I'm currently resrching into buying a puppy and on readinf a lot of people's messages crate training keeps coming up. Could someone pleas explain this to me and how is keeping a dog in a crate more beneficial or just as beneficia as a bed?

Cheers Sarah

Crate training for a puppy is like having there own area to get piece and quiet away from the kids (if you have any)when puppy falls asleep you can put them in the crate to sleep peacefully or you can just use the crate for whne you go out, it use mine mainly for when i am out so that my furniture does not get beat up and also for when i am hoovering and moping the floors. At first the hoover can make the puppy rund and hide because of the load noise and wet floors can become a danger so crating keeps the pup safe.
You will find that once trained the puppy will use the crate willingly as a play area or just somewhere to chill out. I always leave the door open so that she can go in and out as she pleases and the top and sides are covered with a blanket this just makes them feel safer (i think).
I hope this gives you an idea, but i am sure some one more experenced with crate's will be along soon. But i can honestly say it is the best investment i have every made. My very first dog (now 6yr) used to rip my house to piece when left, only wish some one had told me about crates when i got her. So now i planned for no mistakes and got one in advance

if you don't mind me asking how long was your dog left alone for? I work 9-3.30, but i am able to have someone dog sit in the afternoons. If i was to have a crate would i close the door inbetween human contact or leave it open?

I have had crates for mine sice they were pups mainly for 2 reasons when we went out and house training. They used to sleep in there and we'd leave the door open for when they woke up. When they were small we fed them in there to get them used to it and also coz they won't mess where they sleep. The oldest Tess is now 2yrs 8months and she will still go in and lie in there it's like her place of safety. Tess won't be fed anywhere else. She runs in and waits for her food. If we went out they were put in their crate and taken out in the garden to do their buisness when we got back and praised for it. even now if one of them is annoying the other dogs or barking and generally being hyper then they go and chill out in one of the crates and then come out about 10mins later alot calmer.
Hope this gives you a good idea of what they are used for

9-3:30 is far long long to crate a pup or even leave a pup. They need a lot of attention. My own pup is only caged for 3 hrs a day max
At night she has the option of cage or sofa (i'm a softie) she normally uses the sofa.
I do not work so i only have the school and nursery run to do and then shopping if i need to go. When i first got a crate i did not shut the door for about two weeks but she was fed in the crate and when she started to fall asleep i picked her up and put her in there. But even when i did shut the door i only went into another room for a bit them came back and open the door.
Hope this helps. But please be aware a pup needs contact.

Gu is now 10 months old and the door is never closed on his crate except when we are at a show .
It is always open when at home . He only uses it occasionally but he knows it is his own space where he will be left alone :)
Lel

I would consider it cruel for anyone to keep their dog in a closed crate for long periods .

Mine are closed in for about 10mins if their having a hyper moment or at a show and when pups no longer than 2-3 hrs when we were out and at night next to the bed with a big teddy to cuddle up to who now has no eyes nose or ears and has been stitched up loadsa times