At what age did you allow your doodle to roam freely during the day while gone?

[Rachel & Nathan]

As I'm sure this is a hard question to answer I just wonder when you had success at leaving them out while being gone. Molly had done a tremendous job at potty training. She hasn't gone in the kennel in about 2 months. She holds it until let out to go outside. I just want to know how you succeeded at this, or if you ever did.
Also Molly will be spayed Thursday. I'm a little nervous about it and just wonder how fast recovery is and how smoothly it went for some of you! Thanks so much!

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

Skadi was about a year old before I left her to rule the roost...she never counter surfs and never chewed on anything.  The perfect dog...after puppyhood that is...LOL.  As for her spaying it went extremely well...she never tried licking her incision.  We kept her quiet and did shorter walks for a few days and she was good to go.  

Now we have Elli who is going to be 7 years next month.  We've had her almost a year. (Craigslist)  At first I crated her during the day...she was used to that...now I give her freedom in the bedroom but close the blinds because she still goes bezerk when she sees squirrels, turkeys, and deer out the window.

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

My boys are 2 ½ and I still confine them to a sunroom while we are gone. I believe that Cody would be fine in the house unsupervised, but Casey would not. Casey has destroyed throw pillows and has chewed up SEVERAL remote controls and a couple of portable telephones. He has also destroyed many magazines, newspapers - and just about anything else left around that he can destroy. Yes, he has LOTS of toys, but he prefers our toys.