I keep my toy poodle, in a metal crate while we are gone and my newest pup stays in a old pack and play that I was given. Its big enough for a small soft sided crate, his food, toys etc. He cant get out cause the sides are tall and the bottom is deep, however if your pup likes to chew like my poodle does/did, she chewed a huge whole in a 40 dollar soft sided crate in less than 10 minutes when she was 4 months old and it wasnt through the mesh part is was the hard canvas part.
the pack and play isnt a good idea.
I think if you give your dog a few days in the crate with out letting her out everytime she whined she would get use to it. If you dont like to here her whine, leave for a bit or put her crate in another room.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
