Am I using the crate too much?

Question
We just brought home an 11 week old pure lab about a week ago.  She does the normal biting and chewing thing to be expected with a lab pup.  The previous owner kept her for 6 weeks in the backyard w/o supervision, a big bowl of food and water.  She was overweight, but since we've had her, she looks in great health.  We've decided to crate train her, but we're unsure of how to use it properly.  I know her potty schedule pretty well now, and we've only had a couple of accidents (after meals and we weren't watching... oops!).  We take her out every 3-4 hours, and let her potty.  We play with her for about 20 minutes, and then we put her back in the crate.  She whines for a few minutes, and then sleeps for about 3 hours.  Are we over-using the crate, or are we doing it right?  We're fortunate right now to have this much time to spend with her.  We are school teachers, and have the summer off.  In 1 1/2 months we're going back to school, so we're trying to get her trained as quickly as possible.  Obedience classes start in 4 days.  How are we doing so far?  Thanks,
Adam

Answer
Hi Adam;
Well, you asked the wrong person how to crate train, because I HATE those darned things.
I have raised all my dogs, as indoor dogs all my life, and I am 73. I have had all sizes from 100+ pound dogs to little bitty ones, and they are all trained, and behave very well in the house. They go where they are allowed to go, get on the furniture they are allowed on and not on what they have been taught to stay off of. I have 4 dogs now, all indoor dogs, and two are sort of large,( both are Australian Shepherd mixes) one is med ( a Sheltie), and a little Lhasa mix.
Once when we had a little rescue dog with a new litter of puppies, I used a crate. That little rise at the front helped her keep her puppies in until they were large enough to be allowed to roam around the room. We never closed the door. She could come and go as she pleased.
They are good for trabveling because the dog has a better chance of surviving a car accident inside a crate than being thrown around in a crash, but since they have now come out with a really good seat belt for dogs, I don't use a crate for transporting them.
I would use one as a dog's bed, only for them to go in and sleep or lie down when they wanted, but I would not close the door. They would have freedom to raom.
Zoos acknowledged animals were better off out of cages, and then someone comes up with the bright idea of caging animals we take in as family members.
Just train that baby the way you want it to behave in the house.
At 11 weeks she is still a baby, and you sound like an understanding and patient parent.
whan you take a dog in as a family member, that is what you are, parents.
I raise my dogs just like I raise my children.
they are not allowed on all the furniture the children were, and they went outside to potty, but they had rules, and they were taught what we wanted, and they did it, unlike the children always.LOL
About the biggest difference between animals and children is, you don't have to buy clothes for them,the dog won't tie up the telephone, and won't ask to borrow the car. LOL
Sorry I can't advise you more about crate training.
Charlotte