It is important to provide a place for the puppies to be born at least a week prior to the birth so the dam can get used to it. Our box is built from oak plywood with PVC pig rails. It was built so it can come apart in four pieces for easy storage when not in use. The box is sealed with clear water based glossy polyurethane for easier clean up.
A laundry basket lined with towels and with a heating pad is a good place to keep new born pups while the dam is delivering. It can also be used to keep the pups in while cleaning the whelping box each day.
Our box does not have a bottom as it sits on a vinyl floor in the family room, we did lay down a vinyl table cloth covered with newspapers and then an old quilt.
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| Whelping box with pigrails for a 60 lb Lab |
A door was cut in one end to make it easier for mom to get in and out. A piece to cover the door as the pups get older can be screwed in at progressively higher levels.
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| Whelping box dooor |
Pig rails provide a buffer between the corners and sides so the mom doesn't accidently smother one of the pups. Ours are made from PVC and are approximately 4 inches from the floor and 3 1/2 from the side. We like that the PVC allows for a space for the puppies to breathe rather than a solid bar like a 2 X 4.
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| Pig rails made from PVC in whelping box |
The whelping box is large enough that the dam can stretch out while delivering the pups and has a divider approximately 1/3 of the way across for later when the pups are bigger. Heat lamps are clipped to the sides to keep the box at 85 degrees the first few weeks.
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| Ready for pups |
