How to Build Whelping Boxes

A whelping box serves as your pregnant dog's hospital bed for the duration of her labor and delivery, as well as contains the puppies during their first few weeks of life. The sides of the whelping box must give in the event that a puppy gets pinned between the mother and the wall, so a cardboard construction is typically preferred. For giant breeds, you can use a plastic kiddie pool. The size of the box depends upon the size of the dog, but should be large enough to allow the mother to stretch out.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard box
  • Box cutter
  • Permanent marker
  • Plastic sheeting
  • Scissors
  • Duct tape
  • Sheets
  • Towels
  • Newspaper
  • Garbage bag
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Instructions

    • 1

      Assemble a cardboard box and cut off the top half, leaving the floor and walls that are approximately four inches taller than the mother's height while lying down.

    • 2

      Cut down one of the walls to allow the mother to get in and out of the whelping box with ease. Be sure to leave a lip that's at least three to four inches tall, which prevents the puppies from rolling or crawling out of the box.

    • 3

      Place the box atop a piece of plastic sheeting and use a permanent marker to trace the outline onto the plastic.

    • 4

      Cut out the plastic square and tape it inside the bottom of the box with duct tape.

    • 5

      Fold a sheet to size and place it inside the whelping box. Cover the entire floor of the box.

    • 6

      Place three or four layers of towels on the box floor to absorb the fluids. Using layers allows removal of soiled towels as needed, without moving the mother.

    • 7

      Cut or tear newspaper into strips and store the strips in a garbage bag. Place the newspaper in the whelping box when labor is imminent. The mother rearranges the newspaper as she seeks to satisfy her nesting instinct.

    • 8

      Place the whelping box in a quiet and secluded location. The box should be placed in a room that can be closed off to other household pets during and after the delivery.