When I first read this thread I thought you meant you were crate training using an actual crate! lol, but you actually mean a puppy pen?

I think the advice that has been offered so far is fab, so can't really offer any other advice on how to make him feel comfortable in his pen.

But I will mention this... you said you start work again in 3 - 4 weeks? and he will be on his own during the day? well, you really need to start getting him used to being on his own for short periods of time during the day. If you start being in with him pretty much all the time for the next 3 - 4 weeks... you are going to have difficulties leaving him alone when it's time for you to go back to work. He will probably whine and do what most pups do when they aren't used to being left alone.

I am sure someone with alot more experience can offer you advice on how to get him used to being alone without getting bored/stressed/upset or lonely, so to prevent seperation anxiety problems later on.

Good luck.

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I love a bit of sponge on my bob....

Hey all,

Just to keep you updated! Monty kept escapting from the play pen so now i've got him an actual crate off my friend. He goes in it to eat his meals so will continue that today and close the door when he eats his food tomorrow. Only problem is he's a slow eater and likes to eat and stop... wait... and eat again.

We will see how it goes.

It might just be that he has too much food in one go, feed him four small bowls each day around 8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm. (Divide whatever is recommended on the food package for daily requirement by 4).

You don't want to encourage this stopping and starting with eating. If the smaller portions don't help then when he next leaves his bowl unfinished simply take it away, and keep the food for the next meal, (add to it if necessary).

Don't worry he won't starve, but he will learn not to leave his bowl unfinished.

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http://dogpositivetraining.blogspot.com

"Properly trained, a man can be a dog's best friend."
Corey Ford

Persistence is the key.

I am in my 2nd week now and he goes in his crate of his own accord at night and doesn't stir all the time he is in there. He then has some exercise in the morning over our fields and goes in his crate for about another 3-6 hours without any crying at all in the daytime. We then give him loads of exercise in the afternoon when we get home.

I think the trick is to use his crate as a bed initially so that he knows he can sleep and feel comforable in there. Each time he went in there of his own accord we would shut the door but not lock it, he would nudge it open then sleep, we would shut it again.... We would also go in a different part of the house and get him used to being on his own, this process soon got him used to just like being in there on his own - locked.

Make sure he gets loads of exercise before he gets in there though!

He was a NIGHTMARE last week with one night of consistent howling, barking, and cage bashing!

Stick to it - once he is trained you will feel so proud, plus know that your house will not be chewed to bits, and defecated all over when out.

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Winston The Bulldog Pup!

Thanks for the reply.

I can't even the room without him whining and barking lol. So today is the start of leaving him in his crate alone.

We have been feeding him there and closing the door until he has finished and then taken the food away and letting him out. He's been a bit upset with that but he must learn.

I need to go back to work in 4-5 weeks so we got a bit of time each day to really get him trained up.

Wish me luck!

hi darren and good luck..i never put mia and kai's food in their crate, but thats me.their food is just by the back door,and on nice days its outside..
please keep us updated.

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my website

http://janices-toy-poodles.piczo.com

I dont feed Winston in there either.

I do give him treats in there though.

We were the same, he could be on the other side of the room, or even on the floor looking up at us on the sofa and he would cry and bark.... He just needs to know he will be OK on his own. If you think about it - the poor thing has always had some sort of contact with someone/something else 24/7 so its not going to nice being all alone!

Keep it up! Slowly does it.

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Winston The Bulldog Pup!