Hi Laura - My whelping box is the length of my garage and divided into two sections. The 4'x6' section is the whelping box portion where the pups are delivered and stay with the mom until their eyes are open. Then I removed thedivider and the remaining section has the pine shavings. The pups quickly learn on their own to go potty in the shavings and sleep in the other sectionwhich has carpetings and bedding. Although they do run and play through the shavings . When the pups go home, I give the new owners a bag of shavings and tell them to put the shavings in their yard where they want the pup to go potty and to take them to that area after every meal or when they wake up from sleeping. It works great and makes housebreaking so much easier.Kay Springer www.showboatgsd.com Home of Multi BISS & Group Winning Ch. Rohan's Reward TC, HT, RN, CD ************** Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOLAutos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================