Our Set-Up.

First Set-Up

All of our puppies are born and raised in our puppy room.  This room is taken over by the puppies and is set up to suit all of their needs.  As the puppies get bigger, they are given access to different parts of our home, spending evenings with the family in the lounge, causing havoc in the kitchen and play times in the garden!  This is all part of their socialization program allowing them to experience different environments, sights, smells and noises.

The picture to the left, shows our first set up. This is where whelping takes place and where the puppies will spend the first few weeks of their life.  In this early stage, the puppies will be bonding with Mum, spending most of their time feeding and sleeping.  Puppies are born in a very immature state and are not able to regulate their own body temperature so a heat pad is used.  Blankets are also used on the side panels to create a 'den' type environment.  Allowing Mum to feel safe and secure whilst nursing and tending to her new litter.

Heat pad

Whelping equipment and supplies

This is the second set up. After roughly three weeks  the puppy pen is moved from a quiet corner of the room to a busy area near the door so that puppies can see passing foot traffic and be more involved in the hustle and bustle of family life experiencing the many sounds heard around the home including the hoover, television, washing machine etc.  All of this helps the puppies to gain confidence and bring out their individual characters.

You will notice that the pen has been split in half. Half bed area and half area for toileting and playing.  Our puppies are paper trained at two weeks so that they can venture around our home.  Toys are added as the puppies begin to move about, play and interact with one another. Mum is also free to come and go as she pleases.  At this stage puppies will still be feeding from Mum, however they will soon start the weaning process.   

Second Set-Up

Third Set-Up

This is the third and final set up.  A large pen is added to the front of the existing puppy pen in order to give the growing puppies the space they need to play, sleep, eat and toilet. 

During the final few weeks the puppies spend much less time in the pen and more time exploring our home and outside space.  The extended pen opens up into the puppy room where the inquisitive puppies spend most of their day until they are shut in for bed!  It is during this stage, when the puppies are spending a lot of time outside that they learn to toilet outside.  

Along with the extra space, the puppies are also given more mental stimulation with extra toys and chews.

To see more pictures of our set up, please visit our set-up gallery.