I agree with crate training....all five of mine love their "beds" and willing go when it's bedtime. We don't ever use them for punishment; when the huge Pit/Lab pup needs to go in his crate (during our dinner usually) it's with a huge rawhide bone that he can only have while in the crate, so he looks forward to the crate. I highly believe in classes for puppy training, especially for your first dog.