[cribal]

I would try taking the crate away now while your still home the next couple weeks and make sure she goes on the pad without having to get into the crate. So I two weeks when you go to work then she will realize that all the pads around the room are for her to use, and not just the on that is inside the crate.

I really don't think you should lock the pup up for 7 hrs. at a time. I'm fortunate enough to be able to drive home and let my puppies out at lunch time and my husband gets off work at 3:30 so their never in their crates more than 4 hrs. at a time. We are about to just let them have the living room and kitchen to see how it's going to work. We are goin to be donig the same thing as you are thinking about and just leaving a couple pee pads out for the to use

Crystal