I just want to thank you all for your advice,
we got crates for our babies a while ago and I was suprised how soon they got used to them, Mdina was scared to go in hers at first but Max was fine, so we tried feeding them in there and she still stood with her back legs out stretching to reach her dinner just so we didnt shut the door.....

it was long before she got used to it and took that step inside,
Max has escaped once, the little devil un hooked the sides that fold flat and managed to get out somehow, we have now padlocked the sides to stop him.
coming home is now much nicer, there isnt that dread when you walk through the door, or the arguements over what the dogs have done.
once again thank you all for your advice