| Crate training update + Questions?
Hi everyone, so for several weeks now, I've been getting our 6 month old puppy crate training.
With our puppy the purpose of crate training is more for separation anxiety/ safety training issues more than house training.
In fact, I'm blessed to be able to devote (a ridiculously) large amount of time to the puppy right now, so my primary concern is that he becomes overly agitated when he's forced to be "alone." I want to be able to leave him reasonably alone without him freaking out.
His most common reaction to being isolated is to bark, cry, and physically try to jump, claw his way to "freedom." He also works himself into a frenzy so much that he will reliably pee and poop. Under longer situations if it goes for long enough, he'll typically throw up for good measure. This sequence will occur whether he is in a crate, restrained on a leash, or restrained in a pen.
I've VERY carefully acclimated him to the crate we got him. He willingly goes into and out of the crate by himself when its open to sleep. But he rarely opts to just go into the crate to "hang out" as he's far more stimulated by people or other things.
I really would like to train him to simply accept the crate when its time to go in so that I can go to the store or work around the house etc.
I would prefer not to employ methods that involve just putting him in there to scream his head off while I ignore him until he gets used to it. The reason is, the police have already been called on our house, we don't know who complained and we are trying not to violate the noise ordinance.
When I put him in the crate with treats or a kong, he's fixated so much on the treats that he doesn't know where the heck he is... he doesn't look at me, the crate, doesn't respond to his name, but when the treat is gone, he looks around and begins his sequence of crying/barking.
Also, unless there is something really edible inside the crate, he pays ZERO attention to any toys inside the crate when I close the door. He'll literally sit at the door of the crate and cry ignoring ALL toys. BUT if the door is open and if I sit there with him, he becomes very calm and he'll sit and play with his toys... the only difference being that he's calm.
Are there some other behavioral tricks and methods for me to really get him to visualize the situation and become truly comfortable with being in his own "world" instead of being so fixated on what's outside the crate and who is there and who isn't? I just want him to focus his attention on his toys to relieve his stress and calmly napping or waiting, not just eating a treat for 5 mins, and then panicking madly for the remaining time. | 
