[Jasper Jax]

Ok, I've got a thread going over in the "training", but while I'm getting advice, I might as well see about our crate issue too.

Jasper is deathly afraid of the kennel. The breeder told me she did not crate train, so I know he has never been in one. We are puppy pad (soon to be puppy patch) training, but we did get a kennel for when we leave, because this little guy can and will, I'm afraid get into everything if we go to the store or something. He seems to find every cord (even though I do conceal them), and I have no doubt he would find trouble if he roamed free through the house while we are gone. So we were going to try him out and run a quick errand one day and I put him in his kennel (which he loves when the door is open) and shut the door, and he went crazy. I was so scared he was going to hurt himself that I just took him out and stayed home. Now we have to leave the house in shifts, always leaving someone with him. But obviously, at some point we are going to have to do something as a family, and I'm just wondering if the kennel is a lost cause for us, or maybe if there other things I can try.

My husband bought the kennel from Petsmart. It is not a typical hard plastic kennel, but it is canvas, and the door isn't metal, but more cloth looking, so I'm afraid he'll tear through it, or tear it enough to harm himself during his fit (I can post a picture if it will help). I am more than willing to invest in a more standard kennel, but would like to know if everyone thinks that will solve the problem.