I"m just starting out with baby Tucker, but I was still at home when my parents bought Jake, their yorkie. He was left in his crate whenever no one was home and did very well. After he was around a year old, my parents started letting him have free roam of the house gradually - first the kitchen, then the kitchen and living room, etc. Besides a few accidents the first couple weeks of his "freedom"
, he did phenomenal. He's now 6 years old and his crate has been replaced with a doggie bed in the same spot. He goes to his bed to rest or if he feels scared or in trouble. He hasn't had a potty accident in the house in several years. I hope this answers your question!