Reassurance on Puppy Crate Training Progress

Looking for some perspective to make sure I am on the right track on crate training with our 11 week old golden retriever puppy!

Our Sam sleeps through the night with no issues in the crate. He goes right down for bed and sleeps without a peep. But in the morning, after he has decided he got enough sleep, he will bark excessively to be let out. So of course we let him poop, pee, drink water, eat, poop and pee again. But if he is not tired, he will not return to the crate without crying.

During the day, when he is tired after about an hour and a half of structured play/training/calming chew or snuffle mat, he will go down for a nap in a crate. He sleeps just fine for about two and a half hours. But when he is done napping, he will BARK. Even if he's only slept an hour. We make sure all his needs are met, but he won't stay in it or entertain himself unless he is actively exhausted and therefore sleeping.

Is this just because he is a little 11 week old puppy and can't yet calm himself? Is this a wait it out and the work will pay off sort of thing? Or is there something more I can be doing?

Here are things I am doing to help with crate training:

• giving high value treats/meals in crate
• we wait to let him out of the crate until he is quiet and showing signs of relaxation
• crate training sessions when he is not tired, with incrementally longer alone times (he now can last about two minutes alone if he's awake and doesnt want to sleep)
• never forcing him into the crate, he enters on command with treat
• also doing incremental separation training and place training in a pen or mat to help him adapt to being alone and self regulating
• crate is correct size, we have tried with and without cover or blankets, and we have a heartbeat puppy and use white noise/music
• We make an effort to not over-stimulate him or let him get over tired when he is awake. We are on a consistent schedule as much as we can be – but his inability to stay in crate has made schedule a little tough.

TIA!