Hello, I am doing a project for my A level DT coursework and I am creating a product for breeders. It would be great if anyone could answer the following questions to use as customer research.

1) How do you store you dog food, do you have specific storage bins/containers?
2) What do you use for your dog to birth in, whelping box, dog bed?
3) Do you find as a breeder that storing whelping kit/food/toys/grooming kit a problem?
4) If a product existed that could store everything you need (eg. things listed above) as a breeder would you purchase it?
5) What does your whelping kit consist of and how do you store it at the moment?

Thank you.

1)  I keep my dog food in storage bins, but when I have pups in my bedroom I keep eg dried milk there and of course food for the pups....
2)  I use a home made whelping box although I have used throwaway boxes
3)  No I don't find storage is a particular problem - toys etc tend to get shredded either by the pups or the other dogs and new ones are generally provided for new pups
4)  Where would I put it?  Separately they're not too much of a problem, but together not sure where I'd keep it, sorry.
5)  Whelping 'kit' is fairly basic and is just stored in my bedroom....

the bulky items are the box (which comes apart for cleaning & storage), ewe milk (big bag) newspapers (you can never have enough!), towels (I have enough for one for each pup plus spares) and vet bed (tend to buy a new bit for each litter), the rest goes in a drawer

1) 40 litre food bin and freezer
2) whelping box
3)no
4) no because I can't imagine a product that would store my dog food and other items with it- plus my whelping kit is stored away from my other day to day bits as it is not used as often.
5) majority of essential items other than perishable ones. It is stored in a plastic container.

Can I ask what it is you are creating?

1) How do you store you dog food, do you have specific storage bins/containers?
Freezers!

2) What do you use for your dog to birth in, whelping box, dog bed?
Whelping boxes.

3) Do you find as a breeder that storing whelping kit/food/toys/grooming kit a problem?
No, most goes in the garage, smaller items kitchen etc.

4) If a product existed that could store everything you need (eg. things listed above) as a breeder would you purchase it?
No, I can't see that being possible or practical -and it would seriously limit space as now I can store items in several different locations. Eg. I have combs and brushes in kitchen AND living room, whelping box, carriers in garage, large vetbeds in hall, small vetbeds in bathroom, etc. Also some things need to be accessible all the time, such as combs and brushes and food, others only once a year or less, such as whelping boxes, yet others perhaps monthly such as carrying boxes.

5) What does your whelping kit consist of and how do you store it at the moment?
See previous answers. Whelping box, vetbeds, heated pad, digital scales, towels and flannels etc -all stored in different locations to optimise use of space and to be handy when needed.

What you are proposing is exactly what I did. :-)

I built myself a storage unit/cabinet, where I could keep everything all together instead of running up and down stairs, kitchen, garage etc, because we breeders move in to the whelping room with our dogs for the first 2+ weeks post whelping and need to be near our dogs for approx the 2 weeks prior to whelping I wanted everything to hand and in one place.

For me it worked fantastic, I had the whelping crate set up and next to it my cabinet with everything from the whelping kit items (which is a huge list won't write it all down) scales, wormers, flea treatments etc, (I had a small pharmacy in there :-) ) torch, blankets, towels, sheets, newspapers, parvocide, disinfectants, all cleaning materials, mops, brushes, toys, grooming brushes, paperwork for the pups and my girl all ready to show if not already seen, puppy contacts etc, (dog food I still kept in the kitchen no point in moving that as it needs to be prepared in there and fresh meats need to stay in the freezer etc.)

Everything I needed for the dam, pups and new puppy owners I kept in my cabinet drawers and shelving, (probably missed loads of things off) it was all neat and tidy, and I even had a little coffee machine and magazines so that I didn't have to leave my girl during the waiting/whelping and keeping an eye on the pups stages. It was like having my own little shop in the whelping area. :-)

I had it for years myself and then gave it to a friend of mine for her pups, she passed it on and I have no idea where it is now but I hope still being used. Or maybe it found it's way onto a bonfire. :-D

I got the idea from the baby storage units/ kitchen dressers, but I like to be very orgainsed in all aspects of my life so for me it was wonderful, many people won't used them, we breeders have our own little habits and ways of doing things so you'll never find a one way suites all in anything to do with breeding. :-)

I have a UPVC self assembley whelping box that comes apart when not in use. For storage I have a double width plastic chest of drawers with all the stuff stored away between litters, the top acts as a work surface where the kit is laid out, scales sit and I can attend to the pups or Mum if I need to examine her at less back breaking height than the base of the whelping box.

Dry food is stored in bins supplied by the dog food company and any extras in the freezer.

You adapt things to work for you.

Thank you for your feedback.

It is ultimatly a storage unit that can keep things that you need to hand eg. whelping kit such as towels, newspaper that is at the right height whilst accessing the whelping box which i want to try to build into the storage unit but thank you for your feedback.

