I also am crate training Gracie and I have printed off every thing I could find on crate training as well as talked to my vet and I am doing it exactly by the book and it has been wonderful. I come home a full hour for lunch to let gracie out and we play the whole time. She views it as her den and she has a lambswool pillow and one toy in it. She will even go in it when she doesnt have to just to check it out sometimes. Its a pleasant atmosphere. I would never put her in it for punishment. It is strictly for training purposes when she can not be supervised by one of us. If we are home she is never in it. Personally I don't like puppy pads...and won't use them. So this has been the best tool for us. She has never balked at going in, she doesn't cry and I don't think she minds it at all. She is secure, and she is not in it for more than 4 hours at a time since I am only 4 min from work and can come home mid day to take her out that hour. If I have to be gone all day which so far has only happened twice, then I put her on the patio which is inclosed and we have puppy proofed..and leave the door open for her to go out if she needs to. I even put the crate out there so she can go in it if she wants to for added security if she gets overwhelmed by the big open space and no one there. So all in all, I would say crate training is the way to go for us~and I sure don't see one bit of cruelty in it in any way..