Crate training two dogs
I have a ~9 year old male chi-weenie (Kooper) & a 3 year old female pomchi (Alice). Both of them have crates that they will go to when they want to (rather seldomly but it does happen). But I don't ever make them or ask them to go in them. My (now ex) husband & I would keep Alice in a kennel when we first got her. But eventually, we stopped.
I work Monday - Friday. I leave around 7:30am & can be home anytime between noon & 4pm.
I would like to get them crate trained for two reasons: I will be putting my house on the market soon & they will need to be in their crates more often. & One or both of them still occasionally pee in the house.
Do I kennel them both day & night? That seems like very little time outside of the kennel & kind of sad.
Alice has a terrible separation anxiety. Will kenneling her more help with that?
Kenneling feels kind of cruel & sad to me. Being stuck inside a box instead of being able to roam freely & look out windows seems depressing.
Any tips or advice is appreciated. On any dog owning advice, really. I'm not used to doing it alone.