I just thought i would say how much i know like crates, when we first got Leo a crate we used it in the car, not at home but then he started to get travel sick and scared in there and we switched him to a harness where he is fine.
Usually Leo sleeps in the kitchen with a stairgate and everymorning he has done something without waking us to tell us he needs out, Last weekend we went to Scotland to see my gran, who has an 8 month retriever bitch who sleeps in her crate, so we put Leo in his....... He was brilliant, no mess all night and we have now been using the crate for a week at home at night and hes great, we put a blanket over it and he has his bed inside.
We now think that part of it may have been the light from the kitchen window waking him up and then him thinking he needs out, but with the blanket over the cage he doesnt wake up until we go and wake him.

I'm so proud of him, the whole Scotland trip went well, he went 6 hours without needing the loo, he only went at one service station on the way up and one on the way back and didnt make a mess in the car. He's 5 months next week so i thought that was pretty good :-) now whenever we get in the car he thinks we are going back 2 scotland lol

Congratulations and well done.  Its always great when things go well.  I had similar problems with my young BC pup messing every night.  Got him a crate and he has never messed since.  Can't recommend them enough to anyone provided that they are used properly and with care.

Claire

well we are planning on getting Leo a playmate next year and that one will definitely be crate trained from the beginning