crate training?

[AnotherLoad]

Im looking a getting a dog and want to know everthing before making any decisions.

I grew up with dogs and have had plenty of friends with dogs....but never a crate in sight?? Ive been lurking in the dog house section and notice alot of you use crate training?

so was just wondering what its about and if having a crate is a must or down to choice? how does it help you?

plus looking at list of things i will need (such as crate) to get a rough idea of cost.

thanks

I've also grown up with dogs and decided that my parents had never used one and we got on ok and therefore crates were cruel, unnecessary etc. - needless to say, now I've got a puppy of my own I think they are the work of a genius!

We use ours to confine Daisy when we're busy and can't watch her (it seems most damage is caused by dogs/puppies when they're unsupervised) so for eg. when I need take my daughters upstairs to get dressed for school, I pop Daisy in her crate with her kong. Ditto bedtime for my girls and obviously when I go out. She also sleeps in her crate at night. I have tried to get her to nap in it during the day but she likes to sleep wherever I am, so if I'm in the kitchen she'll lay in the there, same for sitting room, garden etc.

I can only imagine if I left Daisy loose in the house when I couldn't supervise her, that she would be causing mayhem in no time!