DEFINITELY give the crate a try.

When I first got Malone, I was totally against it. It wasn't fair to see him all cooped up and he would whine and whine.

But then he started acting like a puppy chewing things, and he NEVER slept. After 3 weeks, I was totally worn out from chasing him non-stop to see what he was chewing on next.

Yes, it took a while 'til he was happy to go into his crate. But it is so worth it! He would not pee/poo in his crate so it helped potty training immensely. When I couldn't supervise him, I knew he was safe. And when he went in it, he went to sleep.

My boys are still crated during the day when I go to work. They are out of it the rest of the time. Sometimes, Emerson will wake up at 5 or 5:30 and not go back to sleep, so I will put him in the crate so the rest of us can sleep in a bit.

There are plenty of resources on line and at book stores. Please think about it, and it could really save your relationship with both your hubby and your dog!