hello everybody, we got our new puppy this week i just wondered if anybody as any advice on crate training as he doesnt seem to like the crate, but i want him to sleep in there and be in the crate when we go out, all he does is scream, howl and cry  i know hes only a baby hes six weeks old, should i just let him cry,
thanks        

6 weeks is very young to get a puppy, he would still be dependant on his mum and siblings, so you have to take over and give him the attention he would get from them, he will be missing them so much. Which is why he is crying so much.

Have you tried feeding him in the crate? This works for some puppies (and older dogs)

I wouldn't let him cry as he will only hate the crate and may get stressed out every time. To start with I would leave the crate door open and just let him get used to it being there for him. Try making it a proper den (make it dark) so that he thinks it is somewhere nice to go into. Once he starts going in on his own you can start shutting him in whilst you are still in sight. Do this for a short time (if it's in the kitchen put the kettle on, if in the living room sit down, pick something up, put it down again and then open the door) Once he gets used to this you can lengthen the time he is in the crate.

I agree he is very young I wouldn't let a puppy that young just cry. Once he feels safe and secure and you make his crate seem like a nice place then he will hopefully be more relaxed about going in there.

Put him in it to feed. Then teach him to accept it. Put him in it & sit next to the crate for a minute & increase. Don't expect him to accept it fully all of a sudden!

i have been taking him to bed with me, which he loves but just wanted to know how to get him to like the crate as he gets older, whats the best age to start him in the crate

Start to feed him in it now! The earlier you start the quicker he'll get used to it. Mind you, in saying that my boy wasn't introduced to a crate until he was 3 years old. He will go and lie in it if the door is open by preference ;) He just loves his crate, even if it's not his, but my bitches one ;) My bitch, on the other hand, still gives it a wide berth...... Mind you,. I only use one in the car, and then in the house when the bitches are in season, so maybe that's why? She wants to 'play' with my boy and knows that she won't be allowed to :D

If you take him to bed with you now he will not like the crate as he gets older.  You really need to start as you mean to go on to be fair to the pup.

Could you put the crate by the side of your bed for now, cover it with a blanket leaving the front uncovered.  This can sometimes help to settle them as they don't feel so exposed.

He is very young, so a teddy or covered hot water bottle for him to snuggle up to might help.

If it is a crate with two doors open the doors coax him in playfully with a happy voice with some treats of high value such as proper sausage give him the treat in the crate add a few toys and play with him a little let him run in and out on his own then close one of the doors keep giving him encouragement ie good boy treat etc put the crate in an area where he can see you cover with a blanket put a piece of vet bed on one side and a puppy pad on the other when he is tired and getting sleepy encourage him in to the crate a hot water bottle (covered) and a piece of your unwashed clothing will comfort him let him sleep gradually over time you can as another post suggested close the door for very short periods eventually they learn its a nice place to be .
My girl double up in one of my crates out of choice ....they love 'em

never use it as a punishment