I know we all know we have the best intentions in mind but how does your dog know this? Leaving your litter mates at 8 weeks to go to another home, where you know nobody, sounds scary to me. That's why we need to be as kind and clear as possible. 

Growing up our dogs hated their crates. They would go in there after we caught and yelled at them but was it a place they would just go hang out in? Nope, their objective was clear, avoid the crate. Now, my family's dogs have a room they get to go hang out in with blankets, bones, and beds and they love it. They go and hang out and have dog conversations often, so what is the difference? 

I can hear you, obviously one is a room and one is a metal box. Okay, if you're thinking like that I probably can't change your mind, so don't keep reading because this won't help you. Now, everyone else, if you notice that one space was intentionally created and the other was accidentally made, then lets talk more.

What I mean is one space had blankets, bones, and was made a place where fun things happened. The other space was probably taught hastily and only used when leaving the house, for a time out, or being left alone at the vet or groomer's. What this all means to you is by being intentional and having a different result on your mind. Rather than a space to keep them trapped, why not create a space your dog enjoys being and where amazing moments happen.