Crate Training Problems (First time owner)

[CherryRedRoses]

I have a eight month old Pomeranian, she is the first dog I have ever owned on my own and I am having trouble with training her. When we first got her, she was fine with going into her kennel to sleep at night. I wanted her kennel to be in our room so if there was an emergency I could get her out safely.

But after awhile it seemed as if she was getting claustrophobic or something in there when ever we brought her in to sleep for the night. I had checked to make sure it was big enough for her size, which it was, that it was clean and comfortable, which it was again. But she still was unhappy. I even tried putting it in a different room to see if she just preferred a different space. She would sleep in it if it was in her play pen no problem, but the door was open and she could come and go out of it as she pleased while we were at work.

After the first two months of it being in our room, she would start screaming bloody murder, we tried taking her for a pee, she didn't have to pee, she wanted to play and run around. So we put her back to bed. She'd cry again. We tried giving her special treats she only was aloud in her bed, having a small amount of food and water in case she got thirsty. Having quiet toys in with her in case she was bored. We tried taking her on long walks and playing with her till she was super tired. But everything we have tried so far hasn't helped, she will still cry till she is horse, and even then will keep crying.

And I did my best to introduce her to it when we first got her. I followed all the steps to the best of my ability, used a special treat, tried to get her to go in and out on her own. (Don't know if this is could be why, but we did have to fly her over to us. She didn't go under, she was in the cabin with us in a soft crate and did very well. Very calm. Maybe the plane scared her?)

I know I must have made mistakes, but I want to learn from them and make it better so she can enjoy her bed and feel safe in it. Not jump when something taps the door, or avoid it when a toy falls to close to it.