Well last night I gave it a shot. I put Deb in her penned area in the kitchen at bed time. I did not put her crate in there, because she is already used to her little bed that is in there during the day. She slept in it all night and never wimpered or cried. She got up at some point and did her business on the pee pad and then went back to sleep. I am wondering if there is even a need for her crate at all unless we are traveling. You are right, I do want her to eventually have the run of the house and when she is not in her pen, I keep the door to it open so that she can get to her pee pad when she needs it. She is doing really well. I am so new at this, that I want to make sure it makes sense to do it the way that I am doing it...so I dont have issues with her in the future. What does everyone think???
