Great Crates!

Why teach your dog to be comfortable in a crate?
... this could be the start of a really loooooong list ...

The first thing that comes to mind is Puppy training. Housetraining is so much easier with a crate. For that matter even adult dogs that need housetraining learn faster if using a crate. Puppy chewing is easily prevented if you can use a crate for unsupervised times. Even older dogs sometimes have lapses in chewing under times of stress or moving. Good to have an option to fall back on. Preventing separation anxiety is oh so much easier than treating it! Teach your dog to be calm and comfortable in a crate.

If your dog is worried about guests or workers around the home they may enjoy some time in their safe, cozy spot!
Your dog doesn't learn to bark out the front window.
He can't learn to dig or jump fences and escape while you are away from home.
If you feed you dog bones and don't want icky-goo all over the floors ... feed them in the crate and then wipe out the tray.

Introduce your puppy or a dog to a crate and keep them used to using one occasionally as a "lifetime" tool. If your dog is injured one day and needs bed-rest as part of treatment then you don't have to add another stress to your dog... they are already familiar with crate-rest. Trips to the veterinarian, groomer or boarding facility will be less stressful as well. Who knows, maybe one day you will want to compete in one of the many exciting dog shows or sports and then having a dog that relaxes in his crate will help win ribbons :0)

Besides ... how about those times you can't leave your dog in a hot vehicle (or a cold truck) but could bring the dog indoors with you if he was in a crate. Or if you have to visit the in-laws but they don't want your dog underfoot ... you could set up a crate in their living room and your dog and you could still come! Nevermind, bad example ... sorry ... I can't come visit ... my dog isn't crate trained.

One of the better articles on the web. Easy to read and understand.
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/crate_training.html