I have a litter of 7 dachshund puppies who will be 3 weeks old tomarrow and I want to give them the best start possible in housetraining. They are still living in their whelping box on fabric (a big soft blanket at the bottom, then the absorbant pads they use in hospitals and on the top of it all a sheet that goes under the box walls so it can't be messed up). What would be the best plan to use their natural tendencies to keep their sleeping spot clean? I sort of feel uncomfortable letting them soil the very same bedding they sleep on (some do pee where they sleep and then keep sleeping there while some try to go a bit further away and then come back) but they seem a bit young to move them to an x-pen with a crate that is supposed to be the next step.

I have had 2 litters previously and was pondering with the same questions then but never really asked anyone who could have given me an answer that I would feel comfortable and satisfied with. They all turned out fine, the first litter (a winter litter) learning very well how to go on a pee pad (not the best solution but a decent one when you have only cold pools of water and wet snow to take the pups out to) and the summer litter to go outside by the time they were ready to leave home. Still I am wondering what would be the BEST thing to give the pups a head start and make it just a little bit easier for me and the new owners.

Ideas?

bump

I use several layers of newspapers on the top and change them out constantly. I firmly believe that the cleaner you keep the whelping box the cleaner the pups will be by nature.

As soon as they start feeding I will take them outside and let them potty. Let them play a bit, feed them and then repeat on the potty play outside.

I do not start crate training until I'm fairly certain the pup will want to stay clean. I would rather postpone crate training a week or so then risk them getting use to pottying in the crate.

And I get up in the middle of the night to let them out.

It seems to work pretty well.

Bumping back to "current" page