Your Lab's Safe Place
Because he's a member of your family, your Lab will be spending most of his time indoors with you. That's how he learns to live politely in the home. Until he's civilized, however, you'll need to have a safe place where you can leave him when you're not there to supervise, secure in the knowledge that he won't be able to do any (or much) damage.
A suitable safe place usually has a tile or linoleum floor, so it's easy to clean up accidents. It doesn't contain much furniture or anything else that can be chewed. Common choices for safe rooms are the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or garage. A crate is another option you should consider.
A crate is an essential piece of equipment for any Lab caregiver, as it serves as your Lab's bed, his safe place, and as a housetraining tool. Dogs are den animals, so they are comfortable curling up inside a crate when it's bedtime or for a nap when you can't be around to watch them.
If you choose a safe spot such as the kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom, use a baby gate to block the doorway. That way your Lab can still see everything that's going on. A closed door will only encourage him to whine, bang, and maybe even chew his way out. If you're concerned that your Lab will chew on cabinetry or baseboards in the same room, put him inside a puppy playpen — also referred to as an x-pen — so that he can't get to those areas.
A dog-proofed garage can also be a good place to let your Lab stay unsupervised. Some people turn part of the garage into a complete dog room, with carpeted floor, crate, grooming table, bed, and toys. A dog door leading to the yard lets your Lab play outside when he wants.
