Puppies Wk 4~Potty Training~Setting Up a Pen~Weaning~What You Can Expect Raising a Litter of Puppies

Potty training, setting up a pen, weaning, and transitioning to mush is what week four of raising a litter of puppies brings. Learn how to easily do these with your puppies. Follow along each week to learn what you can expect raising a litter @The Retriever Nation.

[@joyoflivingacolorfullife]

What can you use other than Alfalfa pellets I can't get them locally. I am in Northern Canada right across the boarded to Minnesota.

[@TheRetrieverNation]

Alfalfa pellets are all we use. Other forms do not break down as readily. If you get the alfalfa wet, they will turn to mush and if the puppies eat any pieces, they will digest very easily. Wood pellets will not do that. Thanks for the question and good luck!

[@bfcjproperties8944]

I have a litter of 14 puppies. Do you think this set up would be ok for them? Did you roll out floor remnants for the updated whelp area?

[@TheRetrieverNation]

This setup would work just fine for 14! We used a couple of rolls of linoleum for the flooring. Also, because we live in MN, and we typically have litters in the winter, we placed panels of insulation under the linoleum to keep the youngsters off of the cold concrete. Thanks for the question!

[@swtmelly]

Where did you get the pans?

[@TheRetrieverNation]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/moeym4yOaaeYf5o#bottom-sheet

[@tammyreichhart8096]

Can you tell me if you have ever had a litter of puppies that only wants to sleep in potty pans?! I am at my wits end to get them to stop and sleep in their beds/blankets

[@TheRetrieverNation]

I have had seen them drag toys into it, and lay and play with them but no, not sleep. If, just simply moving them to an open crate doesn't solve this, I would suggest closing the puppies in a crate large enough for the entire litter. They enjoy sleeping in piles and this can also help with the potty training, as when you let them out every 2-3 hours, you know they will need to go and you can pick them up and put them directly into the potty tray. I like to have them out every minute they are awake, but you said they are choosing this as a place to sleep so try enclosing them to a different place for sleep.

[@hai6089]

How often do you wake them to potty! 🥰💕

[@TheRetrieverNation]

Every 2 hours or so. It almost doesn't matter how long they've been sleeping, their bladders are tiny and they'll pee as soon as they wake. If you have more than 2 puppies you might not get them all to the litter tray, but over time it will become more successful as they learn. Sometimes it's helpful to have a second set of hands helping. If you have a large litter there may be minutes of chaos the first few days but I've done this successfully with a litter of 10 as well. Good luck! Thank you so much for watching!