Well, I finally got Smokey to go in the travel kennel... But I may be a horrible mom for the way I did it.

I smeared peanut butter on the back wall of the kennel. He streeeeetched in with 3 legs in there to get it. Since he was so close I just wanted him to see it wouldn't kill him to get in all the way so I pushed on his rump, he pushed back, I pushed again and in he went. I closed the door, he didn't notice and just kept licking the peanut butter. Then he turned around and I was there with more PB and lots of "Good boy!"s for him. I left him in there for about 30 seconds and then opened the door. He came out but then went all the way back in too look for more PB.
He came out and then about 5 minutes later went in 1/2 way sniffing around.
About 30 minutes later we did it again (the PB on the wall, me pushing his rump and last leg in). Same thing, he didnt react, just licked the PB and then turned around to the closed door. I gave him more PB, gave him the lay down command and he did that. Left him in there in a down position for about a minute and he was fine. Opened the door and he still stayed in chewing on a toy. He came out a bit later and then a bit after that cruised into it all the way again sniffing around, checking it out.
So, at least he's not afraid of it anymore...
But am I a horrible mommy for pushing him in there like that? It seems to have worked... and he didn't seem "mad" at me. I just couldn't lure him all the way in before.


Although I'm sure he prefers his penthouse of a wire crate compared to the smaller travel one he's okay with the travel one now and will go in and out at his leisure.