Whelping box????

[pauldo]

I'm so excited! My 3 year old yorkie is pregnant (after 3 tries -- this was going to be the last). She is about 2 weeks away from delivery date and I'm trying to decide what to use as a whelping box -- I've had suggested to me a paddling pool, building a wooden box, using a large cardboard box -- my female usually goes and curls up in the bottom of our back pantry (there are blankets on the floor) when she is not feeling well -- I thought that is probably where she will want to deliver, but not sure if that's the best place for it to happen. Any suggestions. Thanks.

[Txgurl06]

good luck

bumping this for someone to come help you lol!

[yoyo27]

Hoping some one will come to the rescue you on this one. You don't have much time. I think everyone decides what they will want to use. Put you can also google whelping box and there will be several things come up. I wish you the best on your deliver and keep us posted.

[ChantalB]

I usually use a Rubbermaid storage plastic container as they are easy to clean with hot water.

I also have one of these bed that are really nice.

Ren's Pets Depot Online Store: Marchioro Perla Pet Beds


I am looking for a baby Moses Basket right now. I will use it for the 2 first weeks of the puppies.. I like to spoiled them

[lilstar63100]

Originally Posted by ChantalB

I usually use a Rubbermaid storage plastic container as they are easy to clean with hot water.

I also have one of these bed that are really nice.

Ren's Pets Depot Online Store: Marchioro Perla Pet Beds


I am looking for a baby Moses Basket right now. I will use it for the 2 first weeks of the puppies.. I like to spoiled them

i used the plastic container as well. easy to clean, perfect size and inexpensive

[TeddyandTiffy]

Do U know how many she is having? The reason I'm asking is because with our litter of 4 we used a smaller tote and it was fine, well here came our litter of 6 and that smaller one wasn't so fine anymore. I felt she just didn't have enough room to whelp comfortable. U can go to my web site and view photo of how I did the totes look under previous litters and present litters.

I just took a box knife and cut a hole out in the middle of the tote side to make a door way, then I used old dish/hand towels to cover the bottom of the door I made with duct tape so mommy wouldn't scratch her belly and when our puppies got older they wouldn't get hurt either.

I love the totes as U can put U're heating pad cord up and over the top of the tote and plug it in (Duct Tape so that mommy and babies won't get the cords) then U can do U're temp gauge the same way, then put the lid on it & put U're temp gauge on top of U're tote lid. I also duct taped puppy pads to the bottom of her tote for any messes, lined with blankies, wrapped heating pad in thick towel so puppies won't get burnt on heating pad (I keep mine on low at all times day and night) and then put it in, added more blankies too. If U get one big enough then U're mommy will have room on the other side to make her bed when she gets to hot from the heating pad, and our Tif always just went over to the other side where our babies laid on the heating pad and nursed.

I myself like having room to move around when my doll is whelping, I don't know how big U're pantry is but I lay my whelping items on a puppy pad & that way I can get to them fast, I mean everything is there within my reach. I don't have to go running around looking for anything. I have blankies there too and a moses basket all prewarmed with wrapped heating pad for newborns (Temp gauge in basket too so I know they are well warmed) so they can be tucked away nice and cozy while mommy is whelping another one, once one is whelped I take the babies out of the moses basket and put them back in with mommy to nurse, if another one is coming, back in our moses basket they go. If I should have to help one get breathing I have room to do it and suction if needed.

The totes for whelping I think is good too that way U can just leave the lid off while she is whelping stand on U're knees (I have to since I'm so short) to get inside the the tote and help her if need be that is if U get the big big one so U'll have room to move around in it and she does too. I just don't like to move my mommy from one thing to another as I feel she may feel more secure where she whelped her babies at and have them in the same place as she whelped in after the whelping is all done. This is why I don't think I would use a small swimming pool as she would have to be moved to the tote to care for her puppies afterward. This is just me tho and what I like and why. My way isn't for everyone and each person does figure out what works best for them. Totes are easy to clean too.

If U're pantry isn't big enough for U to move around in do U have a spare bedroom? This is what we used. I hope some of this will help U & I wish U the best with U're upcoming whelping and U're in our thoughts. If U have any other questions please feel free to ask. Lee

[erickajm]

My husband said weeks ago that he would build me one..time went on and finally two days ago, mind you, Zoe is due May 4!!! I finally told him if he didn't have it done then I was thinking about just using one of the drawers that fits under the bunkbeds as a whelping box. It would be a nice size, the boys don't use it because its too hard to push and pull out and it has a nice opening for Zoe to hop in and out (handle area). What do you know...I have a very nice wooden box similar to the drawer but a bit sturdier. Hubby has truly outdone himself! He put the sticky tiles on the bottom so it would be easy to wipe out. I figure I will wait until after this litter to actually stain or paint it. I have to sew a nice cover for the padding but Zoe slept in it last night with a towel and my bathrobe..oh, and it looks like my youngest one used it for a laundry basket...his shirt from yesterday is in there too!

[niki35010]

When should you have the whelping area ready. I know it is before it is time for her to whelp but how long before?

[MikaTallulah]

Cozy gave birth in a cat bed not the prepared whelping area. She did not like it I guess. Relax.

[bjh]

My husband build our bottomless whelping boxes and I love them. I just lay out the bedding with a whelping pad underneath on one side and sit the box on top. I don't have to worry about the puppies getting tangled up in the bedding.

