It might take him some time to get used to the crate. All of our goldens, except one, would put up a fuss when initially put in the crate. If you give him a special treat, like the peanutbutter filled kong that Tucker suggested, he will run to the crate, anticipating his goodie. It will take him awhile to finish that off and you should be long gone by then.

Keep in mind that if someone in his past crated him as "punishment," he might associate bad things with being crated. That makes crate training impossible for some dogs, or so I've heard.

A great book I recommend is "The Loved Dog" by Tamar Gellar. She believes in positive reinforcement when training.

Puppyhood is the best and worst of times w/a dog. Patience and consistency, as well as lots of love, will go a long way. In the meantime, I hear you! Our 12 week old is a Holy Terror!