Many people worry that confining their dog to a crate is cruel. Wild dogs sleep in dens, and even today's domesticated dogs retain the den instinct.
The crate needs to be small enough that the dog does not use one end for sleeping and the other end as a bathroom. It should be large enough that the dog can turn around in a circle to lie down.
When you first get your puppy and he/she is small you can use a crate divider to partition it into a smaller space. Move the partition as the puppy grows, and will not need to keep buying larger crates.
The crate must NEVER be used as punishment. You want the crate to be seen as a safe and happy place.
A dog will not normally soil where he/she sleeps if at all possible. This also speeds up the housebreaking process.
When your puppy arrives home he/she should be in the crate during:
�Nap time: even when the puppy falls asleep elsewhere, pick him/her up and put the puppy in its crate.
�Nighttime: this will allow you to sleep knowing that your puppy is not getting into anything around the house.
�Mealtime: this will almost guarantee that the puppy is focused on his food rather than what is going on around him.
�When you are busy: it is always better to crate him/her than to have to clean up the mess when you are not watching.
Crates are available in a variety of materials -- some even resemble furniture that matches your room.
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