My dog is a terrier mix and 1 1/2 years old, we have had him for 1month. He's a good dog who doesn't have accidents(unless you forget to take him out) and only chews his own toys. He sleeps in my room at night and never has a problem. When we leave we put him in his crate and he hates it. He always poops in it even if he poops outside before we leave. He barks the whole time also. I have done everything I could think of from feeding him in his crate,playing games with it,leaving the TV on. I even give in calming treats , and play with him outside before we go. Im so lost,I don't know what to do, should we try not putting him in it?

What was the reason for you to crate to begin with? I am a fan of crating, but only one of my dogs get crated while I am away. She tears my house apart and messes everywhere.

I suppose if you don't think he will mess or tear the house apart, it is worth a try to leave him out. You will only do it once if he does do something bad. ;)

What is in the crate with him? I have always had best results with absolutely nothing in the crate, just the bottom pan and a chew toy. Every time I leave a pillow or a blanket in there she either tears it up or pee's or poops on it. As soon as I removed all the other stuff, she stopped messing in the crate.

The dog went from a shelter to a foster home. The foster home had him in a crate while they weren't home. I kept doing it because he has never been left alone running free. We used to put the blanket in there, but stopped because they were all getting ruined. Now it just the pan and his kong and a bone. He jumps around in there so much that pan flys out from underneath even though I lock it into to place. Im afraid he will hurt himself. I know he gets up and walks around at night but he never chews anything and never has an accident.