[corgimom]

Jeni,

I also use a crate for my 5 month old. I wish I would have used one years
ago for my other dogs. They are wonderful. It is big enough for him to stand
up and turn around in and also to spread out and lay down in. I have a 2"
thick fleece dog bed inside of it. We keep it in the family room with us and he
only goes in there if I have to run errands and always at bed time. Otherwise, the door is left open and he goes in and out of there during the
day if he likes - sometimes he naps in there and other times, he naps on the
kitchen floor and sometimes he naps behind the crate when I am home with him. I folded up a thin quilt and I drape it over the top and sides at night time which makes it seem more cozy(like a den) and because I have 3 cats, keeps him from being distracted, somewhat, by their night time patroling.

Anyway, be consistant with it and don't punish him for something and put him
in the crate; you want him to associate positive feelings with the crate. I
only put indestructable nyla bones in there when I am gone. He does have
a childproof stuffed dog that he sleeps with at night time in his crate and he
seems to enjoy resting his head on the dog. I do not put any latex or rubber
toys in there with him when I am gone - just things that could not hurt him -
and remember, at night time, he does not need to have water in his crate or
it will just make it harder for him to hold his bladder. Good luck.
Corgimom