I have a friend whose toy bitch is due to whelp in 3wks..
She has decided to use the crate as a whelping box, its 36ins by 27ins, she is going to line it out with either thin ply wood or coroplast around the sides and back to keep out draughts and use a blanket to cover the top to make a cave type home. Would this be big enough or would it be better for her to get a proper whelping box?  She has looked online but doesnt want to spend a huge amount on one as her girl is only going to have this litter.

We built our whelping box out of coroplast which was very easy to clean and disinfect and was warm underfoot aswell, she saw ours but doesnt want to make hers the same.

Sounds plenty big enough and easy to keep cosy.

I use puppy panels in a 3 foot square PVU base as my whelping pen (for my mdium size bred) and line the sides with cardboard which can be easily renewed.

I have also used 4 foot panels to make a bigger a four foot square whelping pen with a piece of cushion floor lino for the base.  I prefer the 3 foot square though when then pups are newborn.

I cover both with a blanket/bedspread

The only thing I would say, in my limited experience, is that I would think a crate would be difficult for the owner if she needs to intervene during whelping. Trying to get inside a crate could prove almost impossible. I used a similar system to Brainless and took the front panel off the Croft Freedom pen as I found even that made access difficult. Once all the pups had arrived the front panel went back on. I also lined it with cardboard. I would think a playpen such as the Croft Freedom pen would be a better option.

Size would be fine but unless it is a crate where the roof is removable (I used to have one where the roof was the last part to be fixed together) then she will be handicapped if the bitch gets to the back and turns herself so that Mum can't reach.  After whelping if Mum lies on a pup, again she won't be able to get in there quick enough.
For me, one litter or not, there is no substitute for comfort of the dam and safety of both the dam and the pups.  A crate isn't suitable if things go wrong. :(

Having spent the money for all the tests that this toy breed needs before mating, I wouldn't have thought that a cardboard whelping box would make much difference to the expenses. :(

The only thing I would say, in my limited experience, is that I would think a crate would be difficult for the owner if she needs to intervene during whelping.

Snap. Tried it once with a toy litter, NEVER again. It was absolutely impossible to help as I could not reach. Bought a proper toy sized whelping box for the next time.

some1 i know had a litter 9weeks ago same breed has your friend and used a crate she said never again ,she couldnt get to help her girl in the end she had to get her girl out put towels on the floor and once whelping had done she then put mum and pups back in there ,her girl was stressed when she moved her out but there was nothing she could do but move her xx

Many thanks for all the replies.
Meeting up with her later today here when shes done her sale shopping!!!
I will show her your replies and advise her to get a proper whelping box or make one.
Shes asked me to be there at the birth aswell...not sure if I can help but Im honoured to be asked:)
The scan showed 4 pups but shes huge..I think there might be more in there:-o

Yes agree access can be an issue unless the crate is one with large doors both in long and short end.

Puppy panels of course can have drop sides so access easy.

I also attach towels over the drop-side so bitch doesn't bump herself too much getting in and out.

Always used crates and never had a problem but the crates that I use have two doors so easy to access the bitch if any problems or help needed.

Thankyou all very much.
My friend has decided to make a whelping box out of coroplast, the crate she has does have 2 doors, one at the end and the other at the side.

im sure will be better for her to help if she needs too :) xx

I have toy breeds, and use 42" puppy crates, but I've never had a bitch that wanted to whelp in one!  Once pups are born, I put the bitch and pups where I want them, and have never had a problem. 

I whelp my bitches on bath towels with as much room as I need to assist if needed.  My crates do have two doors, but I buy the 10 packs of cardboard boxes straight from the factory (don't fancy supermarket boxes, and not knowing what they could be carrying.)
I get the 24" x 24" x 18" which means that I can use a heat pad for half of the box, under the vetbed.  I do get the double thickness cardboard, so it is fairly sturdy, and I've never gone through a full pack for my bitches.  I burn them when I need to replace.  I can make the box fairly closed, with just enough room for the bitch to come out, and the crate is left open for her.  I do cover the crate back and sides, as I find the bitches are calmer if they feel "safe."

As a slight aside, I would be interested to know where she gets the corroplast from. I recall you posting about your corroplast box when I was asking about link-a-board (which I eventually went with) but I couldn't get it easily in the size sheets I wanted.

The crate I used had two doors as well, still didn't work, whatever I did parts of it was in the way.

Trialist
we went to a local plastic sign maker in Middlesbrough, the corroplast we got came in 8ft sheets and we could have any colour we wanted, but we got white. I think it was about £13 a sheet, not sure what it is now though.

Thanks, I shall get the yellow pages out!