Another reason to use a crate--if you have to board the dog or it needs to spend overnight at the vet, it will be crated. My shih tzu (who had never been crated 'cause I thought they were cruel) had back surgery and was crated at the vet's. Originally Mickey was to be there a couple of nights. The day after surgery, he was sent home because he was fighting the crate & trying to get out. The vet felt he would be better at home just being kept quiet. It was waaay earlier than I was comfortable with him being home. I lived alone so didn't have to worry about kids getting him all excited.
I have crate-trained every dog since then. Casper goes into his when he gets bored or tired. He also heads in there when he sees me getting for work. :D

I would highly recommend taking him to a group where he can socialise with people and other dogs - invaluable experience for them!

Crates are also excellent tools - some dogs will opt to voluntarily put themselves in the crate so I would always leave the crate open when not in use. My two dogs understand the word "box", so if i call their names and then box they automatically get into their respective crates.