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The Whelping Box : Why's and How's
A whelping box is a four sided low walled box that provides a nest like area that expectant mothers (dams or bitches) will naturally want to use to give birth (whelp) and nurse their puppies. Whelping boxs provide many important benefits to you and your new family:
· Safety for puppies – the four sided low box keeps them confined until about three weeks of age
· A safe place for the mother – a natural nest where she feels comfortable and step in and to nurse her pups as needed
· A warm place for the pups – it keeps them from drafts and allows the option of putting a heating pad underneath
· Birthing process can be messy – a whelping box confines the mess and allows you to change the bedding easily
Size
· Most whelping box designs call for 4 ft x 4 ft base with 1ft high walls but this can vary by the breed
· The mom should be able to stretch our fully and comfortably
· For dogs 15 – 30 lbs you could consider 3x3’ size
· For dogs less than 15 lbs 2x2’ may be sufficient
· The objective is to have enough room to be comfortable but not too large that is cold and drafty
· Wall height needs to be high enough not let the puppies climb out but low enough that the mom can jump out to eat, play, and go outside and jump back in to nurse
Surface/Materials
· Plywood is easy to build with and light, but tough to keep clean and can lead to splinters
· Laminated press board like melamine is easier to clean but heavier and does not hold screws as well
· A nice compromise is covering the inside of a plywood box with contact paper to facilitate cleaning (see details below)
The following is adapted from Lisa Nicolelloat devinefarm.net/rp/rpwhelpb.htm. The construction details are basic and depending on how handy you are you can either have a contractor build it or build it yourself.
Building a Whelping Box the Easy Way
I have built many whelping boxes that didn't work very well. I made the mistakes of making the box too large, and of not using heavy duty lumber. The boxes were a pain to keep clean and looked so awful after being used, that I would throw them away and build a new one for each litter.
My newest box, now ready for its third use, was simple to build, easy to clean, and still looks great!
You will need one sheet of 3/4" plywood. Get a good grade, one that is smooth on both sides. The sheet comes in a standard size of 4' by 8'. Ask your local lumberman to cut the wood in half, so you have two pieces, 4' by 4'. Then have him cut one of the sections into three equal parts. They will be 16" sections 4' long. These will be three sides of the box. By using 3/4" plywood, the box will be sturdy enough for you to get in it with your dog.
Most lumberyards/Home Depot type stores will give you three cuts of lumber for free, then they charge for additional cuts. It’s sure easier than cutting it yourself! For the front panel of the box, you can use a 1"x12' board, or two 1"x6”s (one on top of the other). This is tall enough to keep the puppies in, but Momma dog can easily step over it. (You can also remove this wall entirely as the puppies get to be over 3 weeks). If you have a place to store the box, assembled, use nails to put it together. If your storage is limited, use screws so you can easily take the box apart. (The box can be further strengthened by adding 2”x2” cleats in the corners.)
Before you assemble the box, cover the inside panels with contact paper. It is cheap, comes in lots of nice colors and patterns and makes cleaning the box a breeze! If you cover the panels before assembly, you will only be dealing with a flat surface -- it's really easy! I use a little glue to secure the edges of the paper (I bend the edges around the sawn parts of the wood to cover them). The sections can then be nailed, or screwed together. If the paper won't stick well to the sawn edges, a staple gun will help. My husband suggested trying vinyl flooring instead of contact paper. It's another option you may want to consider. Run a bead of silicon sealant around the seams. It will prevent leaks.
The contact paper takes a lot of abuse. With my old wooden boxes, they became stained and never cleaned up to my satisfaction. With the contact paper, no odors sink into the wood and the box stays looking new.
I use a whelping nest (by T. E. Scott), that requires a large hole to be made in the floor of the box. The hole is made before assembly. The whelping nest works very well; the puppies cuddle up in it. It hangs below the floor level, so I use 2x4's to elevate the box.
For bedding, I use the washable fake sheepskins that have a rubber backing. They don't skid around the box and provide excellent footing for the dam and pups. My pups are on their feet the same day they are born. The sheepskins are easily washed (and bleached) and despite hard usage, they hold up very well.
I do not use a puppy guard rail. If you want one, add a 1x4 or 2x4 railing to the inside of the box after it is put together. Two railings will be slightly higher than the other two, unless you are talented with a saw and can cut on a diagonal that will meet up correctly at each corner. Place the railing about 3-5" up from the bottom of the box depending on the size of your breed. I have never used a rail as I watch my litters closely, and with the whelping nest the pups stay near the center. I have noticed too, that when a rail is used, the pups stand up on it to look out of the box instead of backing up to where they can see out. I don't think that standing up on those soft, baby hind legs can be beneficial! When you start feeding the puppies, food is dropped onto the railing; as well as other puppy messes, that calls for lots of scrubbing! I like to keep cleanup as easy as I can!
Good luck, enjoy your puppies!
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