Thank you this, this is exactly what I wish to create. Something similar to a changing unit for a baby but for dogs! Thanks again for the feeback

Carrington, would you be able to respond to those questions I posted above as your feedback was most useful in my customer research?

Many thanks

Someone I  know in the USA has something like this.  The top is a 3 sided  whelping box about 3'square, with the 4th side on sliders so it slips in or lifts out.  Underneath is a double cupboard at the front, with a shelf in, about 18" deep, and another at the back.  The whole thing is on castors.  At the side there is a fold down table top.  It looks great, and so user friendly for a small breed, the base of the whelping box is at a great height to make it easy on the owners back.  Works great for bitches who don't spend time with their pups (like most of mine) but only good for the actual whelping process with a mum who is in with the pups all the time, as you are not going to want her jumping up and down to get in and out.

Sure! :-)

1) How do you store you dog food, do you have specific storage bins/containers?
I buy large 15kg bags and store in my food larder, but I have noticed the storage bins and like them, so I will be getting one next time I'm in my pet store, meat is stored in the freezer.

2) What do you use for your dog to birth in, whelping box, dog bed?
I use a large dog crate with pig rails, I settled on this as I can throw a cover over it to make a proper den,

3) Do you find as a breeder that storing whelping kit/food/toys/grooming kit a problem? 
No, because I made my storage unit for this very reason. Otherwise I would have stored in my kitchen units I guess.

4) If a product existed that could store everything you need (eg. things listed above) as a breeder would you purchase it?
Yes, though as said not the food as it needs prep in the kitchen so best place for it.

5) What does your whelping kit consist of and how do you store it at the moment?
Stethoscope, scissors, sterile gloves, thermometer, forceps, scales, lubricant, puppy milk, feeding bottles, bulb syringe/syringes, nail clippers, dental floss, cotton wool, wipes, kitchen roll, antibacterial wipes, antibacterial hand gel, dopram V, nutridrops, Drontal wormer, Frontline flea spray, towels, sheets, newspapers, parvocide, emergency numbers, calcium tablets (incase of calcium drop post whelp) sure I've missed loads but you get the gist.......        All kept in my storage unit close to whelping crate.

Carrington will your dog food suppliers not provide you with storage bins free, RC sent me 4, 2 of each size then someone cocked up and sent me 4 more, I shared those with family, my Mum uses one in the garage to store the wild bird food.

I would prefer they were square instead of round but they were free so can't complain.

Have I been missing out all these years on freebies? :-(

I've used various suppliers over the years but always get my food delivered in a white sack, no freebies. :-( Puppy food I used to get a toy, but nothing for the adult.

This is what I've seen in Pets At Home and really like, is your gift storage bin similar?  If so I'll order from RC direct or was it another pet supplier doing the offer? :-)

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/pet-food-storage-container-by-curver-(holds-20kg)-by-curver-25851?cm_re=barilliance-_-up%20sell-_-product%20details

The link didn't work, I found these

http://www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?freeText=dog+food+storage&storeId=10551&catalogId=10601&langId=-1&x=11&y=19

They are posher than mine which are round and tall[ just the right height the larger one to sit on whilst bathing the dog or other things you need a handy seat for] I was offered them when I joined the RC breeders club many moons ago.

Fish4dogs have the same ones in blue but I am sure you have to pay for them.

I am all for freebies, I have had 2 this week I wasn't expecting.

Thank you! :)

Hi I have created the first design for my DT coursework of the breeder storage/whelping box product. If you click on the link there are some questions that would be great if anyone could have a look at and answer them. There are also the sketches so you can see what it looks like. I am happy to answer any questions. Thank you :)

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2nsaw46&s=6

Ive just looked at your drawings.  A few issues with use in real life:
The kennel design of the whelping box would make it very difficult for the breeder to see what is going on unless they are almost laying on the floor, it might also be a bit too dark to actually see anything.  Although dogs sometimes like to be enclosed, sometimes this is done by putting something as large as a table over the whelping box or draping a blanket across two supports at the back.  It would also be impossible to use a heat lamp and quite difficult to get a heat mat through the door.

It would probably be better to have a half height drop down front door rather than a wire one, so that the mum can get in and out easily and the pups stay in.

Personally I wouldnt want to store food or disinfectant in or around the whelping box.  Food containers could be broken into and then you might have a problem with bloat and disinfectant could leak, be spilt or got into.  Having upward lifting roof would be hard if you needed it to stay up, but if they folded out downwards then it would make a small shelf to put things on.  I have a litter due in the next week and I will be sitting on the floor next to her, all my equipment will be in a plastic storage box next to me in one place.  I want to work on the floor as well so that my girl can see what I am doing to her babies (ie weighing and checking them over).

