Hi all,

I am currently preparing for our first litter breeding our amazing [breed removed]. She has been confirmed as pregnant and is due 7th Feb.

I am trying to get everything ready for her now but it’s a complete minefield trying to work out the best options so I thought I would reach out to experienced breeders for advice.

What is the best whelping box and how big does it need to be for a [large breed]? I want to put a webcam into the room so I can keep an eye on the puppies without disturbing them too much over the first few weeks. Has anyone done this and have a camera they would recommend? What else do I need? What should I give her during labour? I read vanilla ice cream is good for keeping their energy levels up.

Any tips and guidance would be gratefully received.

Thanks

> What should I give her during labour?.<br />

There shouldn't be any need to feed her anything during or even for sometime after, she will be consuming the afterbirths which has everything she needs. Some only let the bitch eat one or 2 but every bitch we have whelped, we have let them eat them all.

Thanks, that’s helpful!

Any suggestions on whelping boxes?

You may get different responses to your questions, depending on who you ask.

>What is the best whelping box and how big does it need to be for a [large breed]?

If you are going to have very infrequent litters, I think it's best to get a disposable box.  There is then no dismantling of box and disinfecting of everything before storage needed.  You just throw it out.  If you are going to breed regularly, you might want to invest in a more durable box. 

There will be information about which size box to get on the manufacturer's website, you may need to measure your bitch.

>I want to put a webcam into the room so I can keep an eye on the puppies without disturbing them too much over the first few weeks. Has anyone done this and have a camera they would recommend?

You should be sleeping right by the box for the first 2-3 weeks of life of your puppies, so there shouldn't be much need of a camera during this time.  You WANT to be 'disturbing' them, too - you need to be handling them daily, taking them out of the box, weighing them - you should not be worried at all about disturbing them, they need to receive contact from humans frequently. 

If you need to monitor them whilst taking a shower, going to the loo etc - any webcam works very well. 

>What else do I need?

Am awful lot else!  Towels and disposable whelping pads, thermometer, lubricant, Dopram 5, latex gloves, newspaper, bulb syringe, bottles in case you need to feed and formula, ID collars, weighing scales.... loads more besides.

>What should I give her during labour? I read vanilla ice cream is good for keeping their energy levels up.

Calcium - but only after the first puppy is out.  From that point on, it will help reduce the risk of eclampsia.  You can buy calcium in syringes which can be squirted into the bitch's mouth during whelping.  Besides that, some good quality wet dog food with a high meat content that you can add some powdered glucose to if necessary... (can also add that to water).

Fully agree with 1234 - you should handle the pups as much as only possible. It also helps if there is a radio or TV in the same room so that they automatically get used to voices, noises etc. Also vacuuming in the same room etc. The bitch will want peace and quiet for the first 2-3 days, then she should be perfectly fine with normal household stuff going on. I whelp my bitches in the living room so they have TV on from day one.

Thank you all so much for your advice, it is great to hear from experienced breeders.

Everything to this point has been spot on so I want to ensure I get it right when the time comes

I have  large breed gundogs and bought a 120 x 120 cm whelping box from Steel City http://www.steelcitywhelpingandkitteningboxes.co.uk/ If you were ordering one I would check it would be with you in time though.

I many years ago I bought a puppy pen with a plastic base that the panels fitted in. 

I have also used larger Croft puppy panels to make a larger whelping cave.

What I do if I am not using the base I use a piece of Lino, put 4 puppy panels together (one gated, or drop fronted), and then one across the top so it stays square and supports a cover of a bedspread/blanket.

I attach cardboard all around the outside to keep out draughts.

Oh I left out a tip if you get a disposable box....

Cut some cardboard to make a 'fake' base for it.  Make sure the fake cardboard base is down on top of the real base during whelping.  After whelping, throw out the fake base you made - leaving a clean 'real' base.