I totally believe in crate training but we let ours sleep in their dog beds in our bedromm at four or five months. If they wandered it was back in the crate. They figured it out pretty fast.

And as for private time, Dh just has to snap his fingers and point and they are gone. (to the other side of the door five feet away). They love it when daddy and mommy are happy .

Thanks for all your replies, gave me things to think about!! I would really love to have her out as much as possible. I think a more permanent gate with open/close for DS's room would be a better idea. I think she will be okay, it will just take some getting used to. Hope I don't trip over her

I will need to make myself more productive at night when Sienna will wind down (maybe LOL). I was trying to carve out some time for myself because I am more productive in the mornings.

Olik you gave me some ideas... I wish DS's school started earlier. As it is I only take a 1/2 lunch at work so I can get DS to school and pick him up. (I am hourly) Because of DH's hours I do the run around. Now that the weather is improving, I might trying to run Sienna while on a bike in the mornings before DS is up, I would just do it up and down the street... I don't think she gets enough exercise in the yard, especially since we have to retrain her to drop the ball- mostly she tries to play keep away. If I just leave her out there to explore etc, she digs and eats muddy dirt clods

Winter is hard. I am looking forward to being outside as much as possible. More exercise will be good for Sienna and a good release for me.