Hi everyone, our beautiful pups are 3 week old today. I have noticed that Mam isn't in the box as much as she has been over the last three weeks. She has been a wonderful first time Mam, in fact it has amazed me how she just knew what to do for her babies. The pups have started to walk a little today. How exciting. And now they seem to be going to the toilet on their own without Mam having to stimulate. So now the fun starts... Just wanted to pick your brains to see how you organise their care over the next few weeks, i.e weaning & keeping them clean, toilet area etc? I've got the 'Book of the Bitch' back out the drawer but any useful tips would be very much appreciated! Really looking forward to hearing how you wean & keep the pups area clean etc. Also, at what point can they go outside for a short spell? Many thanks

My pups are 3 1/2 weeks now, I have a sleeping area with vet bed and at the moment newspaper right next to it, they are mostly all moving onto the newspaper now. I am going to be using shredded tea bag bedding though when they are about 4 weeks old as I've heard such good reviews.

I started weaning early due to weight gain, they are on 3 meals a day but will go up to 5 meals over the next week.

My breed don't have much coat but they went for a 5 minute explore yesterday but it's been too cold for them to go out today- when they are 4/5 weeks they will cope better with the temperature and be able to go out for a little longer.

We had a large purpose built whelping box which involved two segments, both 4 X 4 with 3 ft sides and a wooden floor.   The main section, which had pig rails round 3 sides and a low front so mum could get out but not the puppies, was where she whelped and the puppies were for around 2.5 weeks - until they were moving around.   This section we had in the living room so one of us, usually my husband, could sleep with them on the sofa.    Once moving around we moved that section into the kitchen and added another 4 X 4 section with no pig rails, taking out the front of the original section - the overall 8 X 4 box had a hinged door at the end.    That means basically they used the original part as their sleeping area and the new section to empty!!    Obviously I needed a good supply of newspaper ahead of time.   

As most of our litters were born into the better weather, as soon as it was warm enough, they'd spend a few hours each day outside in our ex-pen.    Once out, then I could give the box a good clear out and replace with fresh newspaper etc.   I was on hand most of the time so replaced/picked up as soon as it arrived, but it could get a touch ripe, especially first thing!!

Doing a litter is a ton of work - after the first 3 weeks when you have to take over!!   But very rewarding if you get a really good puppy, or two, to take into the next generation.   And people query how much they cost!

I'm pretty similar, and pups start going outdoors to a covered puppy pen with plastic dog house. The puppy pen in kitchen is filled with shredded paper and vetbed one end.

They likento spend the greater part of the day outdoors where they have more room, and by 6 weeks they are able to come and go out of the shelter of the covered pen into the rest of the dogs area of the garden.

The shredded paper in the indoor pen helps keeps pups clean and dry as their poo gets covered in paper which is easily removed,  and all soiled paper removed in the morning and partial paper changes as needed.