I just folded dog's crate up and took it out to the garage.

[OrmIrian]

He never goes in it. Never. In fact the cat spends more time in it than he does. It's taking up room in the dining room and we need more space for christmas day.

Dog is sitting on the stairs staring at me through the bannisters shivering with a 'please don't send me away!' look on his face.

Was that a really bad thing to do

Jasper sleeps in his crate, but is never shut in it now. I tried putting him to bed in the kitchen without his crate, and he howled at me until I returned his bed to the crate

Oh god, does that mean we are doomed to have a monster crate in our living room/playroom forever?

I always imagined dogs being happy to leave crate for sofa cosy basket somewhere, my last dog never had a crate so am learning as I go. Mouse is utterly smitten with his crate, takes himself off to bed in it, associates it with treats and peace, so if your dog is shivering at you, Orm, I am doomed.

Have you tried treats, cuddles and major distractions?

He seems OK now TBH. He's sitting on next to DS2 on the sofa atm.

Oh good

Bit like taking the bottle away from a 2 yr old then....