My bitch is currently around 43 days, And she actually sleeps on my bed with me normally, She does have a quilt in an area of our outhouse, which is ideally where i would like her to have her pups, I intend to place a box with newspaper and a blanket in that area, but when is the best time and any suggestions on how to actually get her in it as i really dont want her to chose the bed to have her litter!!

Hi Brinny

Hope your outhouse is big enough for a bed for you as well as you will probably need it so that you can keep an eye on your bitch and her pups for around a week - this is why many people have their bitches shelp indoors as it is more convenient to keep an eye on them and also get on with their "normal" lives.

It is advisable to get her used to her whelping box at least 10 days before whelping if she is a first timer and has no idea why she is out there

Christine

Yes i am sure i can manage to put something there for me to sleep on. T he outhouse is actually joined to our kitchen so a bit like a pantry really. She does know that that is her bed as if you tell her to get in her bed she will go to it, but obviously knowing she gets away with it she prefers the bed. Do you know should i just erect some wooden sides to her bed that is already there?? Or get somethig completley different? As you can tell i have never done this before and just want to ensure that i do everything correctly for her

Will she have free access to the rest of the house from the outhouse? Because if she's used to being with you, and is then shut away somewhere else, she is highly likely to neglect her babies. If she can come and go freely it'll be okay.

For a whelping box you ideally want a square wooden box, at least the same length as her from nosetip to tail. It should be fitted with a rail on the inside, about 5 inches off the floor and 2 or 3 inches in from the sides, so she can't squash the pups against the wall when she lies down. Some bitches are very clumsy with their first litter.

Get her used to sleeping in it as soon as you can, so that when she agrees that it's a suitable place to whelp. Otherwise she'll choose her own place, usually somewhere really inconvenient, and will get quite hysterical at being thwarted!
:)

Thanks for the advise, and yes the door is always open so she can get to us whenever she likes, Hence her always getting on the bed at night!!!!! And cant decide whether to pay out and buy Vet Bed or just use her quilt/ blanket that is already there?

For the actual whelping I use newspapers, because they like to tear and scratch up a nice 'nest' for their litter. It is also hygienic and easy to change during the whelping as it becomes soiled. Once the litter is born you can't beat vetbed. You'll need several pieces because it'll need frequent changing and washing.
:)

Well i have got a great big box and put a higher cover over one end, i have put some vet bed in and a blanket but no paper as yet, but she will not go near it. I have tried putting treats in there when she is not looking and she always jumps in gets these but gets straight back out. Any ideas how else i can get her to stay/get used to it before her time comes?? I dont want to force her to stay although she is fairly well trained and would stay unhappily if i made a point of making her get in