However what I think your idea would be lovely for is an indoor house for cats to snuggle up into. Place in the top for toys, one side could even flip down to be a feeding station as well.

Having looked at the drawings I think the paw shaped door is the kind of feature aimed at the pet marked to look cute, but not practical or useful in a whelping box.  How would the owner get in to assist with the whelping, or even to clean the box?  Is there a way for the bitch to be able to get in and out but keep the pups in the box?  I can't see how a heat lamp could be used, or how a cable for a heat pad could be fed out of the box?  I would not be looking for food storage space in a whelping box set up, and to be most useful I think storage for necessary whelping equipment needs to be able to be accessed easily, maybe as a lift out for hinge out section?

I think  you  need to decide if you are aiming this product at the pet market - in which case, cute pitched roof and paw shaped doorway is nice and would appeal to some people.

Or are you aiming this at breeders who ideally are NOT the same people as your pet market and want practical, efficient products - in which case, pitched roofs, paw shaped doors - not good.

If you cannot find a comparable product, consider 'is this because no one has thought of it before or is this because this idea is impractical and no one wants it.

Your drawings are very good, but I think the concept isn't, most people already have a useful, compact, space-efficient storage system, its called a chest of drawers or even a dresser. Since a whelping box is something most people will be using just once maybe twice a year, combining the two doesn't make sense.

Not having done an A level, I would assume your brief is not JUST to research and design a product, but also to show the stages you went through and why various ideas were discarded - so thats why I am saying the above (I would certainly hope thats the case, I can't see the point in being given good marks for designing a product that ignores research that demonstrates its not useful/practical/in demand!).

yes all fair coments thank you, what i will do is use the comments and adapt the design on how it could be better to suit breeders practicalities

Hello,

A few months ago I asked you what you thought of a new whelping box for breeders. As part of my A level DT coursework I have now build the product. The main part is a whelping area for the dog with a cover over the top that can be rolled up or down (up - so you can keep an eye on the bitch and puppies and down - to create a den like feeling for the dog) and storage cupboards.

I thought it was important to be able to keep all whelping kit and equipment such as towels, newspaper etc. near the whelping box so the draws and cupboards on the product supply this.

On top there is a small worksurface that food can or feeding bottles can be prepared on. Next to this is a another storage hatch that I thought could be used to put the bitches dry food in or could store milk formula in.

Any feedback would be much appriciated, please open the links to see the photos of the product.
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=mhpnt&s=6
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=szx7k6&s=6
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=11shwth&s=6

Thanks!

not wanting to be too negative, but to be honest I'm struggling.... I'm assuming it's for toy dogs?  ... what's the mesh door about? the sill is too low so very young pups would get out very quickly and why are you wanting to shut mum in?

for me, a bigger basic box and a chest of drawers is fine... something to attach a puppy pen to the front would be more useful.... keeping the whelping box as a sleeping area for growing pups...

Why is there a door? The bitch shouldn't need to be shut in with her pups, and I can't see a ledge or pig rail inside. The front is too low to keep the puppies from falling out (or is that why you've put on a door?) when they're very young or climbing out when they're becoming mobile. I'm not keen on the integral storage - you wouldn't be preparing their food beside the whelping box so why would you store it there? Newspapers are very bulky and heavy and certainly wouldn't fit in the drawers. It makes a pretty indoor kennel, but it's not really suitable for a whelping box IMO. Sorry.

I feel upset for you Rotti 37 as you have put so much effort and hard work into this project, you can feel extremely proud of yourself for all the time and hard work here.

You did the right thing in coming to a site where people breed reputably to get an insight of what could be done and needed, however, it is a shame you did not put out a call to someone with a bitch in whelp to see how we work, the ideas are good the objects we need are catered for however watching what goes on would have given a really good insight into setting up your whelping/storage den better.

Firstly, as already said the front door is no good as the dam may not feel secure as everyone can see in the 'den' and she may feel like she cannot get out once the door is shut, the dam needs to be able to come and go for a stretch, toilet breaks and for an inbuilt flight instinct for her or her pups she can't feel trapped, safe is good :-) trapped would cause stress.

So, for me the door needs to go, the front needs another light weight roller blind or a flip down cover you can then just lift it up for cleaning, helping with the whelping and bed changes /checking on pups etc, a wooden door would be in the way, I like to see all the way around which is why I use a large crate, with it's door clipped open with a light coloured cover over it, so that I can lift it up and see from all angles - no blind spots. :-) So it is far better to have something that lifts upwards and that the dam can push to get in and out of. Myself, I don't like the wooden solid sides and back, maybe if mesh or crate sides could be put in those too with a roller blind or cover also?

Secondly, you need to be able to get some pig rails in the base as pups often roll to the sides and then the dam accidently sits on them, killing them, so the rails stop that from happening or if not rails there needs to be a moat like affect around the edges so that a pup at the edge will not be squashed.

