I did a combo crate/free range. At night he slept with me for the first 3 months. Once he hit 5 month he was on the floor next to my bed in a bed of his own. I had a good sized crate he would spend the day in when I was @ work. Up until 6 months I had a relator friend coming over during the day to let him & the rest of my crew out and give Butler (OEM puppy) some lunch. I also have a 6' X 10' run in the basement of my house that I put up and customized for him (insulated riser, bed, pictures of female mastiffs
, radio, carpeting etc... that he spends his day in now. I will not give him complete free range until 1.5 - 2 years. I have had mastiffs eat lawn furniture, my Dane ate mini blinds etc... so I do not trust them completely until they have fully matured.