Puppy Palace mess - HELP!

[LoveMySadie]

As you can well imagine, the Puppy Palace (enclosed shower with papers at one end and towels at the other) is getting rather messy with six growing puppies! Changing the papers several times a day is a lot of work...and uses a lot of paper. :EEK:

Does anyone see a problem with using towels in the entire Palace area? It's honestly easier to keep old towels washed than it is to lay out papers over and over. So far the puppies are not discriminating between the bedding end of the Palace and the paper end. Therefore, I am washing towels two/three times a day anyway.

I've also tried puppy pads, but they seem too light-weight at this point. The puppies can shift them around too easily, and when they get turned upside down, the plastic backing does nothing for absorption!

So...I'm open to suggestions!! +IDEA+

Leslie

[Jespah]

When I had Riley and Rupert as pups in their Xpen for several months, I went to a company that sells packing materials and for $25 bought a huge quantity of plain newsprint - the same paper used for newspapers. That way I didn't have the inky mess that the papers leave. I layered them and folded up and disposed of the layers as needed.

I'm not sure about the towels - you could be sending confused messages to them - sleep on them and pee and poop on them too! Even though they don't seem to know the difference now, it may be in there little head subconscioulsy.

[LoveMySadie]

Great idea! I'll see if I can get plain newsprint today!

Leslie

[sutulu]

WOuld any of the moving companies or "rent a truck" companies sell those large sheets of paper you wrap fragile items with ? When I moved into my house I was forever throwing away packing paper.

[Penutsma]

Great idea! I'll see if I can get plain newsprint today!

Leslie

I know Texas is a big state, but do you live anywhere close to a military base? If not, check with the moving companys - Atlas, Allied, Bekins, etc. to get used packing paper.....they are usually looking for ways to get rid of it and it can sometimes be gotten for nothing!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/AlexTheCat/PackingPaper.jpg

This is what you see at military housing when new people move in! LOL

[Jespah]

I found the moving companies expensive - I found a wholesaler who sold packing material and even though I'm not a retailer, I was able to purchase the paper with cash cheaply!

[LoveMySadie]

I just came back from U-Haul and bought a big box of paper for $9.00. I'll see how long this lasts to see if it is reasonable or not - it will definitely be cleaner and I can't help but think better for the puppies!

It's been raining here for a solid week now and is supposed to rain all of this week too. I refuse to complain about it, because our drought situation was getting so terribly severe, but just a little sunshine would certainly be welcomed!
When the sun does come out for a few minutes, I take them all outside to the patio for a little running and play time...plus a little time in the grass. :WINK:

My next search is for some kind of pen that I can use outside as they get bigger for some outside play time. They can already escape from the baby pool that we got earlier (the pink playpen). Petco has those collapseable outdoor pens, but they are incredibly expensive just for a few weeks - as I've said before, I am not going into the puppy breeding business!! Once in a lifetime is enough! :NAH: So I don't really want to invest $75 - 100 in an outdoor pen.

Any ideas on this front??

Thanks for ALL of you help! These puppies have a lot of aunts and uncles out there!

Leslie

[Jespah]

I bought an Xpen for around $100 for Riley as her "kennel" when she was a baby and then Rupert used it too. It can be made into varous shapes as well as one long fence if need be. It turned out to be a good investment as I've used it when visiting friends who don't have fenced yards. The dogs can relax in it and still be outside with us. My dog sitter used it to block off an area in her house when they stayed there. So I have used it numerable times for things I never thought of.

You might be surprised the uses they have. I'll be taking it when we visit Susan this summer - you can bet with 7 Corgis, someone will be needing a time-out at some point!

You could go to a thrift type store and see if you can get a used children's playpen - or check local ads.

[MrsGrace]

I have a metal Xpen I used for the ducks outside (years ago) that I will use for this puppy. But I want a lighter one for inside and visiting friends/travelling when we go.... just have to talk SOMEONE in to letting me buy it....

