No. I know you may have friends that do this, and they may even talk about how much their Lab loves his crate. There are even books that promote this. That is simple justification for those desiring a Lab, but unable to properly care for one.
Labs were bred to be active dogs. Crating leads to a sedentary lifestyle that is extremely unhealthy, both physically and mentally. You should be able to trust your Lab with the run of your house while you are gone. Train him early, put up with a few chewed items, and you will have an actual family member – not a parrot in a cage.
If you are crating your Labrador, have yourself caned and seek forgiveness. (I’m just joking about seeking forgiveness, but please get him out of the crate!).
