I think Tatum is very comfortable and feels safe in her crate. I do not keep food or water in her crate because we are not gone long enough at a time that she can't wait. Also is too tempting for them to eat and drink and then have to go potty. Her's is pretty small - big enough for her to stand up, turn around. I did have to buy one for our older toy poodle to use the last maybe 3 years of his life and since he wasn't use to one, I bought the biggest plastic one I could find (for a 100 lb. dog) so that he could have a place to potty away from his blanket if he had to. He was old and couldn't hold it sometimes so I had to give him the room to do this if he needed to. But they say that it should not be so big that they really have room to potty in it as this teaches them to hold it better.
I think at a year old, yours shouldn't have too much of a problem adjusting. Just be firm and don't go get him out as soon as he starts barking right after being put in. I think he'll do just fine.
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~ Angie |