Those who have not used crates or done any research on their use in housetraining often misunderstand their purpose.

A dog crate is not a 'cage'. Far from it. If you take care to introduce a puppy to its crate carefully and to associate only positive experiences with it - for example never use the crate as punishment - you are giving that pup a place of refuge and comfort that it will enjoy throughout its life.

Crates are also an invaluable aid to housetraining and an excellent way to keep puppies out of trouble when you are unable to keep an eye on them (in much the same way as a baby pen confines and protects human infants).

When buying a crate for a puppy, aim to get one that will suit the adult size of the dog. You will need to block of the excess area until the pup grows into his crate.