We recieved our 'disposible' whelping box today and have set it up ready. Our dog is 52 days today, the question is, do we encourage her to sleep in it as her bed or do we leave her in her existing bed, and just leave the box out so she is familiar with it and just hope that that is the place she goes when the time comes? Ps, dont know if anyone has used the disposible ones before but they look very impressive, just hope that they withstand all the liquids etc!

I would say definitely encourage her to get in it and use it as a bed - otherwise you run the risk of her choosing her own 'ideal' whelping bed.......under the shed, for instance!

I always put in a nice new piece of vet bedding and plenty of semi-ripped newspapers (she can then rip the rest when the time comes herself). I make my own whelping boxes and have plenty of room for me to sit in it and my bitch would usually come and lie in it beside me. I find that it's my male dog that just has to lie on the new vet bedding - likes his comfort ! I have my whelping box up for about 2 weeks before the pups are due so she can used to it being there. Each litter I've had the bitch just knows that this was the place to have her puppies - lucky me !

Margaret

My bitches wont use their whelping box until they have had their second pup which I insist is going in the box and then they give in and stay in their box.