[Fluffypants]

you can bet with 7 Corgis, someone will be needing a time-out at some point!


Bet I know which one!!!! :LAUGH:

[MVons]

Leslie, I'm thrifty and an x-pen is something I've never regretted putting out the money for. Check the on-line vs Petco prices. I see Dr. Foster & Smith item 9N-4618 the 4' high 8 panel of 2' wide is $105. We've used it inside to block our past dog in the kitchen. We used it outside to contain the skunk smelling dog so we could finish our dinner and then deal with her. We use it on our deck to keep other critters out. We had the 3' high but Pepper scaled over it when blocking the kitchen. I also use it on my deck to hang wet towels on! Multi-use and it hasn't corroded.

Merrie

[LaRositaMonita]

If you are okay with paying shipping, www.petedge.com (http://www.petedge.com) is a website that sells pet products wholesale, mostly for vendors. If you spend UNDER $60 you pay a processing fee, since most people shopping there order in bulk. However, we just bought a 36" high pen for Mac that has a door with a latch for $50 there! We did have to pay about $20 in shipping... still cheaper than getting a similar pen, with no door, at PetSmart. While we were at it, we bought a bunch of $1 toys, a big box of 100 pee pads , and a big bottle of Nature's Miracle. Total bill for everything was still only about $100.

Even if you won't be breeding/raising puppies again, an ex pen is indispensible at barbecues, friends' homes, or inside your home if you want Sadie confined to one room but not locked inside her crate. We didn't know they existed until we started the hunt for Mac, and now we know we won't be able to live without one.

[LoveMySadie]

You all are about to sell me on the pen! I'm going to look at Petco and Petsmart again this week. They love being outside! We have a big patio and we've been spending every evening out there with Sadie and the crew. They are hysterical chasing each other and Sadie all over the place! They are like heat-seeking missles where Sadie is concerned - they follow her anywhere, and when she is tired of them she simply walks away with one or two hanging on for dear life!

It is absolutely priceless! :LAUGH: :LAUGH: :LAUGH:

Leslie

[taflar]

Does anyone see a problem with using towels in the entire Palace area?

Yes, I do. Puppies will chew holes in them and the threads can cause problems if swallowed.

I've also tried puppy pads, but they seem too light-weight at this point. The puppies can shift them around too easily, and when they get turned upside down, the plastic backing does nothing for absorption!

They worked for me with my singlton puppy. They did not work with a litter. They can shred them and they make a bigger mess than newspapers.

Peggy

[taflar]

I just came back from U-Haul and bought a big box of paper for $9.00. I'll see how long this lasts to see if it is reasonable or not - it will definitely be cleaner and I can't help but think better for the puppies!

It won't last as long as you'd like but it's the best option. Been there, done that!

My next search is for some kind of pen that I can use outside as they get bigger for some outside play time.

They sell exercise pens at Petsmart. That's the best idea. Can't be chewed.

Petco has those collapseable outdoor pens, but they are incredibly expensive just for a few weeks -

The wire ones? It can be used for Sadie later on. You can use it if you were to go to a corgi picnic. Or if she's ill and needs to be confined for some reason. Trust me they're worth the price and have many uses.

Or you could sell it to someone else after you're done with it. (I never part with an exercise pen unless it breaks!)

Peggy

[LoveMySadie]

Thanks Peggy! The moving paper is working nicely so far - and the U-Haul store isn't too far away if I need another supply! :SMILE:

Leslie

[disraeli ears]

You might be surprised the uses they have. I'll be taking it when we visit Susan this summer - you can bet with 7 Corgis, someone will be needing a time-out at some point!



Visiting Susan? I only count 4 Corgis...who else? Oh...and what fun!

[Fluffypants]

Visiting Susan? I only count 4 Corgis...who else? Oh...and what fun!

Jackie = Number 5 :CUTE:

[Jespah]

Hopefully we'll have: Tucker and Lulu, Rupert and Jemma, Gus and Dillon and of course, the Princess Warrior, Jackie!!