If you're going to be busy for a while and can't keep an eye on your
pup, place him outside if you have a fenced area. If not, place him in
his crate. Give him a toy or two to play with and keep him busy. Don't
keep him in the crate for more than a couple of hours though. It's not a
kennel. If you start confining him to the crate for most of the day and
night, he will think of it as a cage, not a den. Going to the store for
a couple hours? Repeat the process with your pup-tire him out, take him
to relieve himself and place him in his crate with some toys.
When you
get home, calmly take him outside. Eventually, as your pup gets used to
the routine, you can crate him for half a day while you attend to work
or shopping or other things. If you are going to be gone for longer
than 3 or 4 hours, arrange for someone to come let your pup out and play
with him during the mid-day break. As your pup matures (at about 5 or 6
months) you can leave him in the crate while you're at work all day. If
you have a fenced backyard, it's preferable to leave him there, with
plenty of water. If this is not an option, you can place him in his crate
with a small bowl of water (like the kind rabbit cages have that attach
to the mesh gate). Give him toys to chew on and amuse himself with.
Be
sure the first thing you do upon returning home is take your pup
outside to relieve himself and then spend some time playing with him. In no
time at all your pup will be housebroke and thinking of the crate as his
den-his security blanket. You will know you've accomplished this the
first time your pup gets himself in trouble or scared and he runs for the
safety of his den as you laugh at the sight of him scurrying inside for
safety!