Just out of interest was wondering where others have their whelping bed? I have in the past kept it in my lounge and sleeped on the sofa along side them but was thinking about putting it in my bedroom this time so i can sleep in my bed at night, wondering if this would be a good idea or not?

Bedroom, this way the bitch and litter are away from the rest of the dogs.  I also get to sleep in my own bed :D  Though not a lot of sleep is had if I am honest, it is like when you ahve a baby the least sound and I leap out of bed to rescue the cross pup that has got behind his Mum.

In the kitchen, its large enough for a futon for me.  I put up a clotheshorse around the area covered with a sheet to make a screen allowing my other old dog to slink past unnoticed from the lounge to the back garden until the pups got to about 3 weeks when mum would allow her to look at them in passing :)

I have mine in the dining room.  I am afraid I am not quite as dedicated to you and go to bed after the first night. :)

Ditto, TTS!

In my bedroom.  I don't leave pups unattended apart from making a quick sandwich and bathroom (nextdoor!) for the first 3 weeks.  They then move to a room directly off the living room to get used to household noises.

Have mine in the livingroom as no central heating in house only coal fires in all the rooms, Livingroom is easier to keep regulated . So, since I enjoy my creature comforts, bed comes down to the living room, bathroom (full bathroom, not just loo) is also off living room, so pretty much self contained lol, weird big old house.  This also means that all the dogs can have the run of the rest of the house and still able to go in and out without coming in contact with mum. I also have a ladies boudour (mini sitting room) in my bedroom, with coal fire etc, but feel more comfortable downstairs.

I have done the reverse of you, luvapug, used to have whelping box in my bedroom, but now put it in the living room, and curl up next to it on sofa.  Kitchen is just off living room,  as is shower room, so everything is close to hand.  Many of my bitches (especially the Pugs) far from being upset by the attendance of the other dogs, get stressed at being seperated from the pack!  This way they can do their duty by the pups, then relax on the sofa!  Certiany not the test book method,k but it suits my bunch.
bye
Gwen

It's really interesting to see where everyone else has their whelping box, I couldn't decide and eventually left the choice up to my bitch. I made up three whelping beds, one in the kitchen, one under the stairs in the hall and one upstairs in the spare bedroom. She chose the one in the kitchen, being a very nosy border collie even with the pups she still wants to be able to see everything. I've put a child gate over the kitchen doorway to keep the other dogs out, Meg, my bitch can hop over it easily to come visit us in the livingroom. That wasn't my intention, but like I said - she a collie and knows no boundaries :)  Megs pups are a week old today, she's being an excellent first time mum - feeding and washing them dilligently but even the first day she wanted to go for a walk, and as I type this in the livingroom she's lying at my feet. If they squeal she'll go through to investigate but doesn't feel the need to lie with them all the time? What are other people bitches like? I've slept on the sofa the past week but think I will go up to my own bed tonight, I'll leave all the doors open so hopefully should hear if there is a problem.

We have the welping box in the bedroom, this means that the mum gets peace and quiet, and is not bothered by people that call at the house, we have a large family and grandchildren and they are not allowed in there untill the pups move into their own room when they are 3 weeks old, they have started being weaned and mum is not with them all the time. I have lost puppies in the past because the mum has laid on them and would not risk it again I still feel guilt that I let them down.

We had our whelping box in our kitchen, but we put a bed next to it. We didnt have any visitors for four weeks, except of course the vet. So we got on ok, and then when the box came down and the puppy pen went up, we had sheets round it during the night, so that nothing would disturb the puppies. For us it was easier to have them downstairs, we spend a lot of time in that room, so we were with them a lot. My other dogs werent bothered about the puppies, they took no notice. Just walked straight past and out into the garden.

Rachel

We took the door off the cupboard under the stairs,which was located in the dining room,and put a stair gate up when the pups were old enough to get about,it was really good as we spent alot of time in the kitchen/dining room and we could keep a close eye on them.

I keep mine in the bedroom right next to my bed. they whelp in the bathroom which is large.  This litter is taking a long time to wean so mom wants to get in and out of the x pen.  I'm still up alot at night.

I must be one of the lucky ones because I have my whelping box in the spare bedroom.Lynne and I can then take turn about and get a decent nights sleep one out of two nights. then when my son comes to stay at weekend he gets a couple of night with the pups.

I have always had the whelping box in the lounge and like others I sleep on the sofa for the first four weeks .... However, reading how so many of you start off with them in the bedroom, I think I will try that next time ....even though you never sleep properly when the litter is young, it would be nice to be able to still get into bed.

mine is in my old bedroom, and there is a single bed in there plus tv and usual comforts as the pups are with someone for the first 4 weeks - mine are watched 24/7 for the first week - neurotic in know but i would hate the bitch to accidently sit on one - my dad said he found me asleep half in the whelping box the first night the babies where born - talk about obsessive.. LOL  If i didnt have other dogs I would keep it in the lounge.

We too are lucky enough to have a spare bedroom that will allow our wee girl peace and privacy from the rest of the pack. Gus will set up the TV and other essentials and we are looking at investing in a couple of cheap walkie talkies so I can radio down for supplies LOL!!
What we can't decide on is the actual whelping box, buy a purpose built one, use a cardboard box or one of the plastic beds. Unfortunatly our girl is spoilt and spends most of her waking hours on the sofa, so she is rarely in anything else so this could be difficult.

Hello everyone,  I found a cardboard box worked out just fine for my bitch.  I cut a hole at the front, just enough for her to get out and the puppies to stay in.  I had the box in my lounge where I could keep an eye on them and slept on the sofa for a while.  I then transferred them at 3 weeks to my utility room and put them in a cage, they were able to get out and roam around if they wanted, seemed to work out very well.  The cage was handy if mum wanted a rest.

For those of you who use cardboard boxes how so you stop them disintegrating and smelling from the wee?

I can understand where your coming from.  I piled it with newspapers and changed them about 4-5 times a day, also used some bedding and changed that quite a bit.  I suppose as my bitch only had 5 puppies there was not much mess for the first 3 weeks, after that they went in a metal cage so it was easier to clean.

Tomy Baby monitors are excellent to listen in to what goes on in the puppy room.  Sadly mine has gone pft (after al the child it was used for is nearly 18 :D).  Must invest in a new one.

I wish I'd never got rid of all my baby equipment as I could have done with the steriliser and baby monitors. Someone has kindly offered to lend me a setwhen I eventually start sleeping upstairs which will prob be when they are 2-3 weeks old. We ended up building a whelping box out of an old MFI chest of drawers, its just the right size and easily wiped down, though I've put lino in the bottom as well. I'll eventually attach a playpen on for more room. They will also have the run of the kitchen for periods of time. Mine is in my dining room, but not in a part where there is a walkway.

my girls box is under the stairs there is a door on there so she can have peace is she wants but after about 2 days she will wont to come with the rest of the family, i was thinking about putting it in my bedroom but my OH is not the best sleeper and he needs to get up for work so that was a no no.  but i know she would be unhappy up there as she wonts to be around the rest of us

Hi i allway have pups by my bed, till they are 3 weeks old, then in the kichen in cupboard under the stairs. regards debbie.