My Toller is now nearly 9ths old and has been crate trained since we got him. He always goes in his crate at night and when I go out during the day (anything from an hour up to 5 hours, but only as much as 5hrs once or twice a week when meetings etc mean I can't bring him to work). He likes his crate and often goes in there when its open and I'm home. I just wondered what age people stop shutting their crates when they're out, a friend of mine stopped shutting her lab in at about rhubarbs age, but it then started to get destructive and wee in the house at about a year old so is back in his crate again, I understand they often go through a difficult phase at about 1 when they're adolescent. He can also be a little destructive occasionally when left alone in the room and not in his crate, not bad but he'll chew my daughters soft toys if she leaves them around and will sit on the sofa and chew magazines.
I also wondered what people think is the maximum time a dog should be left in a crate, we're off Christmas shopping for a day in December and can't take Rhubarb(my toller) with us, and will be out 8-9 hrs, do you think its ok for him to be left in his crate this long, if he's had a good walk first as its only a one-off or should I try and find someone who can pop in for him?