Day Time crating questions

[Amy & Albee]

Albee is 7.5 weeks old and we're working on staying in his crate during the day, up to 2 hours. I go back to work part time next week and I was hoping we could make progress faster than we have been! 

We wake up at about 6:30 and the cycle goes something like this: 

*Eat - Play - 5-10 min of training - Hang out (computer time for me and chew time for him) - all potty breaks are taken when needed- as in.. all the time :)

The crate is in our bedroom. Small enough for him to turn around - 3 sides covered - snuggle puppy - litter scented towel - crate was introduced with high value treats, he also eats in there sometimes. 

1. I'm trying to build up crate time by small intervals of time. I never take him out when he's crying, but how does he successfully learn that crying doesn't do anything? (for instance, he is clearly crying after 5 minutes - so when we're trying to work up to 5 minutes, I feel like even entering the room while he's crying is telling him that crying is what brought me in there... ) Help! 

2. As hard enough as it is to ignore his crying - how do I make sure he doesn't need to go to the bathroom? Do you always work on crate training right after potty breaks? 

**Any tips for a routine to follow would greatly help! LIke, how many times should we practice crate training a day? (I don't want him to hate his crate!) Should his crate be completely covered? Should we only work on the training when he's exhausted? 

Thanks for your time =) I've read through many discussions, most of which it seems like the dog is a little older or it's relating to night time!

[Barbara]

I have a 12 week old goldendoodle and I cover all sides of the crate lift up front so there is enough air flow for her but that way she does not know if you are in room or not I did and do for nights but now when I leave her daytime I do not cover crate and she does great good luck

[Andrea]

I have this problem with Archie all the time. 50% of the time, he'll give a bark and start crying and if we ignore him, he goes pee in his crate (even though we may have just taken him out half an hour ago). Other times, we'll take him out and he just wants to play and doesn't have to go. I always feel like it's a no-win! (sorry my response probably didn't help but at least you know you're not the only one!)

[Debbie and Belle]

For Belle, taking her out during barking made things worse very quickly. She had been doing very well adjusting to her routine for weekdays vs. weekends (she is in her crate more on weekdays), and eventually stopped barking in the crate. One of my kids I think began taking her out lots of extra times after school because she was barking in her crate, and immediately she started barking everytime we put her in the crate during the day. I feel like we are starting all over again. You have a good question in asking how do you know when the puppy has to go to the bathroom or just doesn't want to be in the crate right then. I had originally learned two things - always take the puppy out to go potty right before putting her in the crate and never take her out of the crate while she is barking (wait until there is a break in the barking). So I am starting again with these ideas and am hoping they work again as they did before.

I also have the crate in my bedroom, but it is not covered because it is the plastic rather then metal type of crate. She can see out of course, but I think when we are in the room it disturbs her sleep less. I bring the crate downstairs on the main floor when we are there, with the door open, so she can go in if she wants. I do put a nylabone and her "blankie" in it (blankie was provided by the breeder which originally had the scent of her litter mates). We have since washed blanke several times, but she still loves it anyway. We don't use the crate "bed" because she chews it. The trainer suggested using a kong filled with something she loves for when you are away and she is in the crate, so there is something she can get excited about. I haven't had to do this yet, because before a few days ago Belle really liked her crate.