A crate is simply a plastic or wire box designed to serve as an artificial den for the dog. They may be purchased at most pet stores. Crate training is highly recommended by vets and professional dog trainers for house-training, prevention of behavior problems, and ease of travel. Crates have the added advantage of providing a traveling home for your dog, allowing you to more easily take the dog along on trips. They have a natural instinct to keep their dens clean and therefore they go outside to urinate and defecate.
Every dog can benefit from a crate - a place of it's own.
Buy an adult size crate for a puppy, but use a space divider because if the crate is too large, instead of keeping it clean, the puppy may eliminate in one end. Praise it whenever it enters it's crate. When it seems comfortable going into the crate with the door open, give it a rawhide bone or Nylabone to chew and close the door for a few minutes only. Stay in the room, going about your business. At the first sign of protest, such as barking or howling, intervene with a sharply raised voice.