I am lucky because I have an enclosed patio..but I crate trained gracie first...so she went in at 8..I came home at 11 and kept her out til 12...then she went back in til I got home at 4. But with warm weather the past month she now stays in the patio room...its big, she has a blankie, toys, food n water..she has never pottied in there so I guess she thinks it is the same rule as inside..lol..only 6 more weeks and school is out and so I will be off work all summer and I am hoping by the time I go back in Aug she will be trust worthy enough to stay in the house...she will be 15 months by then..if not, back to the patio til winter...and then I am not sure..I guess on really cold days (which are very few here in my neck of the woods, I will keep her to one room in the house if she isn't ready to have full freedom..but she was so easy to housebreak, I am thinking she will be ready..just depends on if she is out of the tearing up stage..she still likes to get into mischief..she is only 10 months old now.