I had an ideal set up. We had what was ,at one time a garage , off our family room. It had a dutch door for summer, and the furnace room was there for heat if it was cold ( plus heaters etc ) . I had a large whelping pen that was changed as the pups grew. The whole garage was a " play room" ... work table was grooming etc table. The whelping pen went into " kennel " mode,once the pups were starting to be weaned. Pups were in for the night until morning .... knew their potty area and during the day the kennel was open for them to retreat to.... though most would pile intp the boxes or baskets I had out for them. Chairs were set up and we would spend hours out there with them and the other goldens, was such fun !!!