I just got a gsp about three weeks ago, i was wondering how to start lease training him...and when to start it. Also i was curious about your opinions on crates...good bad, yes no.

Thanks.

Leash training is really pretty simple.  I use 1/4-3/8 nylon cord.  Attach it to the pup's collar and depending on the terrain leave two to five feet of it dangling every time he's outside.  If there are other puppies around he'll be leash broke in about two days because of them dragging him around, if not it will take about a week for him to learn that the pressure on his neck is not going to harm him. 

You can expedite it a bit if he's an "only puppy" by tieing him to a stake out for progressively longer periods of time.  He'll probably fight it like the dickens and carry on like he's being killed the firs few minutes the first time after he figures out he's "caught" but he'll quickly learn.

Once they learn to give to the pressure on their neck naturally it's a breeze for you to pick the rope up and start leading them. CR

i crated my gsp from the first day i got him, he yelped and whined for the first ten min but he was only in it at night and it was right next to my bed. with in a few days he was used to it i put a blanket inside and left the door open all day sometimes he would just go inside just to relax...now hes six months old and only is crated when we leave he sleeps at the foot of my bed now as he is fully potty trained, which crating def helped with.. as for the leash my dog hates it he is rarely on it and when he is hes nuts... but in the field when unleashed he is very obediant..