Congratulations on your dog’s upcoming litter of puppies! If she is currently around 7 weeks into her pregnancy, now is a great time to start preparing a whelping room for her. The whelping room is where your pregnant dog will give birth to her puppies, so it’s important to create a quiet and distraction-free environment for her.
There are various options to consider when it comes to whelping boxes. In our experience, we found that a plastic storage bin worked well for our dog during the birthing process. If you decide to go with a plastic storage bin, remember to place towels at the bottom for added comfort.
Another option that can work depending on the size of your dog is a child’s plastic swimming pool. Additionally, you can find dog playpens available for purchase online, which often come with a waterproof bottom and can serve as a suitable whelping pen.
Regardless of the choice you make, ensure that the whelping area is spacious enough for the mother dog to comfortably lie on her side, with around 1 to 2 feet of space around her for the puppies to nurse. It’s important to avoid selecting a box that is too large, as this may cause the puppies to wander away from their mother.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to choose a box that is easy to clean. Opt for a whelping box with waterproof flooring, as this will make the cleaning process much easier. In our case, we created a waterproof floor using ply board and stick-on floor tiles when our female dog was giving birth.
You will need some dog bedding within the box. We used old towels and blankets to line their whelping box. The bedding should be changed constantly so have plenty of bedding prepared for the pups’ arrival. Another good option for whelping box lining is lambskin crate pads.
To address the issue of containing the puppies within the whelping pool, one effective solution is to enclose the pool with a wire dog pen and place a board across the entrance. This setup allows the mother to easily enter and exit the pool while keeping the puppies safely inside. As the puppies reach the age of two weeks, it is advisable to provide the mother with a separate area near the whelping box where she can rest without being disturbed by the puppies.
When the puppies reach four weeks of age, it becomes necessary to transfer them to a larger enclosure. This ensures that they have enough space to move around and explore. Additionally, after the whelping process is complete, having a pet enclosure in place prevents any messes from occurring throughout the house when your pet is left unsupervised.
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This is such a great idea,tha nks for all the information and tips !