Best puppy set up

[*blackrose]

Looking towards the future when these little hamsters are walking pooping machines....what is going to be the best setup to keep them in?!

My current plan is to set up a crate attached to an X-pen in the garage on top of a tarp. Then throw wood chips onto the tarp covering the X-pen, leaving the crate for sleepy time and food. Then when we're able to supervise and the weather is good, just fencing them out in the yard.

Thoughts? Better setups? I'd like something that's as low fuss as possible while helping them develop good potty habits. I want to avoid puppies that pee and poo all over their crate like many I know.

Also, best resources/tips/tricks on environmental enrichment and early socialization? They'll likely be coming to work with me a LOT, so they'll be getting that exposure.

 

[GatorDog]

This was my indoor setup. I highly recommend litter training them, and introducing it as early as 2.5 or 3 weeks old. I used yesterday's news cat litter, because I was worried about what would happen if they ingested chips of another kind. They figure it out over time and saved me a lot of stress in cleaning/potty training later on. I used those foam block type things on the ground because stable footing is important, and newspaper around the potty area as needed to help soak up pee. Otherwise, just daily mopping and a LOT of laundry.

Untitled by Alexis Roy, on Flickr

Untitled by Alexis Roy, on Flickr

This was my outdoor setup. I did not offer a potty area out here because it was pretty self explanatory.

Untitled by Alexis Roy, on Flickr

As far as stimulation goes (and if you're feeling crafty), mine LOVED that wobble bridge and the variety of surfaces/stability seemed to make a huge impact on their overall environmental stability. I also introduced all kinds of loud and crazy noises over time. They learned to eat from my hand around 5 weeks to encourage easy training habits at a young age.

 

[Spiritwind]

I also highly recommend litter training. I usually start around 3 weeks old and the puppies figure it out within a few days. Makes clean up so much easier.

 

[*blackrose]

Does litter training have to be done with a box (or otherwise very specific location), or is it good enough to offer segregated "play/eat/sleep" and potty locations?

I *definitely* want to do something of the sort. Not only to help limit the mess, but to get them on the right road towards good potty habits.

Also, since this is an orphaned litter - how much dog/dog socialization should they get and at what age? I don't trust Abrams to correct appropriately and Cynder won't correct at all (which is part of Abrams' problem). I have access to my friend's dog who would correct (although she tolerates a LOT and doesn't overtly enjoy puppies) and a coworker's dog who will play appropriately, but doubtful on the correcting.

Or will they be okay learning from one another until they go to their new homes?

 

[Jenne]

When I brought Deacon home I put a fake grass mat over a puppy pad and holder. It worked pretty well, he was completely house - broken by 20 weeks.