When we brought Louie home he always slept in a x-pen with pee pads food and water and his bed. He was used to it. Now that he is 1yr old he has run of the house but he usually loves to sleep in his cloud 9 bed in the living room or our bedroom or with my daughter. We have just started to not crate him when we are not home for a few hours to see how he does and so far he is doing great no accidents he just usually sleeps in his cloud 9 bed