I admit that I’m as guilty as anyone of letting my dogs sleep with me, but crate training a puppy from an early age will provide you both with better peace of mind in the long run.
A dog trained to sleep in a crate has a “den” of his own and will feel much safer and be more content when you’re not at home. Also, dogs won’t soil the area where they sleep, so getting in a crate routine from day one will help to facilitate housetraining.
You have two choices in crate styles: plastic portable units like those used to transport your pet to the vet, and a wire crate. Either should be large enough for the puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Good ventilation is also essential. For this reason, I prefer a wire crate outfitted with comfortable padding.
You can buy an adult-sized crate for a puppy; just make sure you give the little dog a cardboard box tucked away in the back corner, so he has a cozy space to snuggle into.
In addition to the crate, which you will use when you are away and at night, you can also have one or more puppy/dog beds in the home for those moments when your little Jug wants a nap.
That’s one of the funniest things about puppies. They go at full speed until they don’t, and then they collapse into an adorable, snoring pile.
For a breed like the Jug, you’ll want a wire crate that is 30” x 19” x 22” / 76.2 cm x 48.26 cm x 55.88 cm, which should retail for less than $50 / £29.73. Expect to spend an additional $25 / £14.87 on a good quality crate pad.
