hello we have a 10 week old puppy the problem is we cant get him use to a crate, if we put him in it just to nip upstairs or in another room (this is for is own safety so we know what he is doing) he goes mad howling constantly, i just wondered if anyone has any tips we do feed him in the crate and he does go in now and again when the door is left open, we dont crate him at night we take him to bed but i would like to try crating him at night but dont think i can put up with the howling as it is really bad,  

Hi jayj,

Firstly, feed ALL meals in the crate with the door closed over while eating and re-open when finished.  During the course of the day give the puppy treats thrown into the crate (don't worry if he just goes in to collect them and brings them out, as initially all you're aiming for the association with a crate is to have absolutely NO adverse /negative associations).  When the puppy is sleeping or almost asleep, lift him gently into the crate.

In the evening, while you're watching TV or whatever, make the crate as den like as possible - cover over with a blanket or duvet so that all three sides and roof are filled in and only the entrance door and panel are open.  Put something in the crate that smells strongly of you such as a sweater, or a tee-shirt etc. and give the puppy in a toy plus his evening meals.

When you're going to bed IME it is better to put the puppy in the crate and have it near your bed if that is where you intend for him to continue sleeping.  If you decide he would be better downstairs or on the landing for example, you can gradually move the crate out of the bedroom or alternatively sleep downstairs on the sofa for a few nights until he finds the crate to be his preferred place/sanctuary.  I'd try and develop a routine of say last time out for a wee before retiring around midnight, pop puppy into crate with his toy, your item of clothing and a safe chew and then lights out.  Get up around 4-5 hours later, preferably before he wakes first, and take him back out for the toilet - no fuss, just a loo stop and back into his nice snug crate.

Never use the crate as a form of punishment - he should grow to see it as his personal safe haven when you're not around so positive experiences are essential :)

If you follow the above steps carefully and patiently he should quite quickly adapt to the crate so that you can have a little peace of mind during absences or over night that he can't hurt himself chewing wires for example.  IMO pups should never be allowed to howl or become distressed, with or without a crate, and if crate training (or any overnight training even without a crate) is done properly and consistently then the puppy wont get distressed in the first place :)

HTH, good luck Teri

thanks for your reply the crate is covered with a blanket apart from the doors, we have put him in the crate when he falls a sleep, but as soon as we move out of the room he starts crying and howling should we just let him cry for a bit

I personally wouldn't let him cry in the crate because that could go on to be a direct association of the crate being what's upsetting him rather than he's being left for a few minutes :)

Give him something to work his mind on a little while he is left briefly - perhaps a kong or treatball filled with extra specially tasty things or even just something like cream cheese.  Hopefully he'll barely notice you have left him if he has something to do which has the reward of being particularly tasty too (keep the "reward" type foods/treats/toys specifically for these situations)

My cocker spaniel would not ever except the crate as a puppy, and believe me we tried everything in the book, other dogs had been no problem whatsoever but she hated it. I gave up, it became distressing for her to go near it even though she had never been left in it or had a bad experience, she just didnt like it so i stopeed trying not every dog will except a crate. however when she was one ish i moved her to turkey which she needed to crated (travel container)for, she was older and braver and i just left this crate in the room with the top section off so it was just a high sided tray she took straight to it she loved it and wouldnt let the other dog near it. we used to hide treats in her blanket in the crate. then after a few weeks we put the top on and left the door off we never tried to get her in she just went in again a few weeks later we put door on , then yes you guessed it we closed the door. she couldnt care less and ended loving this crate carrier. Why dont you try a card board box first so she gets used to high sides without a top then move on it may take a while but its an option.

good luck, ps my dog still love her crate 3 years on although there is no door she just uses it as a bed.

Our first girl never grew to like her crate and Oban seemed to not either, though neither howled in protest.  They just did not use it willingly.  Inadvertently we have found the way to help Oban actually choose the crate himself.  Against all advice we put a small mat in it for a long car trip to prevent his sliding around on the slippery bottom and to keep it a bit warmer.   We watched carefully to be sure he didn't chew it and swallow bits and he didn't.  The mat has done the trick.  It's still in there and he goes to his crate for a snooze on his own.  I guess the bottom was cold and slippery before.