My personal opinion is that it may not be necessary for all breeds. We have a lab puppy -- the crate was very necessary for us to keep our sanity. It still is, sometimes. I'm not that familiar with St.B's. whether they are mischievious or not. It doesn't sound like it, if Binx doesn't get into anything. If Malone is left alone, he gets into *EVERYTHING*. And that's why we decided to crate train.