[Mandygirl00013]

Hello,

I need some advice regarding my Siberian Husky. She has gotten used to people being around all the time and has forgotten her crate training. She is only alone for about 7 hours 2 days a week, but she manages to wreck havoc. We were leaving her out of her cage, but after she chewed up my wedding pictures and other sentimental things, we started caging her again. When we get home, she has urinated and pooped all over the cage and herself. I need some advice/ideas on how to handle this. Can anyone please help me? Thank you.

[reeskujo]

Usually when dogs resort to destruction when their owners are gone it's out of bordem and frustration..Huskies have an extreme amount of energy and they require not only physical excersize and stimulation but mental stimulation as well..If she's not getting any of this before you leave the 2 days you're gone for 7 hr.s it's highly probable that she has a ton of pent up energy and she's looking for a way to release it and that's usually through destruction.

As for her going to the bathroom in her crate,how large of a crate does she have? She should only have enough room to stand up,turn around and lay down stretched out. Are you making sure to potty her after she's been fed and watered in the morning before you leave..Dogs usually have to go within an hour of eating or drinking so if you're feeding her and not walking her within that hour she probably just can't hold it..Even though she's only left for a long period 2 days a week,7 hr.s is a long time for any dog to hold it especially if they've been fed and watered and not let out within an hour..Even still..A dog shouldn't be crated without a bathroom break for longer then 4 hr.s because it's very difficult for them to hold it.

[Mandygirl00013]

I had thought of the boredom factor and bought her some toys that make her think, in addition to training her more. I have been doing doggie puzzles with her and she loves them.
I have been exercising her more than I used to and we go to the dog park often. The crate we put her in is large enough for her to be comfortable and turn around. She always goes to the bathroom before I leave for the day.
I'm not sure it's just the length of time because we left her recently for only 2 hours and we came back to a nightmare.
I've been trying suggestions from other husky owners and I'm not sure where to go from here.

[reeskujo]

For starters how old is she and secondly have you started training her to go potty outside?
Also if you're feeding her a lower quality of food that will cause her to have to poop a lot.

[Mandygirl00013]

She is roughly 15 months old and is housebroken. She has the occasional accident, but we trained her to ring the bell when she needs to go outside. I feed her a high quality food because she has food allergies.

[furryfriend]

It sounds like what you are doing as far as training and food, is right. I'll reiterate what others have said about exercise. Siberian Husky's need a lot of physically exerting exercise. I hope you are able to get some other advice. It has to be frustrating for both you and your dog. Good luck! Let us know what works when you figure it out.