Whelping Box for Dogs

When dogs go to give birth, the process is known as whelping. In the wild, their wolf ancestors would have sought or dug a den or cave that allowed them to feel safe during the process. While there is no cave in your home, you can provide a pregnant dog with a whelping box so that it can comfortably deliver its litter.

  1. Features

    • A whelping box is a sturdy box that may be made out of wood or plastic. There are three high sides and one side that serves as an entrance, where the mother dog can step out. The whelping box should be lined with newspaper to facilitate easy cleaning, and there should be old blankets or towels inside so that the mother dog and her new puppies can keep warm.

    Function

    • A whelping box is the place where a dog will give birth to her puppies. It provides her with a place where she feels safe, and the high walls of the whelping box will help her keep the puppies warm. The whelping box will also prevent the puppies from wandering away from her before they are ready to.

    Size

    • The size of the whelping box depends on how large the mother dog is. She should have enough space to lie down on her side, as she will be in this posture to nurse, but there should not be much space beyond this. A box that is too small may result in her stepping on her puppies or smothering them, but a box that is too large will be colder or feel less safe to her. If you purchase a whelping box, the manufacturers will make recommendations for choosing whelping boxes of the right size based on the size of the mother.

    Pig Rail

    • One important safety feature in the whelping box is the pig rail. A pig rail is a dowel that stretches along each side of the interior of the box, placed 2 to 3 inches from the side and from 1 to 6 inches up the wall. The pig rail, which is also known as the puppy rail, prevents the mother from crushing a puppy against the wall and suffocating it.

    Preparation

    • The week before the mother dog is due to give birth, introduce her to the whelping box. Put her favorite toys or her favorite blanket in the box and let her get comfortable there. She will enter and exit the box and make herself comfortable in it. She will also spend a few days before the birth rearranging the blankets and the lining to suit herself.