We’ve used a crate as a little house for our dog ever since we got her and didn’t close it, and now it’s her nighttime bed that she absolutely loves. When we tried letting her sleep in our bed with us, she actually went back to her crate to sleep! It’s her super safe space, and we’ve never used it for punishment, which is why she feels so comfortable in it. She even has a pillow in there that she really enjoys.