what are peoples preferences to heat lamps or heat pads, what distance would you distance the heat lamp from the whelping box? i have used heat pads previously but the last one i had my girl decided to chew it, luckly with no harm to her.

personally i use the heat pads i have never used the lamps although i might give it a try as the heat pad Ive just bought doesn't get up to the normal heat so only says warm for about an hour rather than a few hours

I have both, but tend to use heat pads, pups can move away from the warm pads if they get too hot, whereas heat lamps are very hot, I find mum gets too hot with the lamp.

I don't use either, but instead use a contained den.

my whelping box does not have a lid, but if i use a heat pad again, i can always place a blanket on top to create a den. but the room that i use even with central heating on full seems to get chilly at night, i have looked at replacing my heat pad with anti chew heat pad but just wonder what other people thought of heat lamps compared to heat pads. Do you find that a contained den is enough, my last litter was born in summer and i only used the heat mat if it became chilly during the night, but this should be a winter litter.

I use it 24 hours ( in a warm modern house) for the first 2 weeks, then after that I just put it on at night.

Each breed is different I think. Some with large numbers of puppies generate enough heat amoungst themselves. Smaller litters don't.

I have the whelping box under a table, with a blanket draped all around like curtains to keep the warmth in. In a normally-heated room I find that the warmth generated by bitch pups (even a small litter of four) is sufficient. :)

Sorry JG (what I wrote didn't read right)  that should have said small litters from smaller breeds don't or in my experience. :-)

Your idea under a table is quite a good idea. :-) I may be too nosey though :-)

I have a puppy pen around my box with a throwover drapped around that.  Obsessed with drafts :-)

You're right, draughts are very dangerous for new puppies. That's why I like my litters in a nice enclosed den. If they seem too warm I can open the 'curtains' a little bit and let out some of the heat that the tabletop's stopping escaping. :)

>the warmth generated by bitch pups

Tsk! :rolleyes: I meant "the warmth generated by bitch and pups, of course! I seemed to suggest that dog pups wouldn't generate heat. :rolleyes: :D :D

:-D

Sometimes I type and send things so fast when I re-read them I am ashamed :-D

Heat Pad everytime. :-)

Someone once raved to me about the lamp , when I got it I hated it.  as soon as labout starts you can stick it on and even keep it outside the box if you wish.  I don't know how people keep the bitches cool enough with the heat lamp.  If the temp every changes in the room the puppies can move back and forth as they like. I also find some like the warm more than the others so they can take it or leave it with the heat pad.

A heat pad is even perfect for a bitch who has had a section as her body temp drops so she can lie on it and recover.

I like my heat lamp.  I would always worry about a mat being chewed and I like the way I can adjust the temp by raising or lowering the height of the heat lamp if the ambient temperature changes much and as the puppies get older.  The heat is fairly directionly and there are cooler areas in the box when the top is off that the bitch can retreat to.  I use a min/max thermometer to monitor the temp but usually only end up using it at night and only then in the winter as I put a cover on the box when I am not using it and that is plenty warm enough in doors most of the time.
I guess the answer is we seem to find a way to make the best of whatever :)

Hi, I have used both I have never had any probs with the lamp, I borrowed a large fibreglass heat pad from a friend once it was fabulous, can't seem to find one anywhere though, if anyone out there knows where to buy one please let me know, I'm sure it was made by "snugglers"
good luck with your babes

i have always used a heater before with pups but thinkingof  trying a  heat lamp this time. what bulbs lamps strength power etc would you recommend?

heat pads sound great idea too- are hter unchewable ones or whatever? where would peopel recommned best place to buy heat pads or blbs nad what sort, power etc?

I am lucky as I have a big cupboard in my hall with a light fitting in it, which I use a heat bulb, not a lamp,  I have a homemade welping box in the cupboard and my gas ch boiler is in there as well so its nice and warm , not scorching hot.  I also leave the door open with a piece of wood covering the entrance and a puppy gate up with a blanket over it,  to stop the other dogs getting near the pups.  I usually move the pups out of the cupboard  when about 3 wks old into my living room and use a heat pad then, into a cage with puppy pen surrounding it, so they have plenty of room to move around.   I also buy a cheap shower curtain to put on the carpet and use newspapers in the puppy pen and vet bed in the cage.  This works well for me, as pups get well socialised.