Where our puppies play, sleep, eat.
One of the main concerns for breeders is to have purpose-suited spaces for the new puppies' activities. Take a look inside Sims Goldens' spaces - i.e. our home - click HERE.
"A responsible breeder willingly shows you all areas where
puppies and breeding dogs spend their time. Those areas
are clean, spacious and well-maintained. Responsible
breeders’ dogs appear lively, clean and healthy and don’t shy
away from visitors."
-Humane Society's 'How to find a responsible dog breeder'
Birthing Space
Some use custom made birthing pens - aka whelping boxes - as you see below. When we first started out plastic children's swimming pools were a suitable substitution. Momma dog can get in and out very easily, and the pups can't get out by themselves. Plus, they are super easy to keep clean. The first few days Momma dog is very protective. She may stay in the whelping pen nearly 24 hours a day. And no matter the temperament, she will probably growl when other animals and/or humans get too close to her puppies.
During Leila's first couple of days with her first litter, we had to pull her away to eat, drink and go outside. She would not leave her pups. With her second litter, she was not quite as determined, lol. But she still stayed in with the pups most of the time.
Living Space
Once puppies get big enough to climb out of the pool, it is time to move them to a different area. Typically a larger space with larger walls, this space may have several parts to it... Bedding for sleeping, potty area, and or playing area. Safety and freedom are the two highest priorities. And momma dog needs to be able to get in and out on her own.
Below (lower right) is a space we created for Leila's 2020 litter - the upgrade from birthing pool, lol. It is not fully 'furnished' with bedding yet, but the puppies learned how to hop out of the pool, so we quickly got this one up. Notice the 'door' addition (a metal shelf actually), which allows Leila to get in and out by herself.
Now we add a compartment to the whelping pen, so when the puppies become mobile they can play with more space. We also add heating pads (on low heat) under the whelping pad, so the pups can stay warm when sleeping.
Outdoor Play Area
We also create a protected play area outside, so the puppies can run free, play with each other, go potty, and get some fresh air. As with everything, the play area and its walls get bigger as the puppies grow, lol. And we give them plenty of things to play with, although their favorites are cardboard boxes.
In addition, with close supervision, we allow the puppies times to run free, both inside and outside. In the below, center pic, the pups played until they were worn out. They found a soft place in the grass and snoozed. Once all were asleep we would move them to their sleeping pen.
Daring and adventurous
As the pups get closer to eight weeks, some learn to climb out of everything we build. So, we are constantly monitoring the enclosures... like construction workers doing point-to-point checks on their sites. Lol. By the end of their time with us, they are all like little Energizer Bunnies who never want to stop playing; they are very adventurous and work hard to learn new things. And we, of course, are quite exhausted.
All in all, we provide for them quality, safe areas as well as times to run free, and with lots of interaction, so by the time their forever families pick them up, they are ready to go on a new adventure with their new family.
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