A common mistake that people often make while crate training their dog is giving them attention and reassurance during a moment of protest. It’s a natural reaction, you love them, you don’t want to see them unhappy, but this teaches them that their outbursts will eventually get them the attention they’re demanding, and they will try harder. Another common mistake is yelling. Even though it’s negative attention, it is still attention, let’s them know that they’re getting some form of response with their efforts, and they will become more persistent.
Assuming all of their basic needs are met, they’ve recently relieved themselves, they have a bed in there, chew toy to keep them occupied, a bucket of water hanging from the door is always a nice addition, and you know for a fact that they’re just demanding attention, don’t give it to them. No eye contact, no verbal communication, no attention of any type until they give up and settle down, and in that moment reward them immediately. Eye contact, verbal praise, treats, take them out and play with them if you like, but you want to make sure they’re receiving that reward only in moments of calm silence. It’s best to have the kennel located somewhere that you are frequently present, living room for example, so you can spend some time every day actively ignoring him during his outbursts, he can see you not even glancing at him, even though he’s causing a ruckus, you’re just tuning it out and watching tv, or whatever you happen to be doing, and as soon as he calms down he gets that reward in the moment. With daily repetition of these circumstances, they should adapt to the kennel just fine, and you can keep him safely contained without issue whenever the need arises.
There are always exceptions however, every dog is different. Circumstances can sometimes contribute to the behavior, maybe it’s already spent a few years receiving that attention in the moment, it’s ultra persistent as a result, and you can’t find that moment of silence to reward, so you’ll have to create one. My first recommendation, while still not looking at or talking to the dog, clap your hands above your head as loud as you can. The sudden unexpected noise should distract your dog, resulting in a moment of silence to reward him with verbal praise. With any exercise, repetition and consistency are key. The more frequently throughout the day you expose him to these circumstances, the faster you will see improvement. Any inconsistencies, if you or anyone so much as glances at him, during one outburst in the process of counter-conditioning, they may be setting things back tremendously. Stay consistent with your boundaries, and more opportunities for positive reinforcement will arise in time.
