I have 5 dogs and I only crate 2 while I'm at work. If I'm going to be gone for short trips, I don't crate them. When it's time for me to leave in the morning, I say "Kennel up" and they both run to their kennels. They have no fear of them. I've even caught them laying down in them in the evening.

I do it for safety reasons. If left alone for long periods of time, Kirby will harass the others until they snap back at him. Muffin is small enough that I worry about her falling off something or running under one of the others and getting trampled.

As soon as I feel they will be OK all day while I'm at work I'll leave them all out. Each of our dogs was crated when they first came into the house. Mine have large enough crates to be comfortable, toys to play with and blankets to lay on. They never mess in their crates and when I get home I let them out to play. I spend a lot of time with them interacting with them evenings and weekends.