Crate training can be a very important part of a young puppy’s life and will continue to benefit them for the rest of their lives. A crate placed in the home does for the puppy what a dog house does for outdoor dogs and a den does for wild dogs, namely provides a comfortable home and private space that the dog can call their own. Crate training the puppy early in life will also greatly reduce the amount of puppy mischief that the “newest addition” to your home will be able to get into before he is trained to proper behavior.
If crate training is to be successful, it should be started as early in life as possible. The earlier that the puppy can get used to being in the crate, the less distressed the puppy will be when he is required to stay in the crate. To make the crate more comfortable for the puppy, you should add a comfortable pillow or blanket that the puppy can keep to lie down on as well as a couple of small soft toys, much like you would give a small child a teddy bear for comfort.