Crate Training 1yr old

I have a pup that I adopted three months ago. He is a large breed mutt, estimated a year old, who I absolutely love. I am sending him to a board and train in four weeks from now (which will last 3 weeks) while i am attending an important family event overseas.

I really love the woman who runs the board and train in my community. She is absolutely wonderful, and people around here call her the dog angel because she is so amazing and gentle with dogs.

She said she recommends that I crate train my dog before she takes him. So for the last three weeks, as per her advice I have been feeding him in his crate twice a day. Despite it being three weeks that I’ve been doing this, he is still very nervous to walk in….he gobbles his food while his back legs are extended out of the crate, and then dashes away right after he finishes eating.

Overall, let’s just say he is not aloof toward the crate.

I am anxious that it’s only four weeks until I have to leave him, so today I pushed his butt into the crate during breakfast and dinner today. And quickly closed it up. I only left him in the crate for maybe five minutes, and both times he started to pant and whimper which was stressful for me. Once he somewhat stopped, I let him out.

Is what I’m doing correct?

All the YouTube videos I watch seem to suggest that at some point the dog will just walk in and you casually close up the crate, not the case for me.

Any advice in crate training a large almost adults dog? I am so nervous he won’t warm up to it.