Let us know how you do it...

I have learned over the years that being soft hearted and thinking crate training was cruel has cost me a lot of unnecessary expense and frustration. I now have 3 very active and industrious Border Collies that I would never let loose in the house for a long period of time. From the first night I got them as puppies I have introduced them to a crate. I will put in an item of clothing from myself or the mother dog to make them more secure. When they were small I put a box in the large crates that I use to take up the space that they did not need. If you use too large a crate the puppy will go to one end and mess there and still be able to sleep comfortably in the other end. By making the space small enough but still comfortable for the pup to stand turn around and sleep in, You are discouraging it from using the bathroom. A dog never wants to mess where it sleeps. Keep in mind the length of time you are away. A young pup can hold it's bladder for 1 hour for every month of it's age plus one. So a 2 month old may only be capable of a 3 hour confinement. I take all food and water away in the evening and never use the crate as punishment. All my dogs find sanctuary in their crates and even with the doors open that is where I find them most times when they want peace and quiet.

Take one crate of the appropriate size!

Food dish and blanket/rug (creature comforts)

Favorite chew toys!

Open the door put the items inside towards the back! and walk away, The puppy will do the rest.

DONOT force the puppy it will resent the cage!