Our 4 abandoned pups are now just over 5 weeks old, They are in a playpen with a sleeping area, wee area, food area and play area.
They wee and poo in all areas, which is to be expected because they are still babies
When is a good time to start showing them the right area to go to?
Is around 8 weeks a good time?

Also, they are now growing little teeth and are starting to chew all their toys, towels, blankets, us etc. If they start to nip us, should we just be re-directing them onto a chew toy at this stage?

They are also snarling and play fighting with each other and we've been letting them get on with it. Should we step in at any stage and separate them or not?

When do they need to exercise more? outside of the pen for example? The pen is 2.25m x 1.80m so fairly big. It covers 2 thirds of our spare room.

Thanks everyone!

As soon as they start moving/eating I start housebreaking. Not a big deal, feed, run them outside and if they accidently potty praise the heck out of them...

Look for chewing dangers in toys, blankets.

I watch a lot and make sure one pups isn't always being beat up and that I don't have a bully. Other then that I pretty much leave it alone.

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And good for you to get them to this age, an incredible effort. They are lucky little dogs.

Oh for exercise, I just kind of walk around and they follow me. My yard has a puppy are with culvert pipes, grates things like that and we play in that area that gets them use to exploring.

I have several acres fenced in so it's not a big for me, but if you are not in an enclosed area BEWARE! When pups tire out they plop down and nothing in the world is going to get them to move. So only go as far with as many as you can carry back.....LOL

 Quote: Betty Waldron

As soon as they start moving/eating I start housebreaking. Not a big deal, feed, run them outside and if they accidently potty praise the heck out of them...

Look for chewing dangers in toys, blankets.

I watch a lot and make sure one pups isn't always being beat up and that I don't have a bully. Other then that I pretty much leave it alone.

I am watching them all the time with the toys. They seem to like trying to chew newspaper but I take it off them and give them something else to chew. I've got toys and some special rope they seem to like chewing on.

I have a feeling there is a bully. Funny, he was the smallest and now he's the biggest. He tends to pick on one of the other pups who then bites it's own leg. Should I intervene? I wasn't sure if I should let them sort it out themselves. What would the mother dog normally do in this case? I am a bit worried about this. the same bully also tries to hog food bowls, although I do have a few bowls down, not just one. They are starting to get slightly nastier with each other. I have tried barking or low growling which does stop it and they all tend to come over to me wagging their little tails, aw. I would appreciate any advice here Betty, it is a bit worrying.

Also, the bullied one is very soft and likes lots of cuddles, he didn't enjoy the weaning process, although he is fine now.
He bites his own leg quite often and when he sits on my knee, he will lick my hand then put his whole mouth around my hand. I just take my hand away and quietly say no and give him something to chew straight away.

Thanks

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

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And good for you to get them to this age, an incredible effort. They are lucky little dogs.

Thank you Betty! They are really sweet, I'll be sad when we find them homes.
Your album is nice

Here are the latest pics: Puppies - Week 5

Muy cute! Re the housebreaking, puppies get VERY fixated on going on a certain surface, so if they are used to going on newspaper, putting a few sheets down in the area outside you want them go when you take them out can be very helpful. Then you can transition them to grass/dirt.

Thanks Becky,

We took them out into the garden for the first time yesterday and luckily they all seemed to love the grass and all easily did their business

If one of the pups is getting bullied I do step in.. I won't isolate any pup but sometimes different combinations of pups out at the same time work. Sometimes telling them no and distracting them works.

Thanks Betty, I'll try that.