Hi All
Thanks for your replies all helpful I'm sure. I am not a first time dog-owner but it is 15 years since we had a pup in the house but even then we used a crate for Buddy and he loved it and gave us peace of mind, while he was young, that he would do no damage. In time we were able to do away with it (much to his disgust!) and he NEVER did any damage to the house or himself.
Dillon is doing really well with housetraining is crated overnight, quite happily, and will 'call' us if he needs to go out to do his business, only one small accident since we have had him so pretty good I think.
This morning's exercise was purely to get him used to having the door shut during the day, who knows when I may need to go out and be unable to take him with me and I would like to know I am leaving him happy rather than howling.