Puppy bedding & fleas - Page 1

I am new to raising to shepherds and have my very first litter.  They were 2 weeks old on August 6th.  I have 2 questions, first what do you put your puppies on.  Up until now they are in a giant plastic kiddie swimming pool with sheets on the bottom, but my husband is going to build a "real" whelping/puppy box this weekend.  Do you use newspaper, blankets, shavings, etc?

Also anyone have suggestions to help with fleas for a nursing mom and puppies.  I am in Texas and they are awful.  I have 4 shepherds, (3 under a year and my 2yr old that just had puppies).  I use a water based flea spray on my 3 younger ones once a week and they do not have a single flea on them, but my poor momma and puppies are loaded.  I have bathed them in Dawn which helps but within a day or 2 my babies have big flea nests on them again. They are kept in the house and my house has been treated and sprayed regularly. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
Julie

eucalyptus leaves in bedding should help, they also sell organic flea repellents that can be sprayed around and on the bed, I use Bronco spray on my dogs to keep all kinds of bugs away, my dogs used to get their tip of the ears all bloody from flies and gnats, this stuff is great, i don't have any flies anywhere. Also if you can (not sure if it will grow in Tx) plant some lemon grass and it will keep all of mosquitoes away...just something for your info.

 http://www.ehow.com/how_4897157_rid-fleas-newborn-puppies.html

try ceder chips in the bedding


you can also cut up a lemon or two  (rind and all) and boil them in a pot of water, and let it seep over night. The mixture is a natural flea/tick repellant that you can spray momma with.   I'm not so sure about the puppies as mom just might lick it off and the citrusy things aren't usually a favorite for most dogs.

Either way good luck

Also you could  put a little all natural  food grade Diatomacious earth  in select areas around the house and yard. ( It will harm/ kill most bugs  so be careful if you have some kind of garden/ you can also put some in moms water or food every day and it will help kill any internal worms she may have gotten there are no known negative side effects for internal ingestion of FOOD GRADE DE. It is however an extremely fine powder and a bit messy.