House Training Puppies

I have an 18 week old Shih Tzu puppy that I just got a week ago. He was already 100% potty-pad trained before I took him home. I would like to break that habit by taking him outside the house to potty instead. I've been reading a lot of information on it and I've come to learn that it is best to use a crate during potty training during times when a puppy is unsupervised. My question is if it would be just as effective to leave him confined in a small area (more or less about 3×3 feet) with a baby gate to keep him in instead of a crate? Would that work just as well?

Any suggestions on how to make the transition from pad-training to going outside the house? I would really appreciate any help. A million of thanks in advance.

Crate training is really the best way to go. Many people consider a crate cruel. Dogs are denning animals. A crate makes them feel safer. There is only one entrance for them to protect. Think of it this way…how often have you found your dog laying on the floor in the knee hole of your desk? Or if you lean back in the recliner and put the footrest up - the dog heads for that spot under the footrest every time. Crate training not only helps with potty issues but chewing as well. Not everybody can be with their dog 24/7, and puppies will chew. My dogs were all crate trained. They are older now, they are house-trained and they are past the destructive stage. (This can vary by breed.) But, they panic if I remove their crates. So we still have the crates - just without doors.

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