Building a whelp box?

[katie71003]

We have a litter coming up in July(of sibe huskies), and since they are the same size as boxers, how do you boxer breeders build your whelp box? We've tried to get it done before now, but with all the rain we've been getting in Louisiana lately we couldnt build it outside. We are giong to have to build it inside since its still raining and her whelp date is coming up. We are expecting about 7-9puppies. We are going to have the whelp box in our kitchen, but also want it tall enough that the pups cant get out, but mom can, and tall enoguh that our 13mos old daughter and 9 week old puppy cant get to the pups.
Katie

 

[FlashyTitus]

I'm not a breeder and have never had a litter before but I have seen several litters whelped in those small plastic swimming pools that you buy for small kids. I have been told that they work great and are very easy to keep clean. Hope this helps.

 

[katie71003]

Yea Ive thought about that as well..Imay go that route and move the puppies into another room outside of the kitchen so my daughter wont be reaching her hands in there...I dont really want her touching the pups until they are a little bit older and not so young and able to catch something and her maybe grabbing one and breaking ribs.
Katie

 

[JulieM]

I definitely suggest not having the whelping box in the kitchen until the pups are older - the bitch needs to be in a quiet, calm spot where she can have privacy with her pups. Most kitchens are anything but that. Our pups were whelped in our guest bedroom - which was very nice for the first week when you need to be a constant presence in the room, I was able to sleep in a bed and not on the floor! The room was kept either closed (door) or gated off from the rest of the dogs for the first week or so, until the bitch was comfortable with other dogs coming near. At about three weeks, once the pups were climbing out of the box with ease, they were moved to the high-activity room of the house in an ex-pen/half-crate set-up. (We did use a swimming pool as a whelping box, it worked quite well.)

 

[katie71003]

Thanks. Im probably giong to put them in my daughters room, since my daughter wont sleep in her room and sleeps with us. I think we will try the swimming pool idea and see how that works out because the plastic will be much easier to clean.
Thanks alot
katie

 

[Devoted]

Due date??

Hi Katie,

I'm from La. too. And we are expecting our first litter. Between July4th-July 8th is my best guess. Dam is flashy fawn, Diamond and sire is brindle named Pete.

Good luck with the delivery.

Yesterday we went to Home Depot to pick up material for a whelping box. Approx. $125+ not cheap.....plastic pool might have been better moneywise but hopefully the whelping box can be stored and used again IF we ever do this again.

Best of luck to you and mom.

Devoted

 

[katie71003]

Devoted: Id love to see photos of your puppies when they are born!
Katie

 

[msteinkamp]

Whelp Box

We also were recommended (by very responsible and experienced breeder) use of plastic swimming pool with blankets in the bottom. Also the advice of a quiet non-stressful, traffic free area is correct.