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The only exceptions where you would let the dog out when it cries is if you have forgotten to take him out to do his business before putting him in the crate or first thing in the morning when your dog needs to go outside immediately to eliminate. Make sure to let your dog out to exercise and eliminate before putting him in the crate for an extended period of time.
Crate Misuse/Abuse
Never use the crate for as a punishment. Problems in crate training usually arise because owners fail to teach the dog to like the crate and leave untrained dogs confined for too long. If the dog does not feel comfortable in the crate, it will not enjoy the confinement and might run from the owner when called and/or resist and resent being forced into the crate. Once confined, the dog might bark out of frustration and try to destroy the crate in an attempt to escape. Also, if confined for too long, the dog will soil the crate.
No matter how much the dog enjoys its crate, there will be times when the owner wants to confine the dog but the dog does not want to be confined. Therefore, never call the dog with a "Come" command and then put it in the crate, or else the dog will soon become wary of coming when called. Instead, use your regular "Go to bed" or "Crate" command to enforce compliance without ruining your "Come" command.
Crate Safety/Cleaning
For safety purposes, never leave any type of collar or harness on a puppy or dog that is confined to a crate. Even though it may seem impossible, there have been many tragic strangulations-hangings that have occurred. Also, make it clear to children that a crate is not a playhouse for them, but a "special room" for your puppy or dog whose rights should be recognized and respected. However, you should get the dog accustomed to letting you reach into the crate at any time, lessening the chance of him becoming overprotective of it.
Clean out the crate regularly. It is recommended that you use a non-ammonia cleaner, because ammonia is similar to a dog's urine and the smell might attract him to soil the crate. You may want to purchase a commercial dog soiling cleaner from your local pet store.
Even if your dog has perfect manners
Even if you don't have a destructive dog or one that has behavioral problems that you are trying to correct, a dog crate is a great place to send the dog when things in the house get busy or when you just want a little peace and quiet. If you familiarize the dog with the crate, you can have controlled, quiet periods that teach the dog to turn off and relax. Dogs love their crates. Give it a try. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain.
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