Puppy Play Pen

[sheepdog 10]

I would really love some input to help me design the ultimate puppy playpen. My goals include not only socialization for the pups, but also physical and mental stimulation. I want to build a play or exercise area that will help develop young pups into becoming the very best companions they can be. When my pups go to their new homes I want them to be friendly, confident and less stressed by new situations.Who has gotten a new puppy at some time and has any ideas on what the puppy could be exposed to before it goes to it's new home that would help make the transition easier? What kind of things bothered or frightened your new puppy when you first got it?I have some general ideas on what I want to accomplish. For starters, I want the pups to experience a variety of flooring surfaces. Separate areas for gravel, grass, sand, concrete, basically any outdoor surface they might in the future come in contact with. Since it will be an outdoor area, I’m not sure how I could include indoor type surfaces like carpeting or linoleum that would hold up, perhaps indoor/outdoor carpeting might work, but soggy shag carpet would never do. I plan to build a small, puppy size deck, with stairs to walk up to it, maybe a child’s slide to come down. Some small tunnels to crawl threw. Also want to include a water fountain for the running water sounds. Perhaps a bell with a rope chew toy attached that would ring when they played with it. What other ways could I make strange sounds part of the experience? Seems like I’ve seen some motion detector type ornaments that might be cool, like a frog that croaked when a pup went by it?I have even had a few wild notions about using a section of Plexiglas as part of the exterior fence, and getting a decorative small chicken house with a pair of Banty chickens in it so they can become accustom to birds. Direct contact would be a no no of course, but at least they could see and smell them. I probably have a squirrel or 2 around here I could coax to come to a feeder. I feel a bird feeder would bring contaminants into the area, so that probably isn’t a great idea. Any ideas or input would be appreciated. Any suggestions, for types of toys, or anything else will be appreciated.