Can anyone suggest a good whelping box. I have a medium sized breed. I have looked around, 'Snowsilk' (borrowed one of those last time), 'Warwick' - both pretty expensive, so are they worth it? Then there is the disposable kind, bit concerned about being able to clean those.

Didn't really think the Snowsilk one that I borrowed was really worth the money paid for it! What are the advantages / disadvantages you have found?

My Snowsilk box is more than 20 years old and worth every penny. :)
Folds flat, lightweight, easy to steam clean.  Complete cube to keep bitch and puppies warm and safe.  It doesn't owe me a penny.

I have a warwick whelping box - worth every penny only small niggle - had to cut a larger hole for the cable for the heat pad to go through.  Easy to clean and sterilize after use.

I have a warwick for my giant breed so was very expensive but is really well built and I think worth every penny.

Just had a look at the Warwick website - must say I'm not impressed that they don't put any prices up.

all sizes and prices on Ebay just search for whelping box will find link to their ebay shop where all sizes and prices are displayed.

I just bought a link-bord box from Fit and Fertile. Very reasonable prices compared to Snowsilk and Warwick, super delivery and it's a great whelping box. The only issue I do have is that the one that they sent me (3ft x 3ft x 2ft) is the right size, but if you make it according to the instructions there is a 12inch step up to the entrance. Might not seem a lot, but imagine a 13.5 inch (at the shoulder) dog, fairly low-slung at the best of times, complete with low-hanging boobs, trying to get into that!? With a fair few arguments and a bit of ingenuity, my husband and I managed to reposition things so that there is a 6 inch step up to the entrance and that has suited her fine. Only problem is that it sort of mucks up the strength of it (unless you drill two more holes in one of the boards), so you have to be careful about leaning against the front or back while whelping's going on. I will, of course, be drilling extra holes for next time, but you live and learn.

I used one of these throwaway recycleable ones http://www.whelping-boxes.co.uk/which.htm. It lasted for two whelpings too :) 

I order double strength cardboard boxes direct from manufacturer.  Many different sizes, sturdy enough that they don't go soggy with birthing fluids.

They are in packs of 10 and it means I can incinerate and replace as and when needed.  I've never used the full 10 yet for any whelping. 

> I used one of these throwaway recycleable ones [url=http://www.whelping-boxes.co.uk/which.htm." rel=nofollow]http://www.whelping-boxes.co.uk/which.htm.[/url] It lasted for two whelpings too :-)

But I just can't see the logic in paying £40 for a box that might last two whelpings, when you can pay £80 for a link-bord one that should last you for years and years if the ones they use in garden products are anything to go by. And they're so good at keeping the heat in.

Many of us use 3 ring blowup swimming pools.  Might sound odd, and the first time I saw one being used I was a bit surprised (in both a good and a bad way), but I have to say they work a treat. 

Cheap, can throw away when done, the rounded sides are far more comfortable for mum, and the rings act as kind of a 'pig rail' though in our breed that's something we don't worry too much over.

I keep looking at some of these lovely 'proper' whelping boxes, but then I keep thinking how well the pool worked and I know I'll use it again next time.  Also as pups get older and you want to allow them to get out to 'eliminate' you just deflate a ring.

I think I used a 4ft pool for my medium sized breed.

my hubby makes ours :) we go to ikea and get the oddments of wood thats used for wardrobes so it can be washed down ,4 of them and costs us £2 LOL the front of the pen when its made up has a drop down bit and 2 to bolts so it can be closed up for when pups are older and you dont want them jumping out ,we have large breed dogs and this works great ,we skip it after and make a new 1 for each whelp its could be used again but for that price i carnt be doing with storing it :) x

We have Snowsilk, 2 in fact, a huge one we bought donkey's years ago for the Boxers and a few years ago a smaller one for the Frenchies with a lid.  They are excellent, worth every penny, so easy to clean and store, wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

My hubby made ours with 2 sheets of Coroplast..brilliant stuff, warm under foot and very easy to clean and sterilise. He just reinforced the sides with some square shelving  things from BnQ, the left over squares made a run that was about 8ft long and kept the pups safe but with plenty of space to see us and play.

with a lid.
Yes I wouldn't consider a whelping box without a lid either. :)

I had my first litter this year (medium sized breed). Having helped raise 10 other litters I had a pretty good idea about what I wanted from my whelping box and what design I wanted.

I did look around at others available. I did post on here and I did take note of other people's comments. I ended up buying Link-a-bord panels and bits ... I didn't buy one of their ready made whelping boxes as quite frankly I felt I could design a box that was much better, plus I didn't want their standard sizes. So I bought the panels to the length I wanted and constructed a box to my own requirements. The base in their bought whelping boxes is just more sheets of Link-a-bord - didn't want that, so for the base of my box I used a cow mat!! Absolutely perfect - cleaned up easily, warm for the pups to lie on, not slippery. The inevitable 'gunk' cleaned off the panels very easily, any heavy soiling and a section could be dismantled and cleaned a bit better. My Link-a-bord own design has now been completely cleaned off and disinfected and is neatly packed away in it's original box ready for it's next outing! Even if I had a bottomless purse I wouldn't actually change what I've got, I've been really pleased with it.