Reese is 9 months old and just last week we let her have run of the house while we are gone.....she uses puppy pads, so potty time isn't an issue, but if we are gone for more than a few hours we put her in the pen - I am a nervous nelly when it comes to my furbaby - I get scared she may be really bored and get into something.........but for a couple hrs. I trust her