Hi there, I am about to let "loose" my westie. He is crated at the moment for about 2 hours when I go to work until the dog walker arrives to take him out. He then is crated for an hour until I come home at lunchtime. I want to leave the crate door open now and would like some ideas to keep him amused. He is in a small utility and kitchen area so just enough space to stretch his legs but not huge. I have an assortment of kong type toys. Ideas gratefully received!

You can not beat a kong stuffed with goodies. We add all sorts of foodstuffs to ours. Dog biscuits, cheese, rice, new potato (cooked), cherry tomato, apple or any combination of anything edible. A stuffed kong is great fun for a dog :)

There are other 'food dispensing' toys around - you tend to get what you pay for.  I like the Buster Cube which unlike others is very robust and great for feeding dry food (as it's not easy to get to the inside to clean it :( ) I have found other ball style ones (cheaper ones) can break if you have a dog who gets frustrated and tries to chew his way in through the adjustable ring - this then shatters into rather sharp pieces :( )
Other things you can use include a cardboard box containing food reward, inside another box, perhaps wrapped with paper - like 'pass the parcel'......  Food treats suspended (solidily) from the ceiling so they swing...  Plastic drinks bottles without the lid, few smelly treats in there........

Don't forget to reduce his daily meals if using these sorts of things though.