I like the idea of paper bags. The only thing I don't like about the newspaper is the black from the print gets all over everything.

Lori

A few other options......you can go to a newspaper/local shopper place and ask if they give away the end rolls. Those are the roles of paper that have not yet been printed on to make the newspapers. When they run low they replace the roll with a new one but what is left over still has lots of useable paper! I used to use that when I raised Boxers. An end roll could raise a whole litter's worth! The downside to that is that it doesn't provide a lot of traction to pups learning to walk, if they poop and step in it, it will smear and it takes a little longer for urine to be absorbed.

Another great idea is shredded paper. It's free but you have to find somewhere willing to give it to the public. Some banks, accountants, etc. will give it away for free. Less for the to have to pay to dispose of but some places will not due to the documents that were on them being private before being shredded. The downside of shredded paper is that it is surprisingly dusty, not for breathing in or anything but will leave a while film on top of surfaces. It also will get in your water bowls but it is easy to clean up, doesn't deteriorate in water really and keeps the pups very clean. I never had to bathe the Boxer pups at all before going home if they were raised on shredded paper!

My favorite though is pine shavings. I found a brand that is not very dusty at all and not irritating at all to the dogs or me. I use it in the plastic crates and also in the little kiddie wading/swimming pools with an x-pen around it. I also use pine shavings in the kennel. It is very comfy for the pups and dogs to lay on and play in. It is highly absorbant and cheap. I buy it at livestock feed stores and it comes in a large compressed plastic wrapped "bale" and I pay about $6.00 a bag for it. One bag is enough to bed down my entire kennel indoors with a couple inches! With the pups it's really nice because it absorbs the urine right away and it sticks to the poop so it keeps the pups really clean. Downside, people with allergies to dust probably wouldn't want to use it in their house as I do. I can sweep it up as I don't have carpet but I don't suggest using it anywhere near carpet!!

Downside for me is that the dogs water can get sawdust in it so in the kennel I use buckets rather than dishes and in the puppy pens I either use the plastic crock dishes that attach to the crate wire doors or I use ceramic crock dishes on top of the shavings and just try to put the food and water away from places the pups/dogs are likely to jump up. Some dogs are intent on burying their food or water so unless you can elevate their dishes it would use a different bedding source!!

I hope that offers some ideas to people. I have used the pelleted litter and I like that too but it's not practical for me as I when I do have pups I usually have several litters at once a few times a year.

Jenni