I crate-trained Tibbe in a crate with his papers or potty pads at one end, bed, food and water at the other. He's totally clean in the house unless he is ill with a GI problem. He's had maybe a total of 6 accidents in this house total since I got him in May, 2008, and that includes when I was in the hospital for 2 days/nights and my son couldn't spend the night with him so when his potty pads he left down were used, he moved over to the floor beside. If you do start with a pen, I would get one that starts out smaller so you have to cover less floor space with the pads and then, as the dog learns to go on them, you can expand the size of it for more exercise space and the dog hopefully won't go on the exposed flooring. Good luck with your potty training and WELCOME TO YORKIETALK!
