How to Build a Simple Whelping Box

Dogs are important family pets, and treated as part of a family. Many people breed their female dogs to have more of these pets, while other dogs get pregnant without the knowledge of their owners. Either way, it's important to prepare for the impending birth in every way possible. One of the most important supplies is a whelping box, where the mother dog will raise her babies.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard box
  • Scissors
  • Newspaper
  • Blankets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose an appropriate box. The whelping box should be large enough for the mother to lie down with her puppies, and shift and turn without crushing any of them. A box about 1 1/2 times as large as the mother is a good size. Whelping boxes don't have to be fancy; choose a cardboard box for simplicity, and for easy replacement if necessary.

    • 2

      Cut an opening in the box. Stand it up and cut out the front, but leave a lip at the bottom. This lip should be tall enough to keep the puppies inside the box, but short enough that the mother can easily enter and exit the box without scraping her belly or nipples. Depending on the size of the dog and her puppies, this lip should be 2 to 4 inches tall. The mother uses the whelping box primarily when the puppies are young, before they begin to walk.

    • 3

      Put newspaper down to line the box for easy cleaning, and cover these with blankets. Place the whelping box in whatever room you've chosen for the birth, and let your dog get used to it. Because this is her "nest," allow her regular access to the box before the birth, to get it ready to her liking.