@ownedbyspencer:
Ava is 16 weeks. I brought her home at 12 weeks. Isn't the fear period from 8-12 wks?
Supposed to be 8 - 11 weeks, so theoretically you should be O.K. at 12 weeks, but maybe Ava didn't read the book.
She exhibited this crate phobia immediately in the car, though. She panicked and had diarrhea right after we pulled out of the breeder's driveway. In hindsight, perhaps I should have taken her back so we could try and calm her there, but we thought she would settle down in the car. She screamed all the way home and still does it. So it was a bad experience, but she doesn't seem to mind the crate at all until the door closes. The little girl has a great set of lungs, I'll give her that.
Hindsight is always 20/20. Don't beat yourself up over it, but yes, it would be better if it hadn't happened. I have always thought it is too much for a puppy to be taken away from Mom and siblings and have no physical contact while being transported. I realize it is "less safe", in case of a car accident, but we brought our pups home sitting on my husband's lap. He got peed on a few times with each pup, but in both cases they were warm, secure, and slept most of the way when they weren't waking up and peeing on him.