Hi Marc,
When my pups start climbing out of the whelping box into the ex-pen, I place the pee pad so it is the first thing they step on to. They nearly always use it. Then sheets or blankets around it. As they get older, I move the pee pad farther away so they actually have to go to it. That I do when they are walking, not just crawling. Later, I put boards around it to sort of simulate a doorway that they have to go through, so they learn that they shouldn't potty in the area where they are living and to go through a door to get to potty area. Helps a little for outdoor training later.
I too, start clipping their toenails as soon as they get a sharp little point on them so they don't scratch their mama and yes they do get hung up on the pee pads if nails get too long. I just use human nail clippers and cut the point off.
My mom's usually eat the poop until they start eating some food other than just milk. If I get to it first, I pick it up, but I don't worry if mom eats it.
Hope this helps. |