Hi! Well we've crated Ginger since day one, and did use it for potty training. She's very comfortable in her crate and even goes in their on her own when she's tired, when I vacuum, or when it's thundering. The dog walker who comes in on days when I'm gone for several hours says that she wants back in her crate right away. When she sees me put her big brother, the beagle-mix in his "room" (the tiled mud room and kitchen) and put up the gate, she usually runs right to her crate and is waiting inside for her treat. (that's the routine when I'm getting ready to leave for awhile)
I didn't do anything special to train her, I just always followed the same routine. In the beginning, she cried when she was in her crate (since I used it for pt she was on a really tight schedule, and even had crate time when I was here), but once she figured out I wasn't going to get her (yes I had to leave the room), she learned to settle down.
Your little one will get it. Don't feel guilty. The crate is a safe place for him when you are not there. |