While a puppy can last in his crate for the night when he is asleep, you cannot leave a puppy in his crate for longer than four hours at a time during the day. Your puppy will soil his crate, which is definitely not a habit you want to establish.
If your schedule is such that you cannot keep an eye on your puppy during the day or come home to let the puppy out in time, a suitable alternative is an exercise pen. An X-pen is a smart confinement and uses the same principle as a crate, except it is bigger and has no top. An X-pen can also be used outdoors.
You need to acquire an X-pen to the size of your dog. Place it where the puppy will be confined during your absence. To get your dog comfortable in crate, follow the same procedure as you would in introducing him to his crate. When he is in the X-pen and you are ready to leave him for the day, cover 1/3 of the area with newspapers. He will quickly understand what the paper is for. Cover 1/3 of the remaining area with a blanket and leave 1/3 uncovered.
For more tips, see also, Reliable dog Behavior Tips.
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Housebreaking your puppy is one of the first major basic puppy training experiences you will share with your dog. We offer dog training tips to help you help your puppy through potty training in all seasons as well as other essential tips needed to understand dog and puppy behavior.
