Hi all, my son has just arrived with a whelping box his friend (joiner) built for me .  I need to paint it and any advice on type of paint I should use for safety .I used carboard one last time .

Thanks
Morag

I would think one that dosen't smell to strong, like dulux is supost to be good isant it?

Fiona

Why do you need to paint it?

It`s made of treated plywood and I want to paint it.

oh just wondered we had one made from mdf and we painted ours and put puppy cottage on the front of it,can't remember what paint it was though

I used normal emulsion on the outside of mine. Left inside un painted though.

Thanks I thought emulsion for outside but I was wondering if I should paint inside and if there was a paint that was safe for puppies.

Not sure I never painted mine . but what about masonry paint so you can wash it ? Im not sure if its toxic though but I can imagen emulsion wont wash too well ?

Why not varnish it instead with yacht varnish?

or "Blue Peter" it with sticky back plastic :)
You can buy "nursery" paint suitable for painting cots, toys etc. or used to anyway.

Laughed at Blue Peter idea but worth considering but puppies might start picking at it .

It really would be worth considering :) I do know someone who does this for her boxer litters.  If you make a good job of cleaning the surface and sticking it down well you get a very hygienic surface.  I doubt the pups could damage it especially if you tend to move them into new quarters after the first few weeks as many people do but I suppose if you have a dam likely to want to dig about scratching the surface up it might be an problem.

I do move them at about 3 weeks so they can socialize and have more room to play.

Thanks all please keep ideas coming  . I going between computer and room I am preparing for my bitch Skye +pups +me + computer ,can`t do without computer .

We varnished our whelping box with cot varnish - for babies cots - water based and non toxic, that way we know its safe for when the puppies start chewing the edges!

Jessie

I made mine from melamine.  Easy to wipe and clean with no need for paiting.

Yes, we made ours from that white plastic-type cladding that you use on the side of houses.   It was a big success, and very easy to clean.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Can you tell me where you got the cladding??? IF my bitch is pregnant I want to make one out of plastic rather than wood. Many thanks

From a firm that does PVC cladding, guttering etc - I think they come from Portsmouth somewhere, but I should think if you look for fascia cladding etc in the yellow pages you can find a place near you.   You need to get some right-angle bits as well for the corners, and small bolts.

I got some rail-holders from our local diy  place to hold the pig-rails in, which we made out of small-bore PVC pipe, but of course you could still use broom handles.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

They also sell the the cladding from 'Wickes' stores, I looked at it for the bathroom once :-)

Stacey x

Oh thats good because we have a Wickes near here. I'll have a look nearer the time, that of course if she in whelp but I'm not convinced.