Your dog is mighty young still. And also you haven't had him long enough to be housetrained. It takes some 6 months, with their little bladders to get trained. I'd definitely not let him have run of the entire house!
They do get used to their crate and its a den for them later. But if your crating, need to make sure you take them out every 2 hours or so. And keep the crate in the busiest room in the house. I'd certainly crate at night. I had to put Venus's crate beside my bed, so I could hear her cry to go "out". She got used to the crate beside the bed, and eventually when I'd say "lets go to bed" she'd go get in her crate.
But I would not use the crate for punishment. Especially if you don't see them going somewhere, and catch them in the act. When you catch them in the act, just say "no" and put them on the pee pad, or take them outside. I know a pee pad worked better for me at first than outside.
I got an x pen, and put her crate toys, food and water on one end and a pee pad at the other end. After she was going on the pad all the time, I confined her to the kitchen, with a pad in there. When confining or crating, you want to use the busiest room in the house, so they won't get lonely! That certainly keeps the whining down! When she was 100% in the kitchen, I added 1 more room. Now carpet is harder to train them on than lenolium or tile!! Venus is 6 months old, and my carpet cleaner is still "parked" in the living room! And she still misses the pad with the poo a lot!
Also if you don't get the smell out of carpet, they will keep going in that same spot! From my experience it takes more than a carpet cleaner. I'm now trying "Simple Solutions". You can get that at Petsmart.
Good luck and congratulations on your new puppy! |