Ok, here I go on my soapbox in support of crate training, since that is what we are doing
In my opinion, if you are not going to be able to spend 24-7 with your puppy, then the crate is a very good idea for you to use. There is nothing mean or inhumane about the crate. If you put comforting things in it, you create a comforting environment for your puppy. We always put a blanket or towel in there, and a few toys. The crate becomes their den and a place they can go to relax and sleep. Hercules now goes in his crate on his own, even when he doesn't have to because he knows it's an ok place.
I have heard that it is ok to move the crate between the living room and the bedroom. We live in a small apartment, so we ended up keeping it in the living room since the bedroom is so close by.
If you go with the crate, you should introduce the puppy gradually to it. First put her in it for 15 minutes and be close by, where she can see you. Gradually increase the amount of time you leave her and leave the room sometimes, even leave the house sometimes. You want her to know that the crate is a good, fun place to be. And that it doesn't always mean that you are going to leave her if she's in there. I keep Hercules in the crate when I'm cleaning, so he doesn't get in the way or to ingest any of the cleaning stuff! Never put her in the crate as punishment because you always want it to be seen as a positive place.
Hope this helps some. I truly think that crate training is a good thing. It helps create boundaries and routines that will hopefully help make the puppy happy.
