Perhaps you should start from scratch with your crate training. Here's what I recommend for crate-training puppies... it should work for your dog, as well...
Make sure the crate is big enough for your dog to be able to stand up, turn around, and lie on his side—but not so big that it gives him room to pee or poop in there without lying in it. Line the crate with a towel you’ve used or a t-shirt you’ve worn (so your scent is on it). Make the crate comfortable for your dog.
Place the crate in a quiet area, away from distractions (not too close to a window or in a high traffic area of your house), but not away from his “pack” (you and your family).
Before confining your dog to his crate, you first need to teach him to enjoy being in it. Stop feeding him from his bowl; feed him only in his crate.
Say “crate” and toss a few treats into the crate and see if he goes in to get them. Praise him if he goes inside. If he doesn’t go inside, put the treats on the lip/entrance of the crate, instead.
Gradually move treats farther into the crate until he goes all the way inside to get them. Do not close the door; let him go in and out as he pleases.
Make it a fun game by tossing treats into the crate a few times in a row, off and on throughout the day. Say “crate” whenever you want him to go in, and praise him when he does.
After he appears comfortable with the crate and eagerly runs in to get the treats, shut the door for a second after he goes in… then open it and let him out. Do that a few times. Then try shutting the door and leaving it shut as you feed him a few treats through the door. Then let him out.
The next step is to stuff a hollow chew toy (such as a Kong®) with something delicious. Let your dog sniff the stuffed chew toy and then place it in the crate. Shut the door with your dog
on the outside. Usually it takes just a few seconds for your dog to beg you to open the door and let him inside. Say “crate,” let him into the crate, praise him for going inside, and shut the door. Once he’s busy licking the treat out of the chew toy, walk away. Return before he finishes licking all the goodies out of the toy, and open the door. Don’t let him take the chew toy out of the crate; take it from him.
Next, tie the freshly stuffed chew toy to the inside of the crate and leave the door open. Your dog can then choose whether he wants to remain outside or go into his crate and start licking the treat from his chew toy.
Most dogs choose to rest happily inside the crate and work on the stuffed chew toy. He may even fall asleep in there when he’s done. Close the door.
With several instances of this pre-conditioning, some dogs will quickly accept being confined in their crate at night; others will whine or bark like mad to be let out. Sometimes putting a cover over the crate will help your dog to settle down and go to sleep.
Ignore a dog's immediate whining and barking to be let out, otherwise you’ll teach him that whining and barking is the key to getting what he wants (very bad idea). Most dogs will settle down after a few minutes and go to sleep.
If he starts whining after being quiet for a while, he may need to go potty. You should take him outside, but
don’t let him out of the crate as he’s whining. Wait a moment to see if his whining pauses, and then quickly open the door and take him outside. If he doesn’t pause on his own, make some sort of noise that will cause him to stop whining and listen. Then get him out right away before he starts whining again.
Do not use the crate as “punishment.” If you scold your dog and then lock him in the crate, he’ll associate the crate with being punished. You want him to think of his crate as his comfortable den—not a jail cell.
Getting your dog used to being in the crate
while you're home is important in your case, as he's already associating the crate with being left alone.
Patience and persistence are the keys!
~~~~~~~~~~
Diogi
"A Trained Mutt is a Happy Mutt!"
My Dog will not go back in his Crate
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