I found a really good article today on crate training on the Drinkwater Gun Dogs website and I thought I’d share my experiences of using the method with you.
Well, in short, it works. But you have to make sure that you don’t use the pen/crate as a punishment. The dog needs to want to go in there. I used a pen rather than a crate and I would go and squeeze myself into it when Joey was a puppy and play games with him in there. The other thing that I found useful is having it so that he could see us most of the time. If I wanted him from under my feet when I was in the kitchen, for example, he found it much easier knowing that he could just lie down and watch what I was doing rather than being cut off from the action.
All in all, it’s a good method. And it seems to stop your puppy from becoming too rowdy and claiming the whole house for himself.
Working Cocker Spaniels 
Hi! We get our new working cocker spaniel in three weeks time and we will be using a crate to house him. I agree with your view that crates should not be used as a punishment when the dog is naughty.I have seen friends make the mistake of doing just that and eventually it becomes a battle to get the puppy to go into the crate at all. The crate should always be a puppies haven where he can escape when he needs a nap or just to get away from boisterous children and other family pets.
I have 2 English Working Cocker Spaniels, 2 boys, Sam and Jack. I strongly disagree with crates/ pens. A dog should be part of family life and not restricted/ locked away. Too often I hear of people leaving their dogs all day in these prisons whilst they are at work, in my opinion they are cruel and should be banned. The only reasonable place I can see them being used is in the car.