[TeddyandTiffy]

Originally Posted by bjh

My husband build our bottomless whelping boxes and I love them. I just lay out the bedding with a whelping pad underneath on one side and sit the box on top. I don't have to worry about the puppies getting tangled up in the bedding.

Can U kind decribe how it is built? My Hubby frames house then why couldn't he frame a good whelping box for me??? U'res sounds neat, how long do U're babies and mommy stay in it? Thanks, Lee

[bjh]

Originally Posted by TeddyandTiffy

Can U kind decribe how it is built? My Hubby frames house then why couldn't he frame a good whelping box for me??? U'res sounds neat, how long do U're babies and mommy stay in it? Thanks, Lee

Lee, I will take a picture of one tomorrow. It is made with 1"x12" boards. I always set it up in an x-pen and depending on the size of the litter, most of them stay in it until they are about 3 to 4 weeks old.

[pauldo]

The vet thought she could see three puppies in the xray. Actually the pantry isn't very large, so I would have trouble getting in there -- but I do realize that it may still happen there. I'm also curious what a "bottomless whelping box" looks like. Another question I have, is that I have 2 other yorkies (a neutered male, and a bratty little 2 year old female who I can see trying to bug the puppies to play with her). I don't really have a room I can leave them in -- do I have to put a cage around the mom and her puppies?

thanks

[bjh]

Here are picture of our whelping boxes. One of them has posts so I can put a sheet over it (I secure the sheet with heavy rubberbands) because I have one girl that is terrified of storms and it makes her feel more secure with a sheet over her (I leave the front open). The other one is just a open box with a little cut out for the mom to jump in and out. I always put plenty of bedding underneath also with the heating pad on one side. Sometime I will also put a small fleece blanket in it. Some of my moms actually will cover their babies with the little blanket. I like the box because in the past before we used bottomless boxes the puppies would get wrapped up in the bedding. I remember waking up many times in the middle of the night to unwrap a crying puppy that could not find its momma, I feel that this box is much safer.

Pauldo.....I recommend you setup the momma somewhere private. I always set my whelping box up inside a x-pen. I put the box at the far end of the x-pen, then food and water and then the pee pads. You do not want your other dogs to be able to get to the momma, that would be very stressful for her and she might attack them. Also, you can hang a sheet over the side of the x-pen to give the mom more privacy. I don't usually introduce my babie to the other adults in the house until they are at least 8 weeks or older. I know your must be excited about your upcoming litter. I hope everything goes well for you. Be sure to keep us posted.

[TeddyandTiffy]

My husband said weeks ago that he would build me one..time went on and finally two days ago, mind you, Zoe is due May 4!!! I finally told him if he didn't have it done then I was thinking about just using one of the drawers that fits under the bunkbeds as a whelping box. It would be a nice size, the boys don't use it because its too hard to push and pull out and it has a nice opening for Zoe to hop in and out (handle area). What do you know...I have a very nice wooden box similar to the drawer but a bit sturdier. Hubby has truly outdone himself! He put the sticky tiles on the bottom so it would be easy to wipe out. I figure I will wait until after this litter to actually stain or paint it. I have to sew a nice cover for the padding but Zoe slept in it last night with a towel and my bathrobe..oh, and it looks like my youngest one used it for a laundry basket...his shirt from yesterday is in there too!

U're Hubby sounds like mine "Better Late Then Never" , Can U post photos here of it? U're youngest one sounds like he likes it too. Lee

When should you have the whelping area ready. I know it is before it is time for her to whelp but how long before?

I got really excited about our last litter and had it ready buy 2 weeks before she was due Normally I'd say a week before is good, but I'd say if this is U're 1st litter I'd have everything bought and ready by 2 weeks before she is due. Do U know when she is due? If U need any help or thoughts on what to get PM me and I'll be glad to help U. Lee

Cozy gave birth in a cat bed not the prepared whelping area. She did not like it I guess. Relax.

Our 1st litter Tif choose to "Start" on my legs on my couch, I was trying to take a nap & once I figured out it wasn't Teddy on my legs, I raised up and put Tiffanie in her whelping box and out our 1st baby come as soon as I put her in her box. From then on I made sure she was in our middle bedroom and I slept in there with her for about a week before her due date, she had them in her whelping box then. Lee

Here are picture of our whelping boxes. One of them has posts so I can put a sheet over it (I secure the sheet with heavy rubberbands) because I have one girl that is terrified of storms and it makes her feel more secure with a sheet over her (I leave the front open). The other one is just a open box with a little cut out for the mom to jump in and out. I always put plenty of bedding underneath also with the heating pad on one side. Sometime I will also put a small fleece blanket in it. Some of my moms actually will cover their babies with the little blanket. I like the box because in the past before we used bottomless boxes the puppies would get wrapped up in the bedding. I remember waking up many times in the middle of the night to unwrap a crying puppy that could not find its momma, I feel that this box is much safer.

That is neat, but I couldn't have one that tall tho out her in our Yorkie room. I think I will put our whelping box when & if Sage has babies next Spring under our grooming countertop, I should have enough room to move around there (I'm short). But I might get him to make me one something like that maybe with short boards on it???? Can I ask the size of U're whelping box?

I have one who is terrified of storms also Teddy he shakes, shivers, bawls and squawls at them. I dread storms for him, I hate to see him scared this way. Also terrified of 4th of July, he is the same way. Nothing helps him from being afraid of them. Any thoughts on how to help him? Barbara (Did I get U're name right?? Hope So) we have 2 Yorkies that acts the same now Lee