Crate Training While At Work / What Is Acceptable?

Hi All,

First time dog owner here (14 week old Pit Lab mix), with questions about crate training in general & at work.

1. Our little puppy seems to be very happy in his crate. He will go in and out of it throughout the day, lay in it, he loves it in there! During the work day, we wake up with him around 630 for him to use the bathroom (he sleeps through the night) and then run around and play until around 10:30 when I have to go to work. This is literally 4 hours of nonstop playing and running around in the dog park. From 10:30 to 1:00 he is in the create and then my girlfriend comes home and plays with him for another 45 minutes and he goes back into the crate until about 3:00 which is when I come home for my break. We play for about an hour and then he is back in his crate until about 630. Are these 2 - 3 1/2 hour segments too much for him? On camera I can see that he wines for about 5 minutes after we leave, goes to bed, and then wines about for another 5 minutes through the time period. I want to be sure that is normal.

2. My dog will only sleep in the crate overnight if the crate is moved closer to my bedroom. Once we move it over he is absolutely silent and happy snoring away. Is this normal as well? Do I slowly move it back to the living room as time goes on?

Really looking forward to seeing your answers, I have a feeling the crating is okay, but I just want to be sure and put my mind at ease.

Ps. Is it also possible that I should crate him for longer intervals? It seems as soon as I get home its a rush to get outside to not have an accident.