I was pretty lucky with Wyatt - he didn't have a lot of litter separation anxiety, I was surprised! But he sure pitches a fit if he thinks he's being left out of something - he's not a big fan of being crated because he might be left out of the action. But he's learned
The only time they get crated is if we have to leave em alone.
It's been our experience that once they hit two it's no longer necessary and they get free run of the house while we're gone.
Do they sleep in your bed?
Wyatt's crated when we aren't home, he's 7 months and pretty good when we are there. I also crate them if I'm working them one at a time, plus - I have baby gates so one of my dogs actually has her own room (she does not get along with the other female). They do sleep in my bed if they want but for some reason Wyatt likes to sleep beside it.
LOL at the baby gates!!
Bubba has learned how to open the one at the base of the stairs and he runs around with wild abandon up there.
First time I heard it I thought it was thundering but it turned out to be the thundering of four dog feet going nutz!!
Ours both sleep in our bed and it can be quite challenging to find room for the four of us with a 140 lbs of dog in the bed. And of course they both want to sleep sideways.