Trouble crate training!
 

My puppy won't sleep in a crate! He would rather lie in the floor and sleep in his favorite place under the [COLOR=green ! important][COLOR=green ! important]couch[/COLOR][/COLOR]. Whenever we put him in the crate, we ignore him for as long as possible, but the whining gets so loud and taxing we end up letting him out. He doesn't roam around long though, he usually goes right back to sleep. Someone is here with him all day, everyday, so he's never alone. But he's a chewer and I'm afraid that if I leave him out, he may hurt himself whenever he wakes up. Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

maybe he is associated it will a bad place instead of a good one...have you tried an expen with the crate inside the expen with the door open? also inside the expen place down a food and water bowl, some toys and peepad if needed? inside the crate try putting the socks you wore that day or an old worn tshirt inside the crate...and slowing let him get use to to being in the expen and eventually and maybe he will take a liking to the crate.

Well, the crate has one of my boyfriend's old t-shirts and a few toys in it. Last night we put an old clock that makes an audible ticking sound next to it. It helped for a while. I didn't think about an ex-pen, but since I just bought him a new crate yesterday, it may be a while before I can get something else.

when and if you do get an expen i suggest getting the one from walmart it almost exactly like the one the sell the the petstore for a fraction of the price

Walmart.com: North State - Superyard XT Portable Playard & Gate: Gear

or this one off of ebay it is fully enclosed.

NEW PET TENT DOG PUPPY PLAYPEN EXERCISE PEN KENNEL BLUE - eBay (item 390162602295 end time Mar-02-10 10:25:05 PST)

Good advices.

Also The crate should be in your bedroom at night, when he cry, just put your finger in it don't let him out until he stop crying.

Start by putting him in the crate for a short period of time after playing with him or after a walk, when he get tired.

You can also feed him in the crate so he'll make a positive associations.

I had the same problems and fixed it with the xpen opened/connected to his sleeping den/crate. He whined and cried for a few minutes until he explored and realized he had open room and could go to sleep when he wanted to. He is 3 months today and we just started using a rascal litter pan along with a bell at the door we ring when we take him out. Little did we know that one of the cats figured this out immediately and rings the bell and just sits there crying to go out on the deck :) so far, all is well. I think he just needed to feel some freedom with his things and to know he could move around, go teetee and poo when he wanted to. I also have a favorite robe that I sacrificed in order that he has my smell with him when I am at work. I wear it each morning when we are on the couch or I am doing my morning routine. I cut it in a square and placed it in his bed. Working very well so far. The second I come home, though, he wants out. I don't make a fus, just take him out of the pen, we walk to the door, go walking for a few minutes outside to pee and poo and I bring him in and feed him in the pen. He is starting to associate it with a safe spot.

I tried getting him to nap inside, he just won't do it. He slept in it last night, but not before he cried for half an hour. And when I took him out this morning at 7 for his 2nd potty break, (his first was at 4am), he was shaking like a leaf. Its by no means cold in my apartment, the heat is always on. And he seems to stop shaking after he's been let out. He's a very young puppy at 7wks, so I thought maybe he was just too little to sleep in such a confined place.

that might be the problem...he was taking from his mom and siblings way to young...he is scared for life of him....can you put the crate on a chair that is the same level as your bed so that he can see you?

I might have to try the chair suggestion. If he's not asleep under the couch, he's asleep right next to my feet... and I better not move too much either, or he gets annoyed :) It's so sweet, but I know its not right. I don't want him to be ultra-spoiled.

Thanks for the help, ladies! Keep the suggestions coming, I'm willing to try anything.