Crate training is important to housebreaking.
It should be the first step you take before you try to house break your puppy.
Unfortunately, most people don't understand how to properly crate train their puppy and end up hurting their dog.
Here are a few tips to make sure you don't end up hurting your dog by attempting to crate train them.
When you first introduce your puppy to the crate, you should move as slow as possible.
Any premature advances will set you and your training back, and may even damage your dog's trust in you.
You are trying to make your dog's crate a comfortable, safe haven, and if you force the issue, it will be more like a jail cell.
You should set up a particular place inside the crate for your dog to do their business.
By doing this, you will not force your dog to lie in their own urine or feces, something dogs hate.
Once again, we are trying to create a haven for your dog, not someplace your dog fears and loathes.
Start off with small periods of crate time.
Bring your dog's favorite toy in to the crate, and even put treats in there when you start.
By starting with small amounts of time, your dog will realize that crate time is temporary, and will never be forever.
They may also associate going to their crate with the treat or their toy.
You can slowly break them of that expectation down the road, but for now, it's a good expectation to have.