I think you'll get a variety of responses to that question! Do a search for crate training and you'll see that some people are adamant about it, others not so much, and still some think it's cruel.
I've done both depending on the dog. My miniature poodle would not crate train no matter how hard or long I tried. At 7 yrs old, I gave up. He was potty trained and not destructive, so it made no sense to confine him. My Cocker spaniels were always crated beause they were descructuve when we weren't home. My Pom always had the run of the house. Tink is 9 months old and crate trained. When she is out of her crate, I still have to keep a close watch on her because she still has the occassional mishap. But when I'm away, she is confined. When I know she is completely potty trained, and out of the chewing phase for good, I will let her have the run of the house.
My feeling is that if you can't trust them, they should be confined. If you can trust them, then whats the reason for confinement? Unless of course it's safety for the pet or for another pet or a family member.
Hope this helps or at least gies you something to think about. Good luck!
