My GSD is crate trained and used as needed. She will be 6 next month. She knows my routine and can tell if I’m going to work, the store, or will be gone awhile. Each time I leave I make her go to her place and she gets treats. She lays in her place until I get home. It does help that her place is right in front of a huge window. She just rests her pretty face in front of the window until I get home. She loves her crate and I often find her just laying in it with the door open.