SOME CRATING INFO
AND MORE NEAT STUFF:
PLASTIC vs WIRE - We chose the high impact plastic Vari-Kennel, because it offered better protection from drafts, more seclusion for the puppy, and some ease in cleaning. We only had to rarely clean the inside of it, not the surrounding areas outside where males could've sprayed through wire crates. And it didn't appear "cage-like" to sympathetic house guests. (The latter is more important than many will admit.)
Some people choose wire crates, supposedly to minimize the puppy's feeling of confinement. Well, seeing dogs so willingly trot into their molded plastic crates shoots holes in that theory. Still, if the owner feels better using a wire crate, than maybe they'll utilize the crate effectively.
After some puppies are dependably housebroken, their owners simply take the doors off their crates. This gives the little companion easy access, while providing seclusion, whenever desired.
Incidentally, many people find perfectly acceptable used crates at garage sales and from pet store or grooming shop bulletin board notices! Two brands of the molded plastic type spring to mind, the Vari-Kennel and the Furrarri. Both are a little pricey new, but both are good and sturdy and break down into two turtle shell-like halves for storage.
Nuther thing, if your intentions are to use a crate only during the housebreaking period (plan on 1 to 2 mos), maybe borrowing a puppy-sized one might be possible(?).
CRATE SIZE: An adult dog should be able to stand, stretch, turn around and lay comfortably in it. For temporary puppy use, the back portion of an adult crate could be blocked off with a carefully improvised panel. Nothing inside should snag or hinder anything of the puppy. I even recommend removing the puppy's collar during crating.
BE OF STERN STUFF: The puppy is to be placed in the crate whenever it cannot be directly supervised, i.e., when you are at work, or gone from the house, and during bedtime. Unfortunately, no matter how heartbreakingly it tries to convince you otherwise, the puppy will NOT be sleeping with you in your bed during housebreaking training!
CRATE LOCATION: You are strongly advised to keep the crate near the appropriate outdoor door. The time it takes to open the crate, put on the puppy's collar, snap on the leash, and walk it to the door may seem like forever to the little fuzzball! Since they can't squeeze their knees together like kids do, at least cut down on travel time. After the first time you find yourself running toward a distant door, holding the puppy facing away from you at arm's length, whilst it's spraying hither and yon, I guarantee you'll find a spot much closer to that door anyway. And, trust me, you yelling, "Stop peeing!" won't help a bit.
FOOD AND WATER: If you are able to visit and spring the youngster every four hours, or more frequently, leave feeding and watering for out-of-crate times. A good brand of dry kibble puppy food is more housebreaking-friendly than canned stuff, since canned food contains a goodly amount of water. Canned food and anything like table scraps will not produce those compact little butt nuggets... which are the easiest to clean up, should an unexpected indoor accident occur. So, for the duration, feed a good quality puppy dry kibble. You don't have to leave water in the crate all the time. Provide fresh water during meals and after exercise (play).
REFERENCE BOOK RECOMMENDATION: "DOGS FOR DUMMIES" is a book that takes guts to recommend, solely because of its title. But, it is a good book with lotsa good crate training advice. It's written by Gina Spadafori and priced around twenty bucks.
However, my very best advice is for you to read about her tactics and reread the "Rigid Housebreaking Regimen" and blend them together as best serves your particular circumstances. The "DUMMIES" plan isn't nearly as regimented, or as tight, time-wise, as the rigid regimen where all the stops were pulled out in the interest of the shortest possible training period, with nothing less than maximum dependability. Because we were dealing with mind-blowingly smart and feisty terriers, she stressed uncluttered and consistent cueing and frequent repetitiveness!
GOOD LUCK!
May the FORCE be with you!