17 comments . Comments are added to the end of the article. Click here to jump to a random Weeno article. It is not cruel.
Dogs are den animals, and they like small, enclosed places.
In addition, they have a strong instinct not to soil the den. Buy a crate that will fit your dog when full-grown, but block off part of the crate if it is very large, using cardboard boxes. If the crate is too big, the pup will pee in one end and sleep in another. You want just enough space for the pup to rest comfortably. If you can't watch the pup, put him in the crate.