Ours are free in the house all day. The first day I left Bella free (in late puppyhood) I was almost afraid to come home and see what she had done. Imagine my surprise to find she was good! Then when Ripley came along I also worried. I didn't know how he'd be with Bella alone all day. It turns out my worries were needless. Nowadays I imagine they just sleep a lot, although my next door neighbor says that every time she goes outside to get mail or run an errand, they are both at the window looking out. What busybodies!