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Hello, and welcome to the forums! There are several options when it comes to potty training puppies. The main two methods involve using exclusively the crate and the other involves use of the play pen as you describe. Whether you decide to use one or the other depends on your personal preferences, how large the dog will be once adult, time and final goals. With the use of the crate, you will have to take the puppy out several times at night. This works well if your puppy is destined to go potty exclusively outside once grown up. It works well for larger dogs. With the use of the playpen around the cage, you can avoid taking the puppy out several times at night since the puppy will use the pads to potty. This works well if your puppy is smaller and can be used as well when you must head outside for longer than the puppy can hold it or when the weather is bad. Now, it is possible to teach a puppy to potty indoors on pads at night and then outside in a yard during the day, but things can get a bit confusing for pups when they are allowed to go potty inside and outside. However, we can help them. For instance, we need to supervise the puppy very closely during the day and provide constant feedback. As soon as we notice signs the puppy must go potty, we therefore need to be quick to redirect the puppy by enticing him to follow us outside in the yard or pick him up (if small) and carry him outside. Once your puppy goes outside, we must be fast to praise lavishly and give a treat. Feeding your puppy on a schedule helps and so does keeping track of how often your puppy or dog on average pees and poops. In general, you want to take your puppy to his designated area after taking a nap, after eating and after playing for some time. With some time, your puppy should learn that it's OK to go potty out in the yard during the day, and that when he needs to, it's also OK to go inside the indoor designated area, even if you aren't there to give praise and treats when he's there at night or when you are out, however, as a plus side, just the mere fact of emptying his bladder and bowels is self-reinforcing on its own.