Crate training is a good thing, and it doesn't take too long before your dog knows that is his den, and will go to it to nap because it is his safe place. Dogs will whine about it to begin with, but a couple of toys, and definitely do the throwing some treats in there. It soon becomes their own special place. Limiting a dog's domain in the house is VERY GOOD for training. They really don't want to soil the areas that they sleep/eat in (though no food in the crate other than treats while you are home to encourage your dog to discover that this is his own place). They also want to be part of "the pack", so they are motivated to learn so they can have more space in the house and be near to the ones they love.
Taking your dog out on leash is a great way for potty training. I used "go potty", and still do. I can let my dogs out (whether at home, visiting someone, or from the truck), and even though they might be all excited and want to snoop & run around, I just have to tell them to "go potty" and they will do their business. If they've peed and I think they have to poo, but are running around playing, I tell them "go poop". From the time they were young I did this, and gave them lots of praise and made a
big deal of it when they did their business......"good potty", "good poop", "good puppy". I still give them praise, though not as much needed when they go when I tell them to go now. To start with though, they were never allowed out on their own to go to the bathroom. It was leash only so I knew when they went, and could give that important praise.
Older pups don't learn as fast as the younger ones, but they still can learn pretty darn fast. If someone is home with him, then do take him out on leash every couple of hours, or even more to start with. After they drink a lot of water, they are going to have to go. After they eat, they will need to go out. After a play session, they will need to go. Once that is all established, then they will get the idea and won't need to go out as often after those times.
I didn't do the obedience training classes, but I was home and did the reading from books I bought on my breed, Google, and Cesar Milan is awesome, so I did it on my own (nothing against classes, I just was at home and had the time to do the training). Teaching the basics of sit, down, stay....is good for both of you. It teaches the dog important things that could very well save his life at some time, plus it establishes you as the dominant one (alpha) of the pack (your whole family is "the pack"). I did the main training as I was the one with our dogs ALL the time, and then showed/told the hubby so our dogs weren't getting mixed messages. This is important so the dog listens to everyone in the family, and the training is consistent.
Getting your dog fixed is also a smart thing, if not already done. It helps with the indoor stuff, as well as outdoor and the wanting to run off/roam.
Good luck, and let us know how things are going!
