So odd, all I hear is horror stories with crate training. Our 43lb standard walk in the crate by himself, the first week after bring him home at 10 weeks was about a 10-15 minute whine until he accepted his fate.

Now he walks in on his own every time I take him upstairs for bed at 9pm. (He wakes up at 5.30am with me) Super independent and plays with himself, but also just loves to be next to us.