A new addition at the PorkChops homestead-- you snooze you lose KVR | Page 3 | General Homesteading Discussion | Forums

couple other points

how big is the crate? He should just have enough room to turn around, if the crate is too big add a pillow or blankets in the back to make it smaller, a dog won't go to the bathroom where it sleeps, but there will be accidents

Don't use the crate as punishment, if he has a accident, take him outside don't make him go into the crate, he will quickly associate it with a negative

to expand on that, you want the crate to be a warm inviting place, blankets and favorite toys will help

we crate for a year before we allow them out over night, even then we leave the crate out, it is the dogs safe place, kids get too rough? The pup will go hang out in his crate, heck we haven't had a crate out for layla for almost three years, but still have blankets in the corner where her crate sat, whenever she is stressed, she goes and sits in the corner

if your crate is open or vented like a carrier, put towels or blankets over it so just the front allows light, you want to create a den like feeling for the dog

amazing how quickly they learn to love what they hate so much as a pup

one other thing pork, once you get the first dog crate trained it helps with any future dogs, when we got layla after she got bigger for the larger crate we started putting the pug in with her at night, he didn't care, he was already crate trained, but it helped them bond and build a pack mentality in the "den" and keep her calmed down, they've been best buddies ever since

when we pick up the frenchie in 4 weeks, once we feel comfortable with him and pug getting along, the pug will be sleeping with him in the crate. Been trying to tell my mil to stick the puppies in a crate now to get them use to it, but she is refusing lol

yep, he is happy with that crate