honeymoon period of joining a new family, and her true temperament is not showing yet because of that and also because she is not yet mature. I would especially be concerned about having her loose with the cats when you are asleep.

I would suggest the next step you take be putting a crate in your bedroom for her. Then maybe put her bed into it. If she chews the bedding, that will give you something else to wait on before having her loose with you sleeping. Chewing often continues to age 2 years in females, sometimes longer in males.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

That is so funny!! I have 3 huskies right now. And two ALWAYS sleep with us. But my female will lay with us at night until either the tv goes off or the light is turned off then she retreats to the guest bedroom for the night. She was also a rescue husky. But she is the greatest cuddler in the world; she just won't sleep with us. Like your husky she loved her crate and what we did is slowly just leave the door open for her so that she could make her own choice as to where she wants to sleep. She was timid but has definitely come out of her shell and loves to "weasel" with us in bed!