Dogs, like their wild ancestors, naturally want to seek shelter even in the house. If not provided, they will create it themselves under a table, chair or bed. A crate provides security, comfort, and helps to train your new puppy to be clean in the house.
Each dog in the household should have their own crate. It's their 'space', and they will come to use it to rest, or get away from it all. Crates should also be utilized when your dog travels in your vehicle. The crate will ensure that they aren't wandering freely about the 'cabin', and in the event of an accident, your dog is far less likely to end up loose, or injured if safely tucked into their crate.
For additional safety, the crate should be secured in your vehicle, either by using a seatbelt, in a rear seat, or if in a van or truck, strap the crate to the floor. Our vehicle came with cargo hooks in the rear cargo area, just perfect for securing all of the crates with straps, not bungee or elastic cords.
Our younger dogs sleep at night in their crates, in our bedroom. We use Vari-Kennels for nighttime, and car travel. During the day when they need to be confined, they each have a open wire crate, although they don't routinely use the same crate each time. When we announce 'nap time!' they all scurry to their crates, so it's a first come, first served jockeying for the crate they want. Occasionally we have had them ALL end up in the same crate, and by golly, they all fit in one. I then point out to them that they don't need to ALL be in one, there's more room if they separate, and one by one they exit and pick another crate. The wire crates are setup so that they are side by side, so they can talk among themselves while we're gone.
In the event of fire, or other reasons to evacuate your home, if the dogs are secured, you'll know where to find them. If the crates are near an outside exit, then it's easy to quickly take the crates outside, and secure your dogs away from harm. (Leashes for every dog in your household should also be stored where everyone in your household can quickly find them in an emergency, but that's a whole other topic!)
Odds are, your breeder has started the process long before your puppy is ready to go home with you. We start exposing puppies to the crate idea at 6 weeks, when we place a small vari-kennel, with door removed, in the puppy pen. They quickly learn that the crate is a fun place, and within hours our puppies are in and out and even napping in the crate. By 8-10 weeks, they have learned that they do not eliminate in the crate, instead they will go as far from the crate as possible, within the confines of the puppy pen.
During this same period, they each get some individual time in a crate, as they need to learn to be alone. The quicker they learn that 'alone' is ok, the far better they will do the first time they are separated from their littermates and mom!
Now, let's assume that your new puppy wasn't exposed to either a crate, or being alone, until you brought him home. If your new puppy just spent 4-5 weeks living in a pen in a barn, then was taken too soon from his littermates and mom, to be stocked like canned goods at a pet shop, you can bet that he's learned that it's not only ok to eliminate in their 'crate', but it's the ONLY place to go! You've got a lot of work ahead of you, but in your free time, you need to read up on where those 'cute' petshop puppies really come from...PUPPY MILLS/HIGH VOLUME BREEDERS.
Ok, back to crate training. You'll need to have a crate that will be comfortable for your puppy once he reaches adult size, typically any crate that measures: 24 L x 18 W x 21 H or close to these numbers. (That said, we use a 100 Vari-Kennel for transporting Scotties in our vehicle, there's not much lounging room, but they don't mind having tighter quarters in the car.)
Start by putting your tired puppy in his crate for only 5 minutes at a time. Stay in sight and when he's inside give lots of praise. Just as a baby cries in his crib, it is common to expect some distress at first. He may whine but don't let him out until he stops, or you will be enforcing the idea that complain=no crate.
Puppies need to relieve themselves every 2-4 hours. As a general rule, puppies can control themselves for one hour for every month of age, up to 9 or 10 hours. It is best to walk them after waking, eating, and playing. When he eliminates outside reward him, soon you'll be able to leave the crate door open all the time.
If your puppy soils in his crate most likely it is either too big, or you left him in too long.
DO NOT put your puppy in his crate for punishment or reprimand your dog while he is in the crate. His crate should represent a happy, safe place!
Some people feed their dogs in their crates. This eliminates dstractions, and helps digestion. If you have multiple dogs, it also ensures that Fu-Fu eats Fu-Fu's dinner, and not everyone else's!
Potty training should begin at week 12 (if not before) and usually takes about 4 weeks to complete. Until your puppy is absolutely trustworthy in the house, he should be supervised. Lamp cords, telephone cords, knic-knacs, shoes, etc all represent potential 'toys' for your puppy, and for his safety, as well as the yours, his crate is the safest place for him when you cannot monitor him 100%. Just remember the time, set your oven timer, or microwave timer to remind you that he needs to get up and exercise!