We really need potty advice. When people post about this there is one concensus, that they should crate. We however don't want to crate, we work all day, and don't want them to be locked up in cages day and night, but certainly will as a last resort. Our dogs are generally good dogs, they're nine months old, and littermates. They don't chew the furniture, they don't go to the bathroom on the carpet, but they do go in their room which is approximately 6'x15', where they have puppy pads, a dog house, etc. Well they're getting a little old for puppy pads, and frankly puppy pads are getting a little old to us. So, my thought is that if we basically don't give them access to where we've esentially triained them to go in the house, where their pads currently are, and let give them free roam to a limited portion of our home, the family room, about 500 square feet, that they'll hold it, play and sleep, on the couches of course, and be good. Does that sound at all realistic? Potentially they could also have access to a doggy door leading to a small area outside, but that won't teach them to hold it, so that's kind of up in the air. Any other creative solutions would be great too!

Thank you!!!