Originally posted by Pit Chick
If you keep training or encouraging him to go potty in his crate, you're never going to get him housebroken or crate trained.
Exactly, crates are not intended to be used for a place for the dog to go potty.

Dogs do not like to soil their "den" (his crate) and won't unless they have no choice.

IMO an 8 wk old puppy can't be trusted as housebroken. Even if he can hold it for a long time, there are still things in the house than can be VERY dangerous to him. My dogs have been crated until they are 8 months to a year old and out of the chewing stage.

Chester didn't start chewing until he was about 3 months old, but he was still crated when we weren't at home. We did that until he was about 8 months old. Cinny is between 6 months and a year old and is still crated when we're gone, unless we're only gone a short time.