[bld2751]

I'm a huge advocate of crate training if you can't be around your dog 24-7. The idea behind it is that dogs are den animals. And the crate is their den. If you make the crate a safe, warm, welcoming environment, they will like being there. Also, dogs do not like to eliminate where they sleep, spend time, etc. So it deters them from going potty in the crate and helps teach them bladder control.

Begin by putting some comforting things in the crate - a blanket, toy(s), maybe a shirt with your scent. But make sure it's one you don't care about in case they go potty on it! Get him interested in the crate by making him follow a toy into it. Don't close the door. Then a little while later, put him in and close the door. Stay close by. Let him know you are still there and it's ok for him to be in there. Don't let him out until he is quiet. If he whines/barks and you let him out, he will learn that that behavior gets him out.

Then slowly increase the amount of time you leave him in the crate. At first 15 minutes, then 30 minutes, then an hour. Sometimes leave the house, other times stay in. He should know that being put in the crate does not always mean you will be leaving him. Ideally you can increase the amount of time over a week or two. We had a 4 day weekend with Hercules, and he did very well with it.

One important thing to remember is not to put him in the crate as a form of punishment. He should not associate the crate with negative things.

After a while he will choose to go into the crate on his own. Like when we are eating dinner, we will let him have the living room area to himself. We keep the crate door open, and he will usually go into the crate and even fall asleep in there on his own.

We recently got a second and are doing these same things with her. She definitely whines at first, but it's important to remember not to let them out while they are whining. Then they will associate whining with getting what they want. Wait until they are quiet before you let them out.

Does this help??