March 6, 2010 e-mail reply from Dr Sing

Thank you for the floor-plan. As no two puppies can be toilet-trained according to a successful formula, I can only give you some guidelines to encourage your puppy to pee and poop on the grate. These guidelines may or may not be effective for you. These are:

1. The playpen has a smaller area for the first 2-4 weeks after the puppy goes home than what you present now.
2. 50% of the playpen's floor area is occupied by the grate + pee pan (which the puppy now pees on). This may be the back half of the playpen as viewed from your approach to the playpen.
3. 50% of the front half of the playpen - Food and water on the left side, sleeping area on the right side. The bottom right side is now the puppy's pee area. You need to thoroughly disinfect and neutralise the puppy's smell on this spot. Use white vinegar:water at 1:3 dilution.
Wipe off the urine smell.
4. Grate should be washed often if you are around. Stools should be removed promptly. If the puppy poops after meals, that would be best. There should be no free feeding available throughout the day. The puppy must be trained to eat all within 15 minutes.
5. This process may take 2-4 weeks depending on your training consistency, spending time to train and puppy's intelligence, amongst other factors.
6. As to leaving the puppy inside the playpen while you work, this is necessary if you want to get him house-trained early. If a friend can check him during lunchtime, it will be good.  
7. Let me know if you have any questions.