I wanted to share a lovely product that is great for puppy bedding especially newborns. They are called 'whelping pads' and they are soft and absorbent on one side and waterproof on the back side. This is really great for us, since my puppy pen is on our carpet. They are easily washed so I can replace the pads daily, and they come in multiple sizes so they fit our little pen perfectly. It is super important that a breeder put the right product under the puppies. I forgot where I had stored my whelping pads from last year, so I tried using a plastic sheet with a blanket on top as a temporary measure, but it made me really nervous because Dixie would scratch the floor and put holes in the plastic. If a puppy got under the plastic, it would easily lead to suffocation. So that is really not a safe option. I went ahead and ordered a few more pads, and then I found the old pads (LOL!)
After placing the puppy pad on the carpet, I threw a little blanket in the corner for Dixie. This gives her something to push around and sleep on...and she doesn't scratch the floor anymore.
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| This photo shows the top and bottom side of the whelping pad. They also come in light blue. |
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The brown side of the pad, is absorbent, and the white side is waterproof. We can wash them hundreds of times and they hold up well. These also work well for puppy pea pads when puppies get older. I like to put this under our puppy litter box, for those pups that have an accident before they get to the box.
You can buy these pads in multiple sizes at http://www.ezwhelp.com/AboutWhelpingPads.htm. I foudn the exact same product (by the same manufacturer) on Amazon.com. I didn't pay any extra....and I got free shipping! This is the exact size of our pen and the edges fit under the plastic walls.
Here is another photo of our puppy pen. I love this pen, since it is the perfect size for the corner...and for Dixie and her pups. Dixie can actually jump in and out when she wants to. But I like to keep the door open for Dixie ....when I am around to keep an eye on things. The puppies are not mobile enough to climb over the 2" lip on the door frame.
The children now understand that they can't touch the puppies without permission. ....and Dixie helps to enforce that. She will let out a very stern bark at the kids if they go too close. She will even jump up and push them back. The kids take this very seriously, since she normally is very friendly to them.
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| Look how quickly these puppies are growing! |
This is Dixie with a vigilant look. My husband just drove up the drive way, and she is very concerned as to who is coming to the house.
We keep a full bowl of food and water outside the pen for Dixie at
all times. She eats and drinks a lot when she is nursing. I have never
noticed any extra weight gain, so I let her eat as much as she needs
to.
I usually don't have the camera in hand at the right time. But it is always funny to see the various positions these puppies will eat in.
