I have several friends who raised puppies and used crates, and I was impressed how their dogs were happy to go in their crates at night or at times when they needed to be out of the way. I tried for nearly 3 weeks to crate train Susie...she wanted no part of it. Cried in it all the time. With a small dog it finally didn’t seem to be that big of an issue, so I gave up. With a big dog in the house with children, I think a crate is a great thing, so I hope he adjusts.
Becky
Well, I think being crated when there is playing and fun going on will always be hard, he may never like that.
I crated Gidget at night until she was old enough to be potty trained, and whenever she was left alone in the house till she was nearly two. She was OK with it, but as a puppy I gave her things in there, I fed her all her meals in there, and when I was leaving her for awhile I gave her a busy toy... either a kong with peanut butter inside some other kind of chew toy thing... rawhide or something.
This pup is young to be made to sleep alone. He might cope better at 12 weeks than 6. I’d put him in your little crate and put it where he can see them at night... see if that helps.
Also... the crate should never be punishment. I think the key is to put him in there tired... play hard then put him in there with something to chew on?
I dunno. Maybe the others have better suggestions. Mine all ended up in bed with me.