We decided to go back to keeping him upstairs til we are ready to go down - he was fine - he went to sleep about 9:30, woke up at 5 for the toilet and then went back to sleep til dh went down at 6:45 and he took him down with him and let him out.

I know 9 hours is a long time but he's shattered by 9 pm (as I said we have to shut his crate from about 7 pm or he would go to sleep then)! and most mornings sleeps through til 6:30 now (after a toilet break during the night) so he obviously needs his sleep - 6:30's not a bad time to get up during the week but any earlier