Now you have a dog. You need to leave your dog alone for what ever reason and you don't know what to do. Perhaps you have a crate but your dog just seems to hate it. Still you know you can't leave him unattended. Dogs can be fearful of many new things crates can be one of them.
Teach your dog the crate is a safe place. When you first introduce your dog to a crate make it a game. Show him the door put a favorite toy or treat inside. If he goes in and gets it praise him and more treats. Try it again and again leaving the door open so he feels safe. I like to call it bed. I will tell my dog bed when I want him to go inside the crate. You can use crate or cage what ever you like just be consistent in what you call it. Soon he will understand. If you have made it a fun place to go where good things happen ie toys and treats he will happily go to the crate.
Eventually he will go there on his own. To just relax after play perhaps. Or if friends or family he is not familiar with come over and he is not sure yet. It will become his safe place to go. Let him have it as his own space.
Now when you have to go away for longer than you feel comfortable leaving your dog alone. He has a place to go where he feels safe and you don't have to worry about your couch pillows being shredded all over the living room when you return. You will be happier and so will your dog. A dog won't always know why you are angry but they will understand that the large human they love is loud and menacing.
1. Train your dog that his crate is a fun and safe place to be.
2. Allow your dog access to the crate anytime he wants a time for himself
3. Use it for a safe place to go when guests come over he may not know yet.
4. For when you are gone and can't quite trust him alone for that long yet.
Your dog will love your more if not being scolded. And you will love him more too because he will be so happy to see you when you let him out.
I have dogs that I leave out always. It takes training. Don't expect it to happen over night. Some dogs learn quicker than others but all can learn. Repeat repeat and repeat again. Before you know it you will have a dog that you can trust home alone waiting to greet you at the door! After all isn't that why we got a dog in the first place?