I'd crate when I couldn't be right there watching the puppy so that it will make less mistakes and thus be drawn less to repotty where that scent is or just the memory of a previous potty. Crate-training is not jail when done right - it's just a place to keep them when you can't watch them constantly. The small expanse of the crate tends to encourage a pup want to hold its bladder/bowels as they don't want to soil their quarters, once they have that control, & this trains them to learn to hold it until you return to let them out to potty. The rest of the time, when you are able to watch them, no need to crate - they should be out in the home with you living the life of a puppy. Good luck to you and your new little one.
__________________  Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |