We've been crate training our 8-week old Brittany, Charlie, for the entire week we've had him. The shrieking and wailing continues (and continues...), but my question is this:

Once he stops screaming, when is it safe to go take him out of the crate to take him out? 1 minute? 5 minutes?

We want to make sure he learns that we ignore the screams, so how long before he forgets that he was screaming? We are paranoid about doing the wrong thing and reinforcing the screaming! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Since puppies have spent their entire lives surrounded by, among, on top of, with, all their littermates and mom, it can be HUGELY traumatic when they are separated from all that and go to their new homes. The NATURAL thing is to stay WITH their 'pack'. And the way that pups 'find' their pack when separated is by barking/whining/screaming(?).

I crate train but have the crates in the room I am in. This means the family room if I have to temporarily crate them there, or in the bedroom at night, right beside the bed . That way I can put my hand in the crate to reassure them. Or a sharp rap on the top of the crate to 'correct' for the noise (usually used on older pups though).

I don't use the crate much when I am home, rather train the pup how to be in the house by being with me, than just sitting in the crate and not understand why it can't be with everyone. I use baby gates, close doors, and keep the pup in the room with me. So really only crate at night, or if no one is going to be home.

I don't think of the crate as a 'control' situation that I have to force such a young puppy to learn to be quiet and behave in. The 'you will be quiet because I said to and if it takes all day then it does', at least not for a tiny 8 week old puppy. They are truly infants and don't understand much except the need to eat, play, drink, AND BE WITH IT'S PACK.

Additionally, a huge help for when I do put them into the crate, is that they are exhausted from being OUT of the crate. So we play alot, go outside alot, go on long walks (long for them, not so long for me, but taking up alot of TIME). If I truly tire my pup out, and do put them in the crate, they will only whine for a bit before crashing in a nap.

Here's some more information on crate training so you can figure out what works best for you:

http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/lib-SpecTrain.htm#crate

You definatley want to crate train your pup.....good call. It is essential for housebreaking and it's a safe place for the dog when you can't keep your eye on him/her 100%.
Only take him out when he is not screaming, doing otherwise will reward that behavior and the dog learns he will get success if he screams enough.....making it even harder to break the screaming.
If you can't watch the pup 100% don't have him out of the crate. My pups spent ALOT of time in their crates....makes it a breeze to housebreak.
Ed has an excellent article on his site that explains everything in detail;
http://www.leerburg.com/housebrk.htm

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