Actually I have all three of my dogs sleep in a crate together at night which is next to my bed. They seem to love to cuddle and sleep together. Then if one needs to potty during the night I know to take them out and no one cries at bedtime from being alone.
I do not crate during my work days because they can be left alone for up to 12 hours if I have a big work day which isn't common lately as the economy has really hurt my business.
What I do do is I have a laundry room with an adjoining bathroom. There is a dog door to my fenced back yard. Sophie and Navy use it and come in and out during the day but do not have access to the rest of the house when I am away. I babygate the bathroom off with a plexiglass gate as when Navy was small I did not want her using the dog door and she would climb over the baby gate I had which was made with plastic mesh. I was grateful when I found the plexi glass gate. I have been leaving Navy and the pup together in the bathroom so he could have some company. Sophie weighs 13 lbs and has no problem hopping the gate if she wants to hang with the other dogs. I suppose he could be left alone in the bathroom. I just hated for him to be lonely. By the way I have one of those puppy pad holders and keep the puppy pad in there with a bed, water and toys. Sorry for the long post LOL |