Inside the Puppy Pen - Day 44

Today, we added the puppy swing to the pen, and I love what it brings to their development. On the surface, it looks simple: a fun new toy, something different, but there’s more happening than meets the eye. The swing introduces a large moving object into their world. That movement matters. Puppies learn confidence through exposure, and controlled novelty is one of the safest ways to build that confidence. A gently swaying surface also challenges their balance and engages the inner ear, which plays a major role in coordination and motion tolerance. The more we can expose them to varied movement early on, the less likely they are to struggle with motion sickness later: car rides, grooming tables, agility equipment, etc. It all starts with a stable vestibular system and positive early experiences, and they think it’s just play

They officially moved into their big weaning pen on Friday. This is the first time you’re seeing it, but they have been busy making it their own. The expanded space gives them room to stretch, wrestle, chase, and build muscle. At this age, freedom of movement is just as important as structured exposure. They need room to run, stumble, recover, and try again.

You’ll also notice the kennels are now part of the setup. The doors stay open all day. The beds are inside. They wander in and out freely. Sometimes they nap in there by choice. Sometimes they pile in together. It becomes normal, comfortable and familiar. That’s intentional. When kennels are introduced as part of everyday life rather than as confinement, they become a safe place instead of something stressful. It’s simply where the soft beds are.

With the move to the weaning pen, we also transitioned to individual feeding. Each puppy now eats from their own bowl, in their own space, and at their own pace. This accomplishes several things:

• It prevents food competition

• It allows us to monitor intake closely

• It teaches independence

• It builds positive kennel association

They are briefly kenneled during meals, but the kennel equals reward. It equals food. It equals calm focus. That pairing matters.