We got our puppy a few days ago, and the 1st time in his crate was the first night home. We did not put in our room as my husband works and needs to get his sleep. We put the crate in a room on the main floor, and I slept in the room next to it so I could hear him during the night. I did not treat him into the crate the first night and he did not seem to mind when I put him in it. The next day, though, he wanted nothing to do with it...even when enticed w/ treats. I have tried to work w/ him the last two days to entice w/ treats, but no success. Although I do not work currently, we need to crate him so I can take a shower, and go run errands and get my boys from school. Any suggestions? Also, he has only popped in there each night, and I have been getting up w/ him every 3 hours during the nite. He will be seven weeks old on Friday.

I would feed him in his crate each meal time.
Put his toys in the crate so if he wants to play he has to go in and get one.
And whenever he falls asleep during the day gently lift him and put him in the crate.
This way he'll get used to the crate being a good place to be.
This link might be useful as well Dog Crate Training

Welcome to Pet forums, what breed of dog have you got?
Puppies are great fun but loads of hard work!!!

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A dog Possesses Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

Really his is to young to have left the litter! he should really still be with his litter brothers and sisters!!! it is pretty obvious that the poor little fellow is going to be frightened and is going to want to be around you - he now sees your human family as his litter!!! you need to maintain a safe haven for him regarding the crate! do not force him in (not that you are not) try and make it a warm welcoming place that he chooses to go into by himself!!!
You will get there - just give him a little more time
DT

He is golden retriever. We just moved the crate to the kitchen this afternoon so he could use to seeing it and being around it during the day (it was a seperate room off the kitchen). I like the idea of putting his toys in there so he has to go in the crate to get them. I have tried to put him in there when he falls asleep, but he wakes up and gets out right away (or whines/cries immediately if I close the door).

I have heard about using a kong at night...your thoughts.

I wouldn't shut the door during the day just put him in and if he comes out and lies down somewhere else just keep putting him back.

I personally wouldn't give him a stuffed kong during the night, he'll probably just need the loo more. I would do the stuffed Kong during the day or just wipe a little marmite, peanut butter or cream cheese around the inside for him to lick out.

I also used to move the crate from room to room when mine were pups so they got used to having the crate there and that it was for them to sleep in, during the day it was in the lounge and at night in our bedroom. now they are permanently in the lounge.

As DT said he is very young and will be a little scared to be on his own. A nice sweaty t-shirt of your would be nice for him to snuggle up with and I know some members recommend a well wrapped hot water bottle and ticking clock.

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A dog Possesses Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

Hi there,

Having recently been through what you are going through, I can sympathise! We've had our cocker pup a week and a half and she didn't like her crate at first but now she is going in there herself at night. We put the crate in the living room where we relax and watch the telly. She loves to be around us (still misses her litter mates I'm sure) and will ask to be let on the sofa with us. We let her up as long as she askes nicely and doesn't bite or chew us when she's there, or it's straight down on the floor again.

We make sure she is tired out at night with lots of playing and that she has a a chance to toilet right before she goes to bed.

When she falls asleep on our lap, we gently move her to the crate, which isn't very far, and don't fuss her, just place her gently in the crate, say "good girl" very softly and move back to the sofa quietly, leaving the door open. If she wakes up and comes out of the crate, we take her into the garden for a toilet break, then it's back to the crate. If she wakes up in the crate in the middle of the night and whines, I take her out. If she doesn't toilet then she goes straight back to the crate and I ignore her cries.

It took a few days to get her into the routine but she now goes to sleep in the crate with only a little whining and I know what times of the night she needs to be up to toilet.

Hope some of this is helpful at least, every pup is different and you'll have to work out a routine that everyone can stick to - I think it's important to be consistent especially in the early days. I'm not the expert on all things puppy by any means, just thought it might help to tell you of our experiences as I'm only about two weeks ahead of you in experience!

We crate trained our 1st girl but I cant remember how we did it. We havent crated our second but we did use somethig called a DAP plug, I think you can also buy spray, which gives off a nursing dogs pheromones, which calms the dog and makes him feel more secure. The plug is around £26 from the vets, I did nearly fall through the floor when they told me how much it was, but it seemed to do the trick. We also use it on bonfire night and for anticipated changes it may also help for any kind of separation anxiety.

It may help out in your situation as he is very young still.

Last nite went better for Wrigley (and me). He out to relieve himself at 10, then my husband took him to the crate (his first time putting him in there). Wrigley whined for about 5-6 minutes. He got up at 12:30 for potty break and did both outside and whined about 5 minutes when placed back into his crate; he got up at 4:00 for another potty break (only pee this time) and whined 5 minutes when back in the crate; he got up at 5:30 and I thought maybe he had to go poo so I got up w/ him and let him out but he did not do anything. He wanted attention so I will try not to get up w/ him again. This morning I put the crate in the kitchen area where we are at during day during potty training. I put all of his toys in there and bones. I have tried to put him in already when he went down for a cat nap, but he kept getting out. I will try to treat him in later this morning.

Also, does anyone know how much a 7-week old Golden should be eating at each of his three meals? How much water intake during the day?