I recommend using an x-pen with a potty box with large flake pine shavings until your puppy is old enough to hold it over night which typically is around 12-16 weeks of age. You should take your puppy outside every 2 to 3 hours to start house training. You can place the pine shavings in the desired part of your yard where you want your puppy to relieve himself. Give lots of praise and healthy treats as a reward when your puppy goes outside. I would purchase a 42 inch crate that comes with a divider that your puppy can grow into. You can place the crate inside the x-pen so puppy can get used to sleeping in his crate. Once your puppy can hold it over night then you can start closing the door to the crate. The x-pen is also handy if you need to leave your puppy for more than 3-4 hours and want them to not be confined just to a crate. Too much time in a crate isn't good for their health and could also cause behavioral problems. I use my crates for sleeping at night and a nap in the middle of the day after my boxers have been outside playing for about 4-6 hours. Then they get let out for a couple more hours in the evenings when it's cooled off outside.