My Teddy sleeps in his crate at night and is kept in there when I'm away and sometimes in the day, when there is no supervision available, for example.
He has always liked his crate better than x-pen and I have no idea why! But, in answer to your question, I think if you make the crate a safe haven by putting toys in there, or treats and a nice blanket, they really don't associate it with anything bad when its used for various reasons. I'd think the crate would be associated with bad things only if there were no rewards for going in there or it was used for only one thing which the dog hates like going to the vet or something else which has meant a show of displeasure previously.
Even then, though, they tend to get over it! |