Crate training. Advice please!

[SallyBear]

We will be hopefully getting a Labrador puppy in about a months time. It's been 14 years since we last had a pup, and I know that crate training is now the way to go for most people.

The question I have is, what size crate to get? Do I get a small one to start with (what size?) and then a larger one later on if the crate training works for us.? What would you suggest please?

Can someone please explain in idiot speak how to crate train please? How do you actually do it. and toilet training? I have my friends 9 week old pup just now (long story) and I need to make life easy for him til she gets back.

Oh and he's a wee chunky chocolate lab and I don't really like dogs much. However I have fallen for his chocolately charms and he spends most of his time staring at me, making me play, snoring on my legs. He has made me love him in two days. Clever little bugger.

In basic terms, you encourage the dog to stay in his crate for sleeping and chilling time. Make it a nice cosy environment, maybe with a soft toy or something that smells familiar. Dog sleeps in there at night, and also at times during the day.