Difficulty with crate training and separation anxiety

Question
We have a 13-week old boxer puppy, who we brought home at 8 weeks old.  We have been crate training from day 1, but he is still barking incessantly when we put him in his crate, and then periodically at night.  For example, last night, he had his last potty break at approximately 1:30am and was put in his kennel with treats, comfy bedding, and toys.  He did not bark initially, but at 4:00am he started, and continued on and off until I went downstairs at 6:00am (the usual time).  He did not wet in his kennel, so I suspect he just wanted out.  I hesitate to go downstairs and let him out in the middle of the night when I know he can hold his bladder because 1) I don't want him getting used to that, and 2) he'll continue to bark when I put him back in his crate.  So are we doing the right thing by not doing anything, and letting him wear himself out?  I expected by this time that he would be more comfortable with his kennel and view it as "his room", our other dogs in the past (not Boxers) were not nearly as difficult.  Ultimately, once he's house-broken and isn't chewing everything in sight, we plan to let him be out in the house at night, preferably on a comfy bed on the floor of our bedroom or one of our kids.  But for now, he obviously cannot be unattended for any amount of time.  Also, we have a wonderful fenced yard, surrounded by nice neighbor dogs, and lots of other activity that goes on frequently, but our Boxer constantly cries, barks, and scratches at the door to come in.  If we leave him gated in the kitchen and go about our business in the house, he cries, barks, howls and tries to climb out.  It's like he has no sense of independence and being away from us, yet we have encouraged him to be independent from the start.  Is this normal for a Boxer puppy of his age, or do you think we have a dog that is going to continue to be like this and possibly get worse in the future?  Do you have any suggestions for how best to deal with this type of behavior?

Answer
First, a puppy that young cannot hold his bladder that long. You are expecting too much from a puppy.

Crate training is often practiced with new puppies as a method of house-training.

Puppies naturally do not want to dirty the place where they sleep (but they will if necessary), so they will try as much as possible to hold it while they are in their crate.

----------->Puppies can not control their bladders for long:   about one hour for every month of age. <------------------

Owners of young dogs (puppies) will have to continue to take the puppy outside frequently.

Crating:  health risks can occur by restricting and preventing proper air-flow and ventilation. This is of particular concern to domestic pets of a Brachycephalic breed: BOXER; short nose-muzzle, requiring extra room due to the high incidence of death in these pet transports/crates/cages. Due to Boxer's shortened airways and limited ability to cool themselves through panting, overheating while crated, poses a risk to the health of such breeds-- and can cause death. (Crates are not universally accepted as a positive method of dog training.)

His barking is not only that-- but being alone away from everyone (family).

Boxers are very family-oriented and social and feel abandoned when left alone away from everyone.

When you crate him at night when sleeping-- place it in your bedroom near you. He needs to be in the same room as family-- not alone.

Do not leave him in the crate for longer than he can hold his bladder. If you are not going to get up during the night to take him out- or clean up after him (a bigger crate allows him to urinate and defecate in a corner away from his sleeping spots when left in too long-- then create a puppy-proofed room for him-- or consider one of the newer, portable pens ( http://www.dog.com/item/iris-plastic-pet-exercise-pen-63-x-63-x-34/192193/) offered in many sizes and shapes (can remove a section and re-shape) that you can set up anywhere in the house and relocate at night in your bedroom and even take outside or traveling.

Try a Iris pen mentioned above and relocating it to your bedroom at night and relocate in family activity area during day and evening-- and take him outside on a regular basis.

Join:

http://boxerworld.com
http://boxerforum.com

And go into the forum(s) and read about Boxers' caring for them, health, food, allergies, characteristics, personality, etc. EVERYTHING.

Other Boxer owners post and post problems and solutions and info.

Learn he breed. Post if necessary. You will get great Boxer advice.