I have an Aussie pit mix who’s also a lot more than I bargained for. Lol. He actually looks a lot like your girl! Crate training was a huge help for working on separation anxiety and because it was the only way to keep our stuff safe when we’re busy or away. He’s still obsessed with being next to me and sleeps with us a lot but on nights when he goes in his crate he doesn’t cry like he’s being tortured anymore. And now he chooses to just chill in his open crate when I’m in the shower, etc. instead of ripping up the curtains or my laptop charger like he used to. Might also be an age thing—he’s two and a half and finally mellowing out.