I highly recommend crate training.  This is for your puppy’s safety as well as their security.  Crates are not punishment.  This is their den.  When trained correctly, your puppy will (in time) have no anxiety concerning their crate.  In fact, you will likely see them choosing to crate themselves because they find comfort in their little home. 

I recommend setting the crate up in your most commonly used room of your house.  You can move it later.  Right now, this is just to get them adapted to it.  Puppies should sleep in their crate at night.  I do not recommend giving water to them in their crates at this age.  Water = potty.  The goal is to keep the crate dry and comfy. 

I use towels or thinner blankets in the tray to begin with.  These can be washed easily.  You can add a comfy pad or bed after your puppy has the dry crate down pat. 

When you are around your house during the day, give your puppy regular intervals in their crate.  Teach them to go into their crate when you tell them to, treats, and praise work well.  Repeating the command crate, then offering a treat and praise over and over a few times during a training session will have this down rather quickly.  During these regular crate intervals give them chew toys that they typically do not have access to freely.  I prefer bully sticks or deer antlers rather than actual toys during these times.  Raw hides are dangerous and should be avoided. 

Wire or plastic?

This is a long debate that would be boring to listen to, but there are some differences.

The solid plastic crates are better for keeping dog mess inside the crate, if there’s an accident, it’ll catch it. They can be hard to clean though since you need to climb in there and wipe them out. The dogs do seem to like the dark of them a little better, it feels safer. Yet, they can be an awkward shape and aren’t great as a table.

The wire crates can be a pain because the “dog dust” and any mess come out the sides more easily and this creates a weird line of dog dirt and hair around the edges of the crate, something you could sweep once a week, it’s crazy. The tray is easy to take out and wipe and it can hold some mess, but if there’s poop on the wires, well, you might want a pressure washer. They collapse and can be put away, which is nice for smaller spaces and can be easier with travel. They also come with dividers making the crate smaller when the puppy is younger, this assists in house training since if the dog has too much space in the crate they’ll use one side for a bathroom. So you can buy the adult crate and make it work for your puppy.

Either will work and I do have used both at my home. It really comes down to your preference.

If your puppy whines or starts to cry, which they likely will, you can make a den by covering the crate with a thin blanket or towel to keep them from being able to see around the room or see you.  This is temporary.  Teaching them their crate is a cozy place when you are home will give them comfort knowing it’s a good place when you have to leave the house.  It is not punishment.  I promise!  Crates are wonderful tool, but as with all things, it takes training.