We got Lexi last week. She is 15 weeks old. She was shipped to us in the plastic "pet taxi", and she seemed to be okay with it. It was about an hour ride home from the airport, and she didn't bark or cry, so maybe that was the first big thing that helped.
I did put her in there the first night, and went up to my room. While watching TV in bed, after a little while, she started to cry and bark. I went down and lay on the floor next to her for a few minutes, and she quieted right down. I went back to my room, and she started up again. I went back and lay down by her crate. I put two fingers through the openings in the door for a few minutes. Then I took my fingers out, but stayed there. She seemed to be okay just knowing I was there. But I was thinking I wouldn't get a very good sleep on the hard kitchen floor! I figured if she thought I was there, maybe it was because she smelled me. So I left my bathrobe right in front of her crate door and (quietly!) walked away. She didn't make a sound any more. Every time I put her in the, crate, during the day or at night, I put my bathrobe or nightgown right in front of the door.
During the day, she will sometimes cry or bark. Not knowing if she wanted to get out, or if she had to GO OUT, I would wait for a few seconds of silence, take her out, walk her (she never had to go), and put her back in. She was fine then. Every night, she has been quiet, and sleeping through. I started putting a small piece of treat in her "room" so she would see it as a good place. Lexi would start to go in on her own, at first, just in and out, but gradually, she would stay in longer, and even lay down and nap. Three nights ago, she started going in on her own at around her bedtime, and staying there. After about 15 minutes, I would say goodnight, shut the door, and head off to bed.
She always has about 2 toys in there with her.
Good luck! If you keep it up, you might see some changes very soon.
