Stick with what the breeder uses if the pup is doing well on it.

For now I'd stick with what the breeder used but if you want to change, you should do it gradually. As Maxine says, if the pup is doing well and you're all happy that's great.

Yes, that is what I said in the first response to your original question.

Indeed you did . But what a shame you felt the need to pepper your response with unwarranted antagonistic comments towards members of this forum, together with other - bad - advice.

Alfie has arrived!!! He is so cute. He's crying a little but then I suppose that is to be expected. He's been out in the garden chasing leaves. He's had a drink but so far has not eaten, his breeder said he's not eaten anything today. I tempted him into his crate with a small piece of chicken and sat with him whilst he fell asleep. Have put the radio on low for him and I'm hoping he'll be hungry when he wakes up.

Good luck Beth Alfie looks lovely....

Well I think Aflie's first night went well. He doesn't like his crate at the moment. I've made it as comfortable as possible, have used one of our old pillows and covered it with his blanket and he's got a nice teddy in there too. He is choosing to go inbetween the kitchen cupboards (where the dishwasher would go) so I have put a pillow and a blanket in there too so he is fast asleep in there at the moment.

He slept on his pillow next to the sofa last night. He did really well. A few times I woke to him whining and licking my face so I took him straight outside and he did go. We have had a few accidents but they were all my fault as I see the signs quick enough.

He still isn't eating very much but he did have a nibble last night. I bent over his feed bowl and pretended to eat and he came and joined me so all in all I think we're doing ok.

Going to read up a bit about crate training now whilst he's asleep and see if I can get him comfortable with sleeping in there.

Thankyou for everyone's help. You've all been a godsend. x

Hi Beth have you read this article by Shadowboxer re crates...
http://www.dogsey.com/dog-articles.php?t=15552
.. also try hiding special treats in the crate, bits of chicken or cheese and you could feed Alfie in there (with the door open ) all this will help him to associate it with good things . I also play with the puppy when it is in the crate by dropping treats/pushing a toy through the bars .

It sounds like you are off to a good start

Aw, I'm so glad that you had a good night. And he went outside too!

I have to say Labman IMO some of the worst advice I have ever seen given on this forum has come from yourself .

In addition to your assertion that it is the correct thing to do to keep puppies shut in crates for long periods without water and bedding on wire mesh and feeding them too few meals ,I have just noticed this bit of advice you gave in another thread....
It appears your team of professionals and those who wrote your manual don't know the simplest of things like how to pick up a puppy correctly. I guess being top dog and forcing puppies into submission takes precedence over everything else .

You never ever pick up a puppy around its middle let alone hold it there for 15 seconds and repeat , a puppy should always be lifted with an arm under the front legs and a hand under its bottom to supports its body weight. Picking a puppy incorrectly can make it vomit but much worse you can damage its internal organs.
It is also important to pick a puppy up correctly or it may become fearful of being picked up and this can lead to agression.
Forcing a puppy to submit to being held can make him fearfully of humans and difficult to train. How can you expect a puppy to learn to trust someone who forces it into submission. The puppy is more likely to learn to fear than to trust.