Crate Training 8 week old puppy

[Glenda & Lizzy Lu]

How often during the day do I urge Maggie Mae into her crate and how long do I keep her in it each time? Do I close the door each time? I am leaving the crate door open at all times to give her access and feeding her in the crate.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I don't think you need to urge her into it.  If she is eating in it and sleeping in it and has access to it during the day I think that is fine.

[Glenda & Lizzy Lu]

She sleeps with us at night. I placed a shower curtain on the bed and a sheet over that. Has worked great. Not one accident, no crying and she usually begins to fidget about 2:30 and I take her out. The past two nights she has slept all night until 5:15 am.But i certainly need to crate train her for daytime reasons. So afraid I am doing it wrong. She throws a fit. I wait until she gets quiet before letting her out and reward her with a treat.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Personally, I don't think there is any wrong or right way and if you want to let her sleep with you, go for it. Just know it is hard to break this habit if you ever decide you don't want her in bed with you. I would crate her a bit each day and leave the house. I always put a treat in the crate, turned on a TV, and a fan to mute outside noises. Don't make a fuss when she goes in or comes out. I always said something like "crate", put in a treat,,,Kong with peanut butter...shut the door and left. When I came home, I just opened the crate and immediately took them out to potty. Again, no fuss! You are doing the right thing by letting her get quiet before letting her out. I also used a Snuggle Puppy in the crate with both dogs, but made sure they weren't chewing it or destroying it. Good luck! After about a year, I stopped crating the dogs entirely when we left and they were fine. Vern would still go into his crate and sleep in it from time to time. Fudge never did. 

As to how often, I only did it when I left the house or needed a break from the puppy biting. I didn't really schedule crate time.