Ok I've posted before with crate problems, I think I've made some very small progress....but I need some encouragement. Oggie is 17 weeks and with me all day, and he sleeps like a baby on my bedroom floor on his dog bed, so he only needs to be crated when I go out. Since I read you don't want to just crate them when you are gone, I started by crating him while I was at home cleaning or taking a shower. He'd bark like crazy the whole time but he survived. I just didn't give in. Last week I started by going out for an hour every day and leaving him in the crate. He'd usually be barking when I got back but not always. He'd never be sleeping though, and seemed very anxious. He's been very good with potty training and I finally needed a night out (he's spoiled because he's always with me) so I went to a family party on Sunday and was gone for 3 hours. Well I came back and he had crapped in the crate and tore off the sheet that covers the crate and generally just looked a mess. Now other than the cleaning, I guess it's not the end of the world, he didn't hurt himself. But I'm surprised he eliminated in the crate. He normally doesn't do this and I had brought him out before I left, and I had exercised him pretty heavily to tire him out. It seems he just can't go to sleep in the crate comfortably, and he can't be left for more than hour or two. I don't reward him when he whines, and I don't make a big deal when I come home. What am I doing here? Should I just keep doing what I'm doing, going out a little longer every day while periodically crating him when I'm home? I love the guy but I really feel like I can't leave my own house.