Hi everyone!
I keep my little guy in the crate at night and he sleeps thru the night and waits until I let him out to go to the bathroom at around 6 am, but I was wondering about during the day if I am going to be gone for school or work, will it be ok to crate him during the day as well since he is not housebroken yet (he does use potty pads right now), or should I just keep him in the crate at night, and let him roam free in the house during the day. I know since he is still young, he can't be in there for too long so I wanted to get opinions if just at night he should be crated? Or is during the night and day too much? Or should I just have him crated during the day instead?

Thank you =)

I crate at night AND whenever I am gone. It prevents any mischeif

This is all personal preference and depends on your dog. Personally, if he is not house broken, I would not be leaving him alone outside the crate longer than 1-2 hours if you choose to test that out. You'll just end up with pee everywhere and make house breaking them much more difficult. Having him in the crate for a prolonged period is better than having him outside the crate soiling everywhere.

I am outside the norm as most people don't agree with outside access 24/7 when not home, and have always had a dog door with free access to go in and out as they please since they were puppies, even when I am gone, so I never had to worry about soiling as they just would go in the yard.

I would keep crating him during the day. At this age, they mostly sleep! Do you work 9-5? That's 8 hrs. Puppies usually eat 3 times a day. Juneau just eats whenever she wants, no set schedule. I have the luxury of taking her to work.

I always keep a 100% eye on Juneau when she is loose. They still sniff around and get curious about everything. You'll come home to a messy house if you leave him outside his crate all day.

At a young age, they were taught to not "mess" in their bed. So he shouldn't be peeing or pooping in his crate (unless you give him a ton of water or food). I would, however, leave a little food (not too much that he'll have to poop, just enough to snack on. You don't want to come home to a poopy kennel and a poopy puppy!) and a few gulps of water. Most advise to not leave any rawhide in the cage, incase they choke. Juneau is fine with a stuffed animal and a bully stick (they're safe, easy to digest). Another thing you may want to look into is a KONG - a rubber cone looking thing with a hole in it so you can stuff treats, plain yogurt, PEANUT BUTTER, applesauce, and many other things into it! It will keep most pups occupied for hrs. Freezing the contents will make it more fun for them.

After you get home, let him out right away. Then I'd leave him out until it's bed time! Play with him in between so he knows that he's loved, and to tire him out.

Good luck!

Oh thank you everyone!
I was worried that I might be keeping in his crate for too long if i was crating him at night and during the day, but he does sleep a ton now lol. I work about 6-7 hours (9am -3pm or 4pm), so he will probably be ok if I leave him in there during the day, and for school I will only be gone about 4 hours (probably 9am-1pm), so that isn't too long. I wish I could take him to work with me but my work doesn't allow it unfortunately =( He's very good in his crate and hasn't made any messes in there. he does hold it all night until I let him out to go potty. And I do leave one or two of his favorite kongs with some treats (still have to get peanut butter for him) and a chewy toy or two to let him teeth something.

When I get him up, he uses the bathroom, then eats, and then will use the bathroom afterward, then I'll play with him about an hour before I leave for work to tire him out a bit. Then I always play with him for a couple of hours before his bedtime so I can tire him out again lol

Thank you all for the helpful answers =)