Whelping boxes

[Danelover]

Well, libby is going to the vet next Thursday 11/3 to find out how many puppies she is having. I am going to build a whelping box for her. What size do you think would be best for her? I think Libby might be having 10-12 pups But not sure till Thursday. I cant wait to find out. And should I get a heating lamp for the pups? Well any advise would be Great!!

Tammy/Danelover

[rutylr]

ere is a site that might be use full
http://www.dogdiscussion.com/breedin...tion-vt52.html
That some of the sites are dead.
Here is what a good welping box should look like
http://www.whelping-box.com/

[2ndchance]

Sorry Danelover, I am going by the assumption of your name that Libby is a Great Dane? (My memory is fading with old age!) When my Newfie had her pups , she had seven, I bought a kiddie pool and put it in the spare bedroom. Even though the heat was on, it was February, I still used a heat lamp in case the pups needed more heat. Make sure you place the heat lamp off to one side so the pups can get away from it if they get too hot. Are you keeping them inside or out.? I guess that should have been my first question. The kiddie pool made for easy cleanup and could be washed down with bleach/ water on a daily basis. You can make the pig rails at angles so they don't interfere with the roundness of the pool. Keep a thermometer in the room so you always know what the room temp is, and if you or your husband travel, now would be a good time to bring home a few of the hotel towels!

[Danelover]

Yes Libby is my Danes name. And the pups and her will be inside the house. I will buy a heating lamp just to make sure they are keeping warm. Thanks for your advice.

Originally Posted by 2ndchance

Sorry Danelover, I am going by the assumption of your name that Libby is a Great Dane? (My memory is fading with old age!) When my Newfie had her pups , she had seven, I bought a kiddie pool and put it in the spare bedroom. Even though the heat was on, it was February, I still used a heat lamp in case the pups needed more heat. Make sure you place the heat lamp off to one side so the pups can get away from it if they get too hot. Are you keeping them inside or out.? I guess that should have been my first question. The kiddie pool made for easy cleanup and could be washed down with bleach/ water on a daily basis. You can make the pig rails at angles so they don't interfere with the roundness of the pool. Keep a thermometer in the room so you always know what the room temp is, and if you or your husband travel, now would be a good time to bring home a few of the hotel towels!

[rutylr]

You can get a heating pad at the pet store which is better then the heat lamp.

[BratBoxers]

when your dog lays down add 12in on each side of her and i like my whelping box to be square.i would have a heat lamp or pad on hand. good luck

[2ndchance]

While a heating pad would certainly keep in some warmth you have to be careful, should it get wet it could short out and burn a puppy,or mom could chew it up. I used a mop handle and clamp attached to the wall so I could raise or lower the heat lamp accordingly. Is this your first litter? And the dogs?

[Danelover]

Yes this his the first time I ever had my dog have pups and yes this is Libby's 1st and last! LOL! She is getting fixed after this litter!

Originally Posted by 2ndchance

While a heating pad would certainly keep in some warmth you have to be careful, should it get wet it could short out and burn a puppy,or mom could chew it up. I used a mop handle and clamp attached to the wall so I could raise or lower the heat lamp accordingly. Is this your first litter? And the dogs?

[Blaze]

Just a note you can get safe heating pads especially for puppies, which heat naturally etc. I have one here and it worked very well.

[sheplovr]

You will need twice the size as normal for a Dane. They stretch out during whelping and need lots of room. U should have rails around the box also so if a pup crawls behind her she cannot smoother it. That saved many pups for me as they do crawl immediately upon birth. I have linoleum in mine to whipe clean alot then I put down carpet for her and pups to lay on. Quite a mess daily to clean for a good week after whelping. I would use a heat lamp, we have extended pipe from the stove right over the whelp boxes and electric heaters in the rooms also. They are plenty warm, boxes are on large stone up off the floors because of drafts. They cannot get a draft or a chill, it is the biggest killer of new puppies. They cannot produce their own heat for 2 weeks or so. Keep them at 90 degrees in the room first week, mid 80 second week etc. Good luck and get ready for tons of work.