I crated my dogs while they were being potty trained and when I knew I couldn't trust them. I've always HATED crating them, but for a while, I had to do it because they would get in to stuff while I was gone. My yorkie hated it and I had to literally put him in his crate. But my other dog would go in no problem. He liked it. Neither of them hang out in their crates when the doors are open either, so I finally just put them away.
I think they're old enough now where they've grown out of the destructive phase, so they have free rein of the house. They get daily walks as well, so that helps burn off energy and they're too tired to get in to too much trouble.
__________________  We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. ~George Eliot |