Welcome to you and Ambrose!!
I've crate trained all of mine. Coby loves his crate and when he sees me get my coat on, if I don't have my doggie bag or his leash, he just runs in his kennel and waits for his treat and for me to shut the door. As long as you make the crate a nice place and always treat him for going to his kennel, you shouldn't have problems. They are den animals and MOST like the security.
We potty inside and outside. Sometimes, the midwest winters are too bad for ME.
My 10 yr old Shih Tzu usually "asks" me which I'd rather him go - "outside" or "downstairs". I just say one or the other and he's off.
Good Luck! Keep posting so we can follow your success!!
