What are peoples opinions? I was thinking of buying one of these http://www.petnapwhelpingboxes.co.uk/acatalog/whelping_box.html#a3 but what do people think? My worry is that because they are disposable they wont stand up to the rigours a litter would put on it...I dont want one thats falling apart or looking horrendous whilst I still need it.

I've never fancied these myself, but I know an acquaintance of mine who ordered one and believe it or not they do last well they are very sturdy and serve their purpose, I think if memory serves she used it for 6 weeks with no worries, it had probably reached the end by then or perhaps the pups may have began chewing their den to bits. :-)

We're getting a cardboard disposable one from petnap too, but once that is used, we're popping the litter and mum in a sandbox inside a paddling pool lined with vet bed and such.

I have used these and think they are great. I have a med/large breed and usually have large litters of hooligans and the boxes hold up well. Usually line with extra cardboard on base which I can dispose off after whelping as mine dig like stink :)
K

I used one with my first litter, wouldn't waste my money again.  Don't get me wrong it did the job and certainly last till the pups went to their new homes but it is just a cardboard box after all!  I use a Croft puppy pen with the pig rails now instead.  At least it can be reused time and time again so more worth paying out for.

For many years I have used cardboard box manufacturers, and use the triple layer boxes.  I buy a flat pack of 10.  For my small breed I buy 24" x 24" x 18" and have never needed to use all 10 for any bitch.  I burn them when they get bloody/mucousy and each box costs me around £3.70 so it's an hygenic option for those that don't have a lot of storage space for large permanent boxes.  I like the fact that I only make them up when I need them, and I can cut to suit if wanted.

I'm on my second litter using a 3 ring blow up pool (4ft size).  I did consider going to a regular whelping box this time but I'm so glad I didn't.  These are great, the rings act a bit like pig rails, pups can roll back under if mum squishes (though not an issue in my breed), the sides are soft and curved for mum to lay against.  Easy to clean, and just throw away when done.  And very cheap.  Did the whelping in them, then cleaned and sanitised, and then babies are in there now till they start climbing out. 

I honestly won't use anything else.

> what do people think?

If you only have a litter once in a while it's probably a good idea. I've used them and they easily stand up to 10+ large breed pups for about 4 weeks. As we burn them after that, we don't have a storage issue afterwards. I put a PVC cloth inside covered with lots of newspaper for the actual whelping. Once that's been used and disposed of, it's just a case of washing and changing the vetbed regularly.

I used one once for a large (50kg) fairly clumsy first time mum who wanted to lean against the sides for support when she was having contractions and the box wasnt robust enough. It didn't last very long so I wouldn't bother with one again.

Did you not find that the bitches nails burst it?

I probably wont have another litter for 3/4 years, so dont want to spend a huge amount on a whelping box that will just sit in the garage for years.

No they didn't, though I have always had a second one on hand just in case.  When the pups start growing out of it they'll go into a pen, but there are a lot in our breed that use these and swear by them.  And like I said, just bin when done.

>I'm on my second litter using a 3 ring blow up pool (4ft size).

:-)  :-)   I have 2 of these, as I always take a litter down to the caravan for socialisation with kiddies.  One paddling pool outside, and one inside, as it means I get no wees on the carpet, and I can clean the indoors one while pups are outside.  I've done this for years.

With 8 pastoral pups growing by the minute, I would need an Olympic size swimming pool lol.

I think we have the same breed...im not sure what to use to be honest, the paddling pool could be great for the whelping and first few weeks but no more as they are quite active pups to say the least! But i am a bit concerned that it will go pop as my girl isnt exactly careful where she puts her feet!
I will be getting a margo puppy pen too, but im really not sure what is the best set up as pups will be in my lounge which is carpeted (i know i know!!), im going to be putting a big carpet offcut in the whelping area and surrounding it, but i really would prefer something with a base- especially as they get older as although i have a big kitchen utility, its an old house and gets very cold in there at night so they probably wont be in there much.

My other thoughts were to get someone to put together a whelping box with high sides made from plywood/chipboard that i can just burn once finished with.

So many decisions!

This is the one we've used. The sides seem very strong, our 50+kg bitches don't bend them. We have pig-rails, maybe that gives some stability. We haven't had any problems with nails going through. The pups can and do chew the cardboard but we always transfer ours to a large crate and run by 4 weeks. The non-ruck mats are very good too.

If we had puppies more often I would probably go for a permanent whelping box as these aren't cheap. By the way, our Toy breed bitch had her pups in an ordinary cardboard box that I got new for her. We threw that away by the end of the first week after which they went in a crate.

hi, i used one with my first litter and to be honest I haven't bothered since, i use a rigid side paddling pool, i buy 2 for £20 on ebay, wash one, use one system.. They when they are on the move and mum is feeding them less they go into a puppy pen...