You must have been reading my mind... I was thinking about posing the same question last night!
The first night we got him at 7 weeks, I put him in his crate. He whimpered a little and then would go to sleep. I'd wake him up and take him out and put him back in his crate. But after 2 nights, I put him in our bed. He sleeps where ever he wants to... between the pillows, between my DH's feet, next to me or one of the other 2 dogs sleeping under the covers. He's NEVER done in anything in the bed... usually sleeps all night. Occasionally he wakes up to go out, but will walk over to me and stand on my face LOL
He loves his crate, which we keep in our bedroom, and will happily go get in if he's tired and wants a nap. We also have a sherpa-type bed in the living room where he hoards all his toys and plays and naps there if we're in the living room watching tv.
During the day, while we work, he stays in the large guest bathroom, with a gate up. I put his little bed in there, toys, food/water and a pee pad. He does very well, and only wets on the pee pad. But he can't wait until I get home so he can go out to poop. He'll be 11 weeks Friday and I am amazed at how well he is doing in the housetraining arena. I have to confess, he does like to get treats when the "goes", and tried the fake-peeing with me, but I caught on to that pretty quickly, especially when he'd come in and make a little puddle on the floor about 2 minutes after I'd taken him out.
But I love my little fur-babies to sleep with me. We cuddle and play right before the lights go out... what a special time!!
Cyndie and Trevor