Puppy Playland

At about 4 1/2 weeks of age, we introduce the puppies to our Puppy Playland. 

Puppy Playland is surrounded by 2 exercise pens which gives puppies their first hint of crate training to come.  The ex-pens move, sway and make noise as the puppies bounce against them.  There are plastic bags attached to the ex-pens in a couple of places - they make noise as the puppies brush by them and they blow a bit when the heat comes on or the breeze picks up.  There is an open umbrella hanging from the ex-pen as well.  This moves and sways as the puppies play against the pen.   There is  a PVC pipe drilled with holes attached to the ex-pen with objects hanging down - the puppies learn to reach for the objects that are slightly too high, they are touched by the ones that are lower as they pass underneath.  The objects are different - rubber Kong, fleece toy, rope toy, squeaky toy, ball, etc.

There is always loud music playing in the puppy rooms.  We also play thunderstorm / environment CDs for the puppies.  

Puppy Playland has a variety of different footings underneath - a rubber show mat, an upside down metal crate pan, an old window screen panel, vinyl flooring, carpet, etc.

There are different obstacles and challenges - the pig rail from the whelping box is something to climb over or walk along, there is a teeter totter, there are tunnels, there are steps, there is a ramp (which gets progressively higher as the puppies grow), an old milk crate, a small A-frame, a skateboard, there is a tippy upside down garbage can lid which the puppies love to rock in - add a ball - instant fun! 

There are many different toys - noisy fleecy stuffies (we have a snake that roars like a mountain lion, a screeching gorilla, a frog that ribbits, a lobster that squeaks, etc), balls, nylon bones, sterilized beef bones, rawhide bones, Kongs, cardboard tubes, 2 litre empty pop bottles, rope toys, etc.  I think we have every toy imaginable!

The puppies burn off their energy exercising in the room while building confidence and agility.  Their minds are stimulated to try new things and overcome obstacles and challenges.

We have done outdoor playlands and indoor playlands, depending on when the litters are born.  The obstacles get re-arranged about once a week, raised, lowered, taken out, put back in, etc. 

Outdoor playlands:

Indoor playland: