As most advice states, I would keep them in the crate. Even when they get older, they might have days that they feel like tearing up the house. You never know what you can come home too. I have a 13 year old Lhasa and she to this day will chew on the corner of a pillow, clothing(if on the floor), bedding whatever she feels like at that time and day. It is so random with her, I do wish I had just kept her crate that I got rid of at about 3 years of age. I sometimes give her a treat that I think will tire out her jaw and that seems to work for long days gone, that and not letting her into the bedrooms and not leaving pillows on the couch. So you see she has us trained!

The 8 mth old mix we are fostering is for sure using the crate with great success!!

Good luck!