I spent many a night at 3am outside for a potty break in the beginning. I also made sure to pick up water at 6pm and to keep my pup to a pretty rigid feeding schedule...made it easier to figure out when he really had to go and when he only wanted to play.

I also found it really helped to do with my pup as I did with my newborn daughter, which was to make clear that nighttime is for sleeping and daytime is for activity: No bright lights, no playing on the floor, no loud voices or excessive stimulation beyond a "good outside" and a pat. Keep it low key at night.

I always crated my pup when I couldn't watch him...to do otherwise would have invited accidents and destruction. At 7 months I still won't leave him free in the house.

One suggestion for crates: most vets have a bulletin board in the waiting area. Post a request (and let the staff know as well) when you are looking for a larger dog crate. So many people have old crates stacked in the garage that they would love to get rid of. People also donate crates to their vet after their dog has passed away and most hospitals don't have a lot of room to store them.

All Good Points Sarah ... I do that too when he wakes to go out. Minimum of lights, outside to do his business and then right back to the crate.

Also, I don't know how far flung everyone here is, but even here there may be some crate borrowing, et cetera.

I'm in Maine and I'd be happy to lend the crate that I'm not currently using.

I should have a mid-sized crate in Florida, but I'm sure that my sister has not kept it after all of these years. That would be so unlike her. :-)