[yorkipower]

I agree, hang in there. Two thoughts:

1) Are you using a vari kennel or a wire crate? Some dogs feel more assured if they can see you, a wire crate, therefore is a better option. Conversely, some dogs need the security of a “cave” to get the full benefit of crate training, therefore something more enclosed than a wire crate, a vari kennel, may put him at ease. If you are using one, try the other see if the switch helps. Also, if you haven’t done this already, putting a hot water bottle and a clock or buying one of those new puppy dolls that have a heart beat and a heater, will help. Even throwing in a smelly t-shirt of your own will ease your puppy!
2) I agree with the first poster about reassuring him, although I think it might be better to try the reassurance while he is IN the crate. Try tossing him his favorite treats to him while he is IN the crate. If you are giving him kisses and hugs when he is outside the crate, you may be sending the opposite message: “the world outside the crate is better.” There’s also the danger that you could be reinforcing his fear: “it’s OK puppy, I’ll make it better.”

Our last puppy HATED her vari-kennel. She arrived from Canada via plane in it. The first few nights I tried crating her in it before bed time. By the third night of incessant whining, I warned my mother that I was so sleep deprived I was ready to commit puppy-acide. We switched to a wire crate, which I worked long and hard to desensitize her to first (putting her in for only a few minutes with the door open, rewarding her while she was in the crate then taking her out, doing it again for a little while longer, etc. working up to the point of having the door closed and my existing the room). She never grew fond of crates, but now an adult dog, we travel with her to dog shows all over the country and she does this INSIDE her crate without her rendition of “La Boheme” from the back of my SUV.