I'd just like some feedback on whelping rooms - we are thinking about buying one of the B&Q "cabins" as a dog room/whelping room.   When we've had puppies in the past, we've used our large porch as whelping room/nursery, which does work - apart from the fact that we then have to use the back door, find somewhere else for coats, shoes etc (or suffer the consequences ;) ).

We have the space to erect one of these cabins, which we could dedicate completely to the dogs - and as it would have direct access to the patio, we could put "puppy pen" panels outside, so puppies could have a safe outside play area - and as the play area would also access directly onto the utility room/kitchen, they would, of course, still be part of the household.

One of the troubles with using the porch is the fact that the floor has ceramic tiles, and although it is so easy to clean, I do worry about puppies slipping around on it, and of course, the cabin would have a solid wooden floor, so puppies, once they come out of the whelping box, wouldn't slip around so much.   BUT is the cleaning of the floor as easy?    I'd be grateful for feedback!

BTW - all talk of puppies is still in the planning stage too!!!

Margot

I would never fancy a welping room outside the house, I prefer to sleep with the dam from a couple of days before due until the pups are about 1 week/10 days old and strong enough to make their presence felt if lain on.  For me that is on a futon in the kitchen, this enables me to get as much comfortable sleep as I can in between waking up at every noise from mum or pups :)  This is probably more sleep than I would achieve in my own comfortable bed worrying about them outside :). 

That is another of my concerns - but I would sleep in with them (we are talking about a 10ft x 12 ft cabin) - we took it in turns sleeping (on a camp bed) in the porch for 4 days before & the week after when Loki & Purdey had their pups, though, so it would be the same.   Thought about one of the small CCTV set ups as well...

It would be located just 2'6 from the utility room door, as well - not halfway down the garden!

I think you will have a problem in keeping a wooden floor cleaned effectively and without it being permanently wet, what about laying cushion floor vinyl for warm and hygiene and a reasonably textured pattern should be grippy enough.
PS I think you are jolly lucky having a sleeper in to take turns with I would kill for one of them by about the third night :)

Well - that's why I proposed a partnership with OH & No1 son ;)  - one for all - and all for one ;)

Margot

We have a large brick summer house @ 25'x15' which we have turned into our puppy/grooming room. The floor is concrete with a plastic type of coating on that can be spray washed clean. It is in the middle of the general dog yard which is about 60'x40' .Pups are not whelped there though as I would be too worried while they are tiny and all our dogs like to be part of the family so I would worry about mum being on her own away from us all. We put the whelping box up in a corner of our ( large) kitchen and only move the pups out when they get to the 'messy stage' :D. we put up metal fencing to enclose part of the dog run for them and they go out there through the day when we are here to supervise. It works well, keeps the house clean and gives them the freedom to play without being in danger from the big dogs.

Yvonne