I bought my first puppy just a few weeks ago, and he took to crate training like a dream...hardly ever barks in there at night or when I go to work. He's 10 weeks old and still getting used to me, and I to him. I've had a lot of trouble in the afternoon/evening when I'm home, with him never settling down, growling/barking for my attenting, and going to the bathroom in the house. It got so I was seeing when he wanted to go and taking him out constantly!

I read the post on here about housebreaking, and I have a question. It sounded like the author advocated leaving the puppy in his crate when he's not a) playing/exercising with me, b) outside going for a walk or to the bathroom, or c) loose in the kitchen only while I'm there. This would save me a lot of headaches/stress, but it seems excessive. Is it?

I have a ton of questions, but this is the big one that will save me from a puppy-related ulcer. I can't give 100% of my time at home to this puppy anymore and fret so much about his accidents on the carpet! Thanks to all for your help!

It's not excessive.
And it makes house training REALLY easy. My 6 month old GSD has never had an accident in the house, and it took about 1 week for him to get the idea of going to the door when he had to go. Now, I still don't let him be ALONE in the house out of the crate - I don't think they're reliably house trained until they are at least 1-1 1/2 years old...and now it's easy to keep an eye on him as he's always at my feet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> He still drags a leash around the house, though.

Looking around other posts and articles (I've spent hours here this afternoon...I'm that desperate for help!), it sounds like the consensus is to let him in there for various amounts of time but not to let him have roam of the house while I'm watching TV or on the computer or otherwise occupied with something that's not him. As long as this isn't going to hurt the dog, I'm fine with it. It's tough to ignore that barking and whining though!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It is tough to ignore the barking and whining, but I can tell you that the SECOND you give in to it (let him/her out while he/she is whining) you will only reinforce the behavior. I find that it helps during puppy training if you put the crate in a quiet and dark room, or put a blanket over it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />