Hi
I am a new member as of today have surfed for a while and picked up so much good info on here! Which is the best type of whelping box to use ...wooden or disposable ? any help is very much appreciated.

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hi
I jusy got myhubby to knock up a four foot by foor foot both with six inch sides.It was ideall as mum could still get in nad out without jumping on the pups and the pups couldn't get out until they were about 4 weeks old, by which time they'll get out of anything.
It was made of normal shelving tpye wood, and really did the trick for us.I haven't used the disposable ones though!my dogs are labs so you will need to adjust the height of sides according to your type of dogs!

Hi thanks for the reply I was begining to think I had this forum thing wrong !!!! :) I do favour that type of box just wondered what the disposible ones were like ? better get hubby building !

I use the same sort of thing as miloos, with a 'pigrail' around the inside about 4 inches high and 4 inches away from the walls. That only needs to be up for a week. After that the pups are more mobile and mum is more aware of them.

For floor area, the best size seems to be the length of the bitch lying flat on her side, head stretched out, and make the floor area that length square. It looks huge to start with, but the pups grow really quickly.

We also built our own whelping box for my Golden Retriever. It's 5'x5' and 2' high with the pigrail (a must) to help prevent the dam from crushing the puppies against the sides .
Is this a one time breeding/whelping?? If so, you may want to use something more disposable, if not, definatly make something reusable.

Let us know what you decide to do.

GoldenGirl :)

I was always told never use the same whelping box twice. Always make a new one and thast what I have been doing. £60 ever time !

Margaret

I used to use disposable boxes (cardboard from television dealers :-) ) but a few years ago, I changed to a collapsible, permanent one, made of some kind of plastic (imagine I am not allowed to say the brand here). This has proved wonderful as several generations of puppies have been unable to make a single tooth mark on it, it is extremely easy to keep clean - just a wipe is required - and when not required dismantles and can be stored in less space than a collapsible crate. It has three high sides and one low one that you can make higher by putting something underneath as all the sides slide in grooves. Personally, I would never use a wooden box for hygienic and teething reasons.

If you would like to know the brand, email me personally.

Caro

HI there is it possible for you to let me know the brand of whelping box Many thanks

As this is a very old post, this person no longer holds membership with us. If you run a search using the search facility, you will find hundreds of past threads on whelping boxes :)

Hi
I have written up some intructions/plans to construct a whelping box which you can have a copy of if you want e-mail me direct and I can forward the details.
The box was for Wheaten terriers but it can be scaled up/down as necessary.
I found that white melamine was very good for cleaning and maintainability... The floor of the whelping box was covered with white PVC faced fabric table cloth type material glued in position and lapping up the wall, this catered for the frequent hygenig cleans necessary..

Have fun
Al

hi have emailed you , many thanks
Inca