First, before I even tell you about my hellish day in the wonderful world of rescue yesterday – simple question for everyone. If you had 11 lab and german shorthair pointer mix puppies (keep in mind these are large hunting breed puppies) that are 5 weeks old right now and you need to keep them for another 3 weeks before placing them in new homes, would you:
A. Keep them in your kitchen in a large x-pen because it’s warm there and they get more attention being inside with you even though clean-up will be a nightmare and will get worse the older they get.
Or
B. Keep them in an outdoor 1/4 acre fenced in area with trees and tall grass with a building that has been converted into a huge dog house with raised floors because you think the puppies will be happier playing with each other outside and clean up will be easy and they will still have plenty of play time with people each day.

So, what sounds better to you? Keep in mind this is September/October in Wisconsin, so highs average 70 in Sept. and 58 in Oct. and lows average 51 in Sept. and 40 in Oct.

Please think about this for real, I need to know if I’m the whacko or if someone else is and want to understand the reasoning behind somethings, so give a reason (I promise nothing will be held against you!).

Cathy

I'd cast a vote on the outside pen with an added comment that the puppies will still need lots of socialization. That many puppies in an x-pen inside is going to be wall to wall shit! I find that puppies that are raised in a large enough area so that they get in the habit of pooping away from their house are easier to house/crate train. Puppies that are raised wallowing around in poo have a harder time getting clean habits. Also it is a lot nicer to handle nice clean smelling puppies - the ones that have been playing on poopy newpaper will smell gross and not be very nice to handle. Outside is fine at this time of year as long as there is a an appropriate housing with clean, dry bedding (straw or deep shavings) and the area is picked of waste daily and the fencing is safe. Lots of handling, safe toys and some room to explore and play makes for happy puppies. A lot less time spent cleaning the kitchen of puppy poo and torn newspaper can be spent on quality puppy time in an outdoor area.

I recently fostered 5 labx pups and kept them in an outdoor pen...I would reccommend the same for you! I couldn't keep up w/ the 5 pups poop...can't imagine 11...you'd be cleaning crap all day.

I know what I'd do - keep them outside! The problem is, a crazy rescue wanted our rescue to take these pups then flipped out with the reasoning that the pups were much better off in the house, in an x-pen because it is warm and then you're in there with them. I was just trying to figure out if there are any other reasonable people in the world that would agree with this, or if I'm not crazy in thinking the best environment is outdoors. I'm sure Ed doesn't have puppies in x-pens all over his house!!!

Good Gosh... 11??

My two decided their own fate a few days short of 6 weeks when they decided to scream EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR at night... I was less than impressed. I am a patient person.. but I have to sleep.

They were either out in a chain link run on grass with a dog house or in the in-and-out runs in the garage. I prefer the grass as it is easier to keep them clean, but when there is bad weather the other runs are much drier. The pups were put in the in-and-out runs at night reguardless and they have been very easy to start housebreaking.

Of course they were allowed in the house under supervision, and also were let out to maul me several times a day. They have turned out just fine.

Being in poop all the time is not good. Fresh air and sunshine are the way to go. More room to play too (which was a reason they would get loud as they got older, I had to enlarge the grass yard)

So far as socialization goes I think it is FAR more important to have MANY people handle the puppies than it is to have them in a house all the time. I invited the whole SchH club over for dinner when the pups were six weeks old and that was a treat! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Field trips are good too! (I don't know how I would do 11 though) LOL

I would throw a couple bales of shavings in the building.. and fence off a small area outside.. so they don't have a full 1/4 acre.. but they have access to indoor/ outdoor.. the shavings will keep them warm at night..

we have used shavings off and on for years as bedding for puppies, adult dogs and even other livestock. never had a problem....until this summer. i don't know if there were mites in the shavings, or whether they got there later, but one of my dogs ended up with mites in her ears and an infection. got rid of the bedding, cleaned, cleaned, cleaned and treated her ears. i felt terrible about it and here after will be super careful of shavings. i think everybody else agrees, as i do, that the puppies would be better off outdoors. i would just caution you about being careful of whatever you decide on for bedding....especially with that many pups.