I have had both crate trained and regular house dogs. The current two travel in their crates only in the car. But they hate it. I just don't want loose dogs in the car. They do have their room (our breakfast room) when we're not home and we just say "go in" and they do. I had a gate made so they can see through - no closed door. however, they frequently leave evidence (fur, lick marks and stuffed toys) that they were on top of the glass table. My center pieces. The can see out the windows from there. I rarely see them there to scold them. The secret lives of dogs.

My last Cairn Terrier, Rosebud, needed the crate. She'd go in there all by herself - spend the night. I never used the door. But I could not use a baby gate to contain her in the house any where. She'd jump it. Even the one I had that was 40" high. She just got free reign. She was very hard to housebreak. i wouldn;t house break a dog without some way to confine them - gate/pen or crate. Once they're housebroken, they can have run of the house unless we're not home. This way, no accidents are possible.

Molly will get her routine - she just wants to please you!