What is the best way to teach a puppy to use a crate?
Avoid forcing or coaxing the pet into the crate. Have training sessions during which you toss very small treats into the crate for the pet to chase after and eat. If it plays fetch, toss the ball into the crate for it to retrieve. When you feed the pet, place its bowl of food in the crate. When you are home, have the crate in an accessible area. Occasionally hide treats and toys inside for it to find. Be sure the pet has some toys that will really keep its interest when it is confined, like a Buster Cube, Kong toys, Goodie Ships, Bite-A-Bones and other toys that can be stuffed with treats. Any time you see the pet chewing on one of the toys when it is out with you, toss small treats in the air that land next to it, so the pet will think that chewing on toys will make food fall out of the sky.
