Plans and Preparations for Growing Pups

Yes, the puppies are capable of getting out of the wading pool that we used as a whelping box. They are still content in there for the most part, but if Della isn't in there with them, but they know she's nearby, at least some of them will scramble out of there when they are hungry.

Last night I was awakened about 4:00 a.m. by the sound of a puppy who wasn't in the box and hadn't managed to find Della. He had made it around to the foot of my bed, partially underneath it. It was Modello the Adventurer. He was the first one we saw climb Mt. Della in search for nipples in unconventional places. So we were not surprised that he was the first to scramble out of the box and go off on his own. He paid a caloric price for his adventure though. He was the only pup not to register a weight increase the morning after his midnight run. I don't know if he missed a feeding or just burned off the calories as stress when he was lost. He seems fine today, no worse for wear.

This is the indoor space with the exercise pens set up as
fencing to create a confined space. Della's bed is in there
for now, but I'm not sure she will want to be with them
all the time. She will probably be sleeping with me and
just using the dog bed as a feeding station.

We had been preparing for this. I had built an 8' x 8' wooden frame, about the size of the linoleum surface that covers the wood floor. We attached two exercise pens to the frame, just using cable ties. One panel by the door is left unattached so it can swing out for access. Eventually we'll remove the wading pool giving them an 8' x 8' space to eat, sleep, poop, pee, and play, while being safely confined on a floor that can be easily cleaned.

Of course they will outgrow that space eventually too, so the next puppy space arrived today. It's a 10' x 20' shed that went into a nice shady spot in the back yard under the birch and sycamore trees. It's sweet. I've got some things to do to make it ready, including putting in an air conditioner and running power to it, waterproofing the floors, etc. We will also construct a fenced yard under the trees, adjacent to the shed, as puppy play space when they are bigger. That should see us through until it's time for the puppies to be adopted.

That's Duvel stretched out, belly up and tongue
sticking out. Modello the Adventurer is the
black pup with the yellow collar.

This is the view from the bed where Della and I sleep. If
the pups come out of the tub they will still be confined.