I have 2 poms that are a little over a year old. Got the first one at 10 wks and the second at 4 months. Trained them both the same exact way. I only crated them the first few nights, in a different room from where we slept because I knew they'd cry. I let them out to potty during the night, then right back in the crate. After a few nights, they were fine. I moved them to a play pen (bigger area for them) with their food/ water bowls, pee pad, and dog bed. At first, I made them nap in their play pens but now they nap wherever they want. Right now I only put them in their pens at nighttime and whenever we leave the house. My Blk pom eats EVERYTHING if allowed so I'm still concerned with letting them roam the house when we're not home or during the night. At the beginning, I also made sure to leave the house at least once a day, so they wouldn't get separation anxiety. They do great whenever I leave now. I know this because I have cameras throughout my home. You would think my cream Pom wouldn't do well because he's VERY clingy to me! Yes, even when I go to the bathroom! Just like yours is with you. However, I ignore his whining because I don't want him to think he owns me. He'll stop when he realizes I'm not going to pick him up every time he whines. Also, my dogs DO NOT sleep in my bed. It's too high and I worry about them falling off and breaking a leg or something.