Please click the following link to view our five step process to house train and or crate train your dog.
The first day you use the crate tie the door open and let your dog investigate it. Feed your dog in their and finally at some point close the door and leave them in it for a short period of time. Increase that time through the day until finally leaving them for awhile.
Dogs have gotten caught in crates and hung themselves. Please do not ever have any equipment on your dog in the crate.
The dog(s) must look at the crate as a happy and safe place and you can compromise this by using it to scold them with.
If your dog can not hold themselves from going to the bathroom for a physical reason you should not presently be crating them because it defeats the purpose.
It's all right to feed your dog in the crate and give it some water too but only when you're there and for a short period of time too.
If the crate is to big your dog will be able to make a mistake in the crate and still avoid it. Your dog should be able to do no more than sprawl out.