Are you home during the day? If you are, try putting him in the crate for an hour or so during the day, working up to a couple hours or so. That way he gets used to the crate as a safe a good place to be. break up some treats or food and sprinkle them in the crate (leave the door open) and let him become familiar with the crate during the day. You can even spread some peanut butter or liverwurst on the sides of the crate (if it's not a cage crate) and let him lick the sides. Anything to convince him the crate is a "good" thing.
If you have a wire crate, try covering the crate with a towel or blanket so that he feels safe a secure at night. Try putting a shirt that you have worn all day in there at night so that he gets your scent while he sleeps.
Most importantly (only if you don't want him sleeping with you until he is potty trained) DON'T cave. If he whines get up and take him out to potty and right back in the crate. No conversation (other than to state the demand "go potty"). If he whines right after he goes potty, ignor him. Do not reward his crying and whining by taking him out of the crate. You may need to practice this during the day. Reward him, when he is quiet in the crate. In the begining it may have to be for the 1st minute or 2 and work your way up to 5 - 10 minutes of quiet. Some dogs take to their crate naturally and some you just have to train.
But anything you do at this point is a training method. So watch yourself and make sure you are training him for the good behaviors and not the bad. |