Moving Day!

 On Friday we moved the puppies from the whelping box to a larger, more secure puppy pen.  The puppies are getting more agile and more active, and a few had become regular escape artists.  The new space provides the puppies with more room to play, introduces them to crates and the start of litter box training.

The pen has three spaces:  a playing area, a sleeping area and the litter box.  The crate is now the sleeping area.  We use a 400-size airline crate with the door removed.  The crate is lined with a chew-proof pad and several blankets. Dogs are den animals, so the crate is an easy transition.  We add the litter box at this stage, and our expectation is that they will become accustomed to the feel of the litter.  It's a new surface for them, and they are not sure what to think the first time they step on it.  We place the pups in the litter when they wake up from a nap and after they eat.  With luck, our timing is good.  If not, we hope for the next time!  The playing area makes up most of the rest of the space in the pen. The puppies are starting to recognize each other and it has been fun to watch them play.  We have left the door to the pen open and placed a storage box in front.  The box serves as a barrier that keeps the puppies in the pen and as a step stool so that Mom can come and go as she pleases.  We let our moms decide how much time they want to spend with their pups.  We think that Mom provides much needed discipline and socialization so we let her manage her own schedule.  

 We used rubber sports tiles to line the floor of the pen.  They have a textured surface and are cushioned and easy to clean.  We have a rubber mat under the flooring to protect the floor from moisture and so far it is working great.

Each week the puppies are starting to look more and more like little dogs!  They are barking and wagging their tails and playing.  They started with one meal per day this week, but that will change as their appetites increase.  It's a fun time!

The puppies make themselves comfortable in their new home!