My little Shih Tzu baby did something today that surprised me. He had been busy running all around the yard with Corey, the child from next door, when he suddenly came in and went straight into his crate to lay down and take a nap.
The crate doors remain open during the day so the puppy realistically could use the crate as a resting place if he wanted to. But, before today he had never actually used it. Today, however, he went right in, turned himself around into a ball and went into a deep, snoring sleep. It was very cute.
Crating was something I wasn't very gungho about when Mike suggested we try it with the puppy, but that little sweetie seems to have really taken to it. He knows that he has a space that I don't really mess with (other than washing the bedding) and no one else is allowed to interrupt him when he is in the crate either. It is his quiet time and his space and the puppy really seems to appreciate that.

Corey wasn't sure what to make of my little puppy being in a box to take a nap, but he seemed okay with leaving him alone as I requested. Instead, he crawled up on the sofa and took a nap of his own. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the peace and quiet.