The puppy pen for our litter

From 3 1/2 weeks to 4 1/2 weeks the crate boxes were suitable living quarters for the puppies.  But midway through that fourth week, the puppies started escaping.  At that point it was time for the puppy pen.

The puppy pen consists of eight 2x2' wire panels. (available at most pet stores) They create an area that is 2 feet wide by 6 ft long and 2 ft high.   It is the perfect size for the puppies.  I line the pen with a puppy pads and a carpet for the bed on one end.  On the far end, I put the litter box.



The puppies are pretty reliable with their litter box at this point...so their pen stays mostly clean.  With my earliest litters, before I learned about litter training, I had to keep the puppies in the garage and I would clean their pen throughout the day...Even though the puppies used the outdoors every few hours....the pen was still a mess to clean up.  Believe me, this litter box is AWESOME!   I empty the litter once a day, and take out the poopies as soon as I see them (since they smell pretty bad)  With only one puppy you may not need to change your litter as often as I do...especially after regular potty training begins.  Just pay attention to when the pellets start turning to damp sawdust and if you start to notice an odor.

As the pellets turn to sawdust, the pups may start tracking the litter out onto the floor around the litter box.  When that starts to annoy you, it is a good time to transition to commercial dog litter.   The commercial dog litter (Second Nature) is made of recycled paper pellets, and does not track onto the puppy paws.  I recommend adding a little bit to your litter every day until the pups are familiar with the smell.  Then start using less and less wood pellets.

Always discard your stinky wood pellets/sawdust into one spot in your yard where you want your puppy to use the potty.  Then when you potty train, lead him to that spot on his leash and say 'go potty'.  Let him circle and sniff about until he potties.  Soon that will be his favorite spot outside to go potty.  

When the weather is pleasant I like to bring the pen to the garage and open the garage door so the puppies can enjoy the weather.  We also start regular outdoor potty breaks to get them use to outside potty time.


A litter box can be a permanent part of your puppies life, or a temporary measure.  Either way, you will enjoy the convenience of not having to walk your puppy outside to go potty in the middle of the night.  If you have to leave your puppy for several hours, even just to go shopping, it will be nice that she has a potty option.  Never leave a very  young puppy in her crate for several hours.  Their bladders are so small they cannot hold it very long.  If you have to go shopping for several hours, its better to confine a very young puppy to a pen with an open crate and a litter box just outside the door.

 When you bring your puppy home, you will want to keep him confined to a smaller area close to the action in your house.  You can use puppy gates to keep them confined or, you can get a pen like this one.  Admittedly, they will outgrow it rather quickly.... but you will definitely need to consider how you will keep them confined.   Do NOT give a new puppy full run of the house.  If your pup is not confined close to his litter box, you are setting him up for potty accidents.  When you want to take your puppy out of his pen, it will be wise start getting him use to a leash.   If your puppy is on a leash your are more likely to see the signs that he has to go potty.   When you notice him sniffing and circling pick him up quickly and run place him in his litter box.   When he is a little older and comfortable on a leash you  can run him with the leash to the litter box....or outside to his potty area.

After a few days, when your puppy is use to his crate, you can begin a regular potty training schedule, which I will share with you in your puppy information at pick up.

Many people only use their litter box for the first year of the puppies life.  Personally, I would use it until the puppy was reliably potty trained to the outdoors.  Apartment dwellers, and people with long work hours may use it all their doggies life.  That is up to the individual and their particular living circumstances.