Homemade Whelping Box

For those who love dogs, they always ensure that their dogs enjoy the comfort that is very similar to that comfort enjoyed by human beings themselves. That is why when their dogs are pregnant; they go to the extent of helping her whelp or rather give birth. If you are going to help your pet to give birth, then the making of a Whelping box is very important. One thing you need to know is that providing the dog with a Whelping box early enough will be helpful for the dog in that she will get used to it prior to the time of delivery. When the puppies come, the dog and her young ones will use the Whelping box as their home for some time while the young ones are being brought up. The question is, "how do you make a Whelping box?"

Size

The first thing to consider is the size of the Whelping box that you want. The box should not be of a size that brings discomfort to the mother dog but that which it is comfortable in. For large breeds such as the German Shepherd, the size of the Whelping box needs to be measuring around six feet by six feet while if it is the case of bulldogs and the rest, 4 feet by 4 feet. New found lands and other giant dog breeds will be much more comfortable in boxes that are 8 square feet.

Material

The material of the Whelping box also needs to be understood. Do not just make the box from any material that is appealing to look at but not efficient for the purpose. Easy to clean sturdy materials are the most preferred of all the types of materials. Some of those that are recommended include the melamine and Formica among others. Laminated wood or heavy-duty plastics are also very much used thereby avoiding splinters. In case you use plywood or any other material that splinters easily, you must use contact paper to cover the box's surface.

Design

Once you have already decided on the material and the size of the box you want, you can now choose on the best design that suits you the most. However, all these designs have some common master designs that are discussed below. One side of the box needs to be four feet high while the other ought to be one foot high. This protects the puppies from escaping while the mother is allowed to freely leave the box when she wants to and when she needs to. The boxes also need to be raised from the floor, the standard raising height being between 2-3 inches. This is done by the use of raisers or placing the box on to a pallet so as to keep the puppies away from any drafts. Lastly, ensure that there is a rail around the inside of your Whelping box so as to allow the young ones that like corners to be comfortable and be safe from any chance of being crushed by the mother dog while she rolls back.