Using a crate for time-out periods is the best idea to start.
To teach your pup to stay quietly in his crate, begin slowly. Let him explore his crate with the door open. Leave his toys inside the crate, so he will need to step inside to retrieve one. Periodically close the door (not every time he enters the crate). Never force your pup into the crate; instead, try tossing in a biscuit. This way he will learn that the crate is a great place to be.
Having confortable bedding in his crate, and not anywhere else in his area, should entice him inside to take his naps. Teach him that his crate is his bed, his den, a place to relax.
It is not a good idea to leave him in his crate and go off to work, especially if you have spent the weekend giving him your full attention. Short period of time in his crate with the door closed, then back out again each hour or two, will help him realize that he is not being abandoned.
A guideline for the lenght of time a pup can be kleft in a crate, comfortably is one hour for every month of life, plus one. This means that a three month pup can be left in his crate for a maximum of four hours.
A crate can be taken to a friend's home, to be used when you are unable to keep your puppy fully supervised. Never leave a pup outside unateended.
Time-outs can be a lifesaver - any new puppy owner will soon or later attest to this. As soon as your pup starts to understand the concept to be alone, he can graduate to having a whole room. Usa baby gates to confine him to designated areas. If your puppy is behaving badly (very rare from a Cotonnerie puppy ;o)), one of the best consequences is to take yourself away from him. His reward for good behaviour is playing with you; if you remove his reward, he will soon learn. You can simply take him to another room for his time-outs... but that time as not to be long for him to understand.
As he become more mature and grows out of his destructive phase ( like a child..putting everthing in his mouth...) he can be weaned from his crate and have his own place to relax...like a donut bed! When you feel that your dog understands household manners, you may experiment by leaving him alone for short periods of time. If he is successful, the time he is left alone can be slowly increased