Destructive behavior

Question
We adopted a stray 1 1/2 yr old male Husky from the humane society 2 weeks ago and he is wonderful--except for his destructiveness when we are away. We also have a 4 yr old female Keeshond who is confined to our bathroom while we are away with no problems at all. We kennel him when we are gone to try to provide a secure/safe place for him since this home is still new to him but he somehow manages to slide the plastic bottom completely out of his crate to get to the wire bottom. He has bent the floor bars upward and also bent the bars under the door in his attepmt to escape. He went so far last Sunday as to chew on the bars under the door so much that it made his gum bleed. Tonight we returned home to find that he had destroyed the plastic bottom. One corner and part of the side, was broken and in multuple pieces. In this process, he also broke his upper left K9 tooth in half. The inner part is not exposed so I think my vet can grind it smooth or fix it somehow without pulling it. I tried giving him 1 or 2 toys while he was kenneled but he does not really care for toys yet. We think he may have been mistreated in his previous home and does not know how to play but is good with our other dog. We do not know what else we can do to curb this behavior. BTW, we do not scold him for this behavior in case you are curious about that. We are afraid to leave him loose in any part of the house for fear of him destroying our belongings or getting too rough with our Keeshond and hurting her--I don't think he knows his own strength yet.

Any help you could offer will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance,
Brianne

Answer
It sounds like you are really doing the initial right things - keeping him in his crate (Huskies do play very rough with other dogs), giving him a few toys, not scolding him, etc.  The only remaining question I can think of is what else do you use the crate for?  Does he get fed in the crate?  Take naps in it, etc?  How does he do in the crate during those times?

If you are not using it for other activities, that would be the main suggestion, give him a good experience in it when you are there . . . it might help.  Email me back and let me know those answers and I might be able to help direct to the right solution.