[tenderfoot]

I would keep the crate available until your dog is through the teenage months - after that is is up to you.

So many dogs really learn to love their crates - it is a safe haven from the world - and will appreciate having it available for life. Others can grow beyond the crate.

At 8-10 months a lot of dogs will start old puppy behaviors like chewing, and they get a surge of energy that quickly becomes boredom which quickly becomes destroying your house just for fun - the crate then becomes a safety valve for your belongings and his stomach. :>