I've never had problems with crate training, the only thing I can think of is maybe your crate is too big? if your crate is big enough they can have a sleeping place and a potty place they will!
As for toys I LOVE treat balls. You can put their kibble in there and its both food and entertainment! I usually do kibble with a couple tiny training treats just to sweeten the deal. Yuri's treat ball is a rubber one made by kong. Yumi's is a hard plastic one. I would be careful with the plastic ones though. Yumi and Yuri are fine with it, but my sister's dog hooks her teeth in the opening carries it to a bed and tries to chew it open instead of rolling it like she is supposed to. She didn't hurt the ball so maybe it would be safe either way, but I wouldn't trust them with a dog that chewed them, especially left alone.
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