Puppy *hates* the crate...

Question
Hi. As of today, I have an eight week old lab. I picked up a large plastic crate for him before I picked up the poochie, intending to crate train him. I subdivided the crate to give him just enough room to turn around, stand up, etc. I also put a couple of chew toys in there and even a towel that had been rubbed on his mother (hoping her scent would comfort him).

Well, this is my first day with him. I had to go to the store so I put him in his crate. Once the gate was closed he went absolutely ballistic, screaming and howling (really quite piercing, actually) and clawing at the gate and literally climbing the walls of the thing. I resisted the urge to let him out, but sat in the next room watching him from a chair (in his view) not ten feet away.

Regardless of how close I was to the crate, or whether or not I was looking at him, he would not stop howling and clawing. I couldn't let him out, though, even though it was breaking my heart to listen to him. After five minutes of listening to it, I left his view and went out to the store anyway, hoping he'd settle down.

When I got back fifteen minutes later, I could still hear him howling and screaming from outside the house. I went in and went up to him, but didn't open the gate. I poked my finger through the gate to try to comfort him without opening it, but he kept on howling and climbing and clawing.

Eventually, after another ten minutes, he lay down , whimpering quietly. For a moment, he stopped completely, so I opened the gate and let him out, saying "Good boy!" After continuing to whimper even after I let him out, he eventually fell asleep next to his food dish, which is the point I'm at now as I write this.

Before I got him, this dog was raised outside on a patio, on concrete. He spent most of his puppyhood in a crate (with no gate on it) along with the rest of his siblings. He has a predilection for concrete and seems to find carpets alien and uncomfortable (which is good, I suppose) so he stays on the hardwood floor and rarely ventures out of the dining room unless well-coaxed. I have been regularly carrying him to the dog run out back so he can pee, since he thus far hates having a leash attached to his collar.

I read an answer you provided to someone else regarding a dog that hates its crate, but the dog only whined when there were no people around. My dog whines non-stop the moment the gate is shut, regardless of whether or not people are in view.

How do I deal with this situation? I'm tempted to just carry him upstairs to my bedroom with me and let him sleep on the floor. If he has an accident while I'm asleep, I'd just have to clean it up in the morning (once puppy is out of the room).

The ground in my dog run is all concrete with stones at one end. There's also a doggy door that leads into the garage. My original plan was for the dog to be an inside dog, and I would only leave him in the garage when I had to go out (when he was old enough - I planned to use the crate indoors until then). Should I instead just abandon the crate and leave him in the garage when I have to go out? Help!

Answer
Darren. You are doing everything right. believe me..the dog will make a ton of noise and it may take a month! (i know because my 8 week old puppy took that long..lol). HOwever, if you give in that will not be a good lesson. Just give it some time, the worst that can happen is that he will lose his voice. I would tell you to try another method...spray him with water when he yells and say "NO" at the same time..and when he stops..tell him good puppy, but i dont think we have gotten to that pt of need yet. You can use this method if he keeps you awake at night, but otherwise do what you are doing for a couple of weeks and just do not use the crate as a punishment. You will be better off in the end if you can get him used to it. good luck
nancy