The first thing to remember with puppies is that everything is a process. When you are introducing new training or elements into their lives you need to do so with small steps. Give them a chance to become familiar an competent with the first step before moving onto the next and keep your expectations at a level that matches the puppy. Don't expect too much from him before he is ready.
Now with all that said, here's how I would advise you -
Crate Training:
1. Start slow. Place him inside for only a few seconds at a time. Just long enough to introduce him to the idea without reaching the point that he is crying/barking to be let out. If he starts barking or making a fuss before you let him out, then the time limits need to be shortened. It's important that you catch him (let him out) BEFORE he gets overly agitated. Not only does it keep the lesson positive, but it keeps your dog from associating barking with you letting him out.
2. Keep the process fun and rewarding. When you put him in/take him out praise him a LOT. Make it so the crate is associated with good things rather then the idea that he is going to be left alone. Treats and toys help with this as well - sometimes even a special treat/toy that your pup only gets during crate time.
3. Try not to stand in view of your pup when he is in his crate (during the beginning at least). Also try not to make a lot of noise. Often what causes the dogs to become agitated is that fact that they know we are still in the room or near by and that they are locked up. They do much better getting used to the crate when there are fewer distractions.
4. Speaking of distractions, keep his crate in a room that fairly low traffic. It will be harder for your pup to settle down if there is a lot going on outside of crate while he is still adjusting to it.
5. All of these steps (minus #4 lol) are repeatable. You keep up the same routine until your dog slowly becomes accustomed to the crate. As he does so, you can lengthen the amount of time between when you put him in the crate to when you let him out. As you progress, you can also weed out treats (and stick with just praise) if you so desire.
House Training:
House training is fairly similar as far as the steps you will use.
1. Get yourself and your puppy on a schedule. Take him outside at the same times everyday. The trips outside also need to be fairly frequent for a number of reasons. He's a pup so he's going to need to go more often and the more often you are outside, the bigger chance you have of preventing accidents/getting him to go in the proper area.
2. When he does go outside, LOTS of praise. The special treat or toy use works here too. Make him associate going outside with good things.
3. Clean up any accident spots in the house with an enzyme cleaner (one example is Nature's Miracle). If you don't, sometime a smell (possibly not detectable to you) will remain and encourage the puppy to remark that area.
4. As with the crate training, you can increase the time in between outside breaks as you progress. He should start to get the idea fairly quickly if you're on top of your schedule and diligent about getting him outside in time.
Also keep in mind that most of the the old wives tales about rubbing your pup's nose in it's mess or anything along those lines are more or less ineffectual. You don't need to worry so much about showing him where NOT to go as you do about showing him where he SHOULD go. If you make the right place positive/rewarding enough then he will want to go there on his own.
Now those are just quick rundowns but it should hopefully put you on the right track - I hope you find it useful!
Welcome to the forum by the way and don't forget to post pictures of Rocky. We'd all love to see him
