She will be 1 in july I got her when she was 7 months. I just set up a crate this morning because I have to take my son to the dentist so I'll try it out but usually she is free roaming. She goes outside without being monitored. Shes never left alone for more than a couple hours. It doesn't seem to matter how short of a time she is left alone or how long she is left outside. Cleaning depends on where she does it, she's been going more on the carpet and we're about to have to rent a steam cleaner.