if you can try and plan when you go out.... make sure he has eaten... peed... played.... pooped/peed (in that order) and then he will be empty
and tired... so he will be ready for a good nap while you are out
also at night.. when Layla was still untrusting in her crate
she wasn't allowed to have water past 7 pm... we didnt' go to bed UNTIL she had peed adn then if she cried once she got in there... i knew she was fine and would just have to cry it out. make sure he can see you when he is in your crate... Layla's is on a table next to my bed...and maybe a comfort object...a shirt that smells like you... dogs are pack animals and sleep together.... i also put a towel around her crate so she can't see around.. just out the front which is directed at me. i dont' know if you have had a dog or not before... so i'm just trying to tell you everything i have tried and that has worked.... sorry if you feel i'm patronizing you.. i'm not trying to
and also.. NEVER put him in his crate as punishment... ie. if he pees or poops in the house... his crate should be HIS place that he loves to go...