Success!

[otterdance]

Took all your advice to heart. I put Jackson's crate in the living room during the day with the door open and some treats and toys in it. He didn't go in very far until Emma curled up in the back of it. (When he tried to join her she growled at him.) When evening came I pulled his crate over to my side of the bed, sprinkled in a few training treats and a favorite soft toy, and stuck my fingers through the "bars" for a little while for him to smell. He slept all night with hardly a whimper, and when I opened the door for him this morning he just sat there for awhile, chewing his toy.

Oh, and my sons came home for Christmas. Now where's my dog?

;-)