As already mentioned it is not deep enough, pups will be able to roll or get out far too early......... it's just too hutch like....... sorry!

The cupboard spaces are brilliant and I love the bones on the whelping den too. :-) So not all bad. :-)

You may well get away without the changes for your course work, depends on whether it is going to be marked for practicality or just as a new idea and the thought process and hard work you have put into making it, but if it were to be used for real..........

I feel really bad as you've worked so hard here, if the changes will be too hard to make, how about turning it into an asset for a dog groomer somewhere for a dog to be housed whilst waiting to be groomed or after grooming and waiting for pick up and a groomer could place their tools etc in it instead?

With a solid top it could instead be a grooming station and temporary crate. 

Sorry don't want to be negative, but....not something I would use, I like to be able to see mum and pups at all times, the front is too low, sometimes mum will get out with pups still attached they could end up on the floor, not sure what all the cubby holes are about either?  I agree with brainless it does look almost like a grooming station rather than a whelping box, I use a heat pad (electric) and some use heat lamps, which I can't see being suitable for.  Sorry.

You've obviously put a lot of hard work into it.

I agree, with a flat top it would be an attractive little indoor kennel with a handy second purpose as a grooming table. The brushes and combs could be kept in the drawers :-) But it's not very suitable as a whelping box, I'm afraid.

Ive had a look back to see if I can find the age of the OP but cant, however purpose aside, the work that has gone into your project seeing that it is for an A level (so the OP might be around the 17/18yr old mark?) is to be commended. The different hinges, techniques for the drawers, the cutting out of the little bones and how the wire is fastened together, plus the use of fabric and the dividers/compartments at the top show a wide range of different techniques and applications and that I feel is what is being looked for primarily.

Actually having just looked at the outcomes for the current A level it has based it on an area of interest, looking at a design problem, using IT skills to research solutions (hence posting on here?) and then producing a scale model then assessing it for future development with critical reflection. So I dont think we should be too harsh for what is basically an idea to display DT skills to gain a qualification. There are lots of people's photographs online of their final A level pieces and some are hugely impractical but show a level of technical expertise and novel ideas and that is what the examiners are looking for.  My own whelping box was basically a square of wood with four wooden sides and pig rails, but that wouldnt have got me an A Level lol. As part of Rottie's critical reflection I would hope that people's experiences would be taken on board as an example of possible future development and although not particularly practical for a whelping box, its not going to go into mass production.

Good luck with getting your A level, let us know how you get on :)

Well done, as a learning exercise and research and development I think ti's excellent.  It's original application would seem to many of us not to be practical, but several of us have already thought of alternative uses with further development, so a worthwhile exercise.

There are too many nooks and crannies for easy cleaning needed when there are young pups to care for

> My own whelping box was basically a square of wood with four wooden sides and pig rails, but that wouldnt have got me an A Level lol. As part of Rottie's critical reflection I would hope that people's experiences would be taken on board as an example of possible future development

I agree - and comments from us on the finished article, as to what could be improved upon, might be part of the course work to be submitted.

Hope you do well Rotti_37 :)

Thanks everyone, I'm only 17 and had to design something innoative and creative, a simple whelping box just wouldn't get me the marks, that's why it looks the way it does. I have actually bred 4 litters before so I know what to expect and the practicalities that are not present on this product but I had to jazz it up to impress the examiners.

I personally found that having the whelping kit next to the box is very helpful so I created storage space for this.

The comments made are all fair but this product was only designed as a one off and I wouldn't actually expect it to be the new best thing for breeders, I'm just trying to get an A in my A level.

As part of the evaluation and feedback I needed to post the product on forums that include the target market, which is why I posted this on here.

>this product was only designed as a one off and I wouldn't actually expect it to be the new best thing for breeders, I'm just trying to get an A in my A level.

Ah, that makes a difference. :-) You've certainly put a lot of thought and effort into it so I hope you do well.

thank you

I think if you'd explained what it was really all about then you'd have got a better response..... full marks for effort :-)

Hello, I am doing a project for my A level DT coursework and I am creating a product for breeders. It would be great if anyone could answer the following questions to use as customer research.

She did :) just everyone skipped past that bit. By being an A level coursework project it was never going to be your standard whelping box or in mass production.

no she didn't, we all read the bit about the course work, but she didn't say that the product didn't need to be actually 'fit for purpose' and really was an exercise to get a good mark, not really as a 'product for breeders'...

I know what to expect and the practicalities that are not present on this product but I had to jazz it up to impress the examiners.

With that in mind then, and as it is not needed to be an actual workable product you have done a fabulous job. :-)

Fingers and toes crossed for a great result, you've put a lot of effort into your product, let us know how you do. :-)