CRATE HELP! Seperation Anxiety?

[Lindsay n Archie]

My puppy- 11.5 weeks, HATES his crate.  Although we are starting to think he hates being alone altogether. He wont be outside alone (we tried just to see) and will follow us around the house wherever we go (at this point however we are always watching his every move anyways).... BUT the problem is the crate. I have to FORCE him in there. He tries escaping every way possible. I put really fun treats and different kona toys in there, but he pushes it to the other side (there is a divider in there) and wont even touch it. Both my boyfriend and I work during the day, and I go home at lunch to take him out.  At night, he is a little better, he sleeps in it right next to our bed. He will bark at night for a few minutes and then go to sleep. But i think its because we are right there. During the day though, I have to shove him in.  I know this probably isnt the best, but I have to get to work. I dont know what to do. I just got back from lunch and it was even worse.  He literally barks the ENTIRE day. He did lick the Kona toy, but didnt chew it, just licked the end pumpkin off  it not even the middle.  Im assuming this really is not normal.... Should I make it bigger, move the divider? He pees outside, but only because we take him out all the time. He sort of goes to the back door when he has to go, or sniffs around and we take him out. So i dont know if I make the crate too big he will pee in it. He obviously would injure himself if we let him around the house all day, so that isnt an option either. And he can jump/ climb gates, so leaving him in the kitchen with gates isnt an option either.  I could put him in an empty bedroom , which has carpet, so I dont think he would learn to be potty trained.... And i think its not just the crate, but when he is away from us. ANY suggestions would be so helpful.. Has anyone had any experiences like this before?

[Mindy Rapp]

Do you have a bed or pillow in the crate for your puppies?  I have put pilows in the crate for Doodle and she rips all the stuffing out of them.  She has destroyed 2 bed pillows and 1 couch pillow.  She even destroyed one that was on top of her crate.  I also put a towel over her crate as a crate cover and she pulled that down into the crate and chewed that up.  Do they need pillows or cushions in there or are they fine without them?  She is about 13-15 weeks old and stays in the crate most of the day while I'm at work.  She has the large 42" crate with no divider.

[Julie Patterson]

My doodle is 11 weeks and she does not like her crate either, when we leave she seems fine I stood out on front porch and she was quiet but if I am in the house she cries and barks, I am afraid to leave her in to sleep but she is so busy at night.