I let Paddy cry - and cry - and cry. And I bitterly regret it: he was lonely and scared. But it IS a very personal choice and different dogs react different ways. If I was doing it again - I'd have the puppy with me in my room in a box for a few nights, then put him in the kitchen. He'd still cry first night in the kitchen but he'd be less scared/disorientated overall having been in his new home for a few days.
You asked in your original post about dominance theory - humans having to assert themselves as "top dogs". Dogs know that we aren't dogs and don't try this with us. Basically, it's an out-dated school of thought/training. Some of its methods work, but not for the reasons they say. I'd read "The Perfect Puppy" by Gwen Bailey, as already mentioned, for great stuff on socialisation and training simple commands, but disregard the stuff about dominance. The other book which lots of people on here recommend, and I wish I'd read it in the very early days, is "The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson - explains behaviour, training, remedying problems and debunks the dominance nonsense clearly and based on science.
Good luck - and yayyy to handcream and lots of kitchen towels. I got dry, split hands in two or three days from clearing all the wee and poo up and washing hands every two minutes!
Denise
