From the Editors of The Dog Daily
House-training on newspapers, or providing a litter box, works best for smaller dogs and dogs that do not have easy access to the outdoors. Owners who live in apartments, for example, often elect to house-train their dogs on discarded newspapers. The papers absorb waste and can be disposed of easily. Some devices, such as the Doggie Dooley, even allow you to compost your canine's waste.
If your pet is large, however, and if controlled access to your yard is possible, it often makes more sense to begin house-training your dog in your outside enclosed space. If not, your dog will have to be later retrained to relieve itself outdoors. The amount of waste emitted by a large dog also makes the traditional paper technique impractical.
Depending on your home setup, you might consider using a dog potty pad. A popular one is called the Potty Patch. It features faux grass, which will not look out of place in your garden or on your patio. The pad is also suitable for indoor use. The grass is made out of an antimicrobial material that is odor-resistant and washes clean with soapy water.