We want to crate train our six month old dog as he is very destructive when we're out. Can anyone offer any advice as to how to go about doing this as we've never used this method before. Many thanks.

Hi - yes.

Here are some tips:

1. Never use the crate as a place of punishment - you want your dog to have good associations with it and to like going in it.
2.  When you first get the crate, sprinkle some treats in it, towards the back - hopefully without the dog looking.  Let the dog discover the joys of the crate himself.  Keep replenishing these treats often, so there's always 1 waiting in there for him.
3.  Don't rush things.  When he is happy going in there a lot to check out the goodies, close the door and immediately open it (if he makes no noise).  Let him come out.  Keep doing this - sometimes, when he goes in, close the door.  Keep putting the treats in there too.
4.  Make him wait a little longer before you let him out.  Don't walk away and leave him in there though - just a few seconds at a time.  If he barks or whines or makes any noise, do NOT let him out until he's quiet.  (Or you'll have more of it!)
5.  The first time you leave him in there, I really like the suggestion in the Culture Clash - get a video or DVD out, or settle down for a night watching TV.  Put the crate right next to you or between you while you watch TV.  Stuff a kong very well for him (maybe freeze it if he gets through kongs fast), and put it in the crate.  He should go in there.  Close the door and sit right by the crate watching TV while he eats his kong inside, then falls asleep.  (Ideal - but what in fact might happen is a paddy - if that happens just ignore it and put the subtitles on LOL!!)  Do this for 2-3 evenings.
6.  Then start to put him in the crate while you're still in the house, doing other things - walking around, cleaning - whatever you do in your house!!
7.  Then start to crate him overnight.
8.  Last of all crate him and leave him - at first just go out the door and immediately back in again.  And so on, increasing the amount of time you're out of the house.  The reason not to do this from the beginning is that he might associate this new thing (the crate) with you leaving him (he goes in the crate and you leave) - in which case the crate will signify 'mum and dad going away' and he'll hate it. 

If you want more good ideas, buy The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson - you can get it from Amazon.  Loads of tips on loads of stuff in there, not just crate training.

Also feed him his meals in the crate. Dont get a crate thats too big. Just enough to lie down and turn around in. There is a wealth of info on the internet if you search too.

Agree with all info given but would like to add that I find my girls prefer thier crate covered on top and 3 sides to make it den like.

Also , i've heard of soo many storys about people just dropping the crate idea the first night once they hear the dog whining and yelping. Ignore the couple nights of crying , he'll get over it.

I disagree with June - I'd say that once you've started crating, you will probably find it so helpful you will want to crate until the dog is at least a year old or can be trusted alone in the house.  To this end, get the biggest crate you're going to need for an adult sized dog, but you could get one which comes with a 'puppy divider' - this slots into the crate to divide it in half (or thirds) and effectively make it smaller for a pup.  The main use of the divider is to make the crate smaller for a pup, so that he doesn't toilet in it.  However, as you have a 6 month old pup, which is presumably toilet trained already (?), you could opt not to use the puppy divider and just use the big crate and you'd probably be fine.

YOu are right onetwothree - looking back on what I said about crate size was ridiculous. I bought a size of crate for an adult and made a divider for it so that the pup just had room to stand and turn and lie down and the divider moved back pretty quickly! Of course only needed if toilet training!

Thank you everyone for your help. I'm going to start crate training soon and will follow your advice. Hope all goes well! Any probs I will come back!