nonstop crying at night!

[Catty1]

Okay, so she is in a fenced-off area, NOT a crate.

If you could borrow a right-size kennel, she would feel more protected, like she is in her 'little house'. It would be HER space.

JMO - a 'fenced off area' will not do the job.

My ex BF has a Bichon, who got really used to his carrier(the dog did!) while a new house was being built, and thinks of that as his little condo...he comes out to eat and stuff...and also has a tiny leash keeping him in that area, unless he is let free in the house and yard, which he often is.

This link will show you a few examples of proper dog cages and crates. Many people even use a correctly-sized pet carrier....the correct size is important.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/searc...=1186683884581

[d_ciao]

well, we do have a crate. we put her in it one time... she was shaking and peed all over inside... it wasn't pretty. so we kinda ruled that out.

[Canis-Lupess]

Ah, shutting the crate on a dog that isn't used to being inside it isn't a good idea.

The best thing to do to stop her from seeing these areas as a place for punishment is for her to only be fed in these places. All good things happen in these places but NOWHERE else. If she wants to eat, she has to go to her little area. All her toys should be in that area. Put food stuffed kongs in there but make sure the food is not in addition to her daily rations.
You can also do this with the crate. Leave the door open and put her food in in there so she has to go in to eat it but don't close the door.
Also, don't allow her to sleep in other places....the only place she's going to get some peace and quiet when she wants it is her own little area. As you've realised about her maybe thinking it's a punishment area, never ever send her there as punishment for anything.
When you put her in, don't make a fuss but if she's good, even for a few seconds, go back and make the greeting a warm one.

Also, if she has an accident, don't worry and never get angry or show it in the slightest possible way. All dogs learn to relieve themselves further and further away from the den as they grow up. This is a natural instinct. You can speed it up simply by reinforcing whats desired such as praising her when she does it in the right spot and she's more likely to do it there in future.
Also, dogs are good at learning a word to associate with relieving themselves and can be told to do their business. You just need to figure out when she's most likely going to need to go and then encourage her with your chosen command and then praise her as soon as she does. Pups need to go most on waking up, after being fed etc...definitely after waking from a long sleep. She'll soon associate the word with the action of relieving herself and then you can specifically take her to a desired place to do it and, being creatures of habit, she'll learn to want to always do it in that same spot when she gets older.
Remember that with seperation anxiety, this can cause loss of bowel control and so the dog can't help it if it does it in undesirable places if left and unable to cope so reducing the anxiety would help with this on it's own.