Rubbermaid Containers for whelping
 

I don't breed Yorkies (but, I do love your breed!), it doesn't matter does it? Lol. We are all striving for the same things...happy, healthy puppies that meet our breeds standard. So, I breed Chihuahuas. I have never owned a Yorkie but think they are really cute. I love all the coat, that does not shed! Lol.

Anyway, my topic...Rubbermaid containers for whelping. Does anyone use them? I have found 2 Chihuahua breeders that use them. One cuts a hole in the top (to lift Mom out to go potty) and the other cuts the hole in the side. I like the idea of the top hole. Puppies will not get drug out of warm nest that way. So, if anyone can tell me their tricks to the trade...I would appreciate it. I live in Michigan...so, we are cold here.

I use the cloth, waterproof whelping pads. I layer those and remove after each puppy is born. I use a heating pad on low for heat source. Now, one of my questions is...water bowls! How do you keep puppies out of them? Do you just get an extra tall one? Food bowl should be fine. I always worry a squirmy newborn will squirm it's way and somehow get into the water bowl and die. Plus water bowls are so cool from the water inside. Thank you everyone for your help. I love your forum. It is very nice. I don't know of any Chihuahua ones that are so detailed. Thank you!

I actually did use one of those once. My female refused to go near the whelping box I had for her so it was a last minute fix. She seemed comfy in it, but it made it really hard to get to her to assist when she was whelping. :thumbdown

You know...I had thought about that. I have never moved a bitch right after she whelps but I know of other people who do. What if I whelped her out in a pack n play (my normal routine) and then put her in the dark, warm, quiet container? I would have to introduce her to it beforehand so she would be familiar with it.

Teresa :)

I use a shallow clear rubbermade box (under the bed type) for the puppies. They cannot get out, but mom has no problem stepping over the sides. I start out in the pack and play which I have modified to have an opening in one end for mom to come and go. That way I can put mom's food and water in the end of the pack & play for those first days when she does not want to leave the pups. Later, she can come on out when she needs to.

Then I move them to the play yard, putting the clear rubbermade box in one end, plenty of pee pads around and an area for the food and water. Since the puppies cannot get out of the box, I don't worry about them getting into the food and water. When they get big enough to get out of the box, I do away with it and use a large doggy bed in the one end -- big enough for mom and all puppies. Then I am letting mom out a lot and her food and water goes outside of the puppies play yard. I give them some toys to play with and make sure to keep all of the area lined with pee pads. Makes cleaning up a breeze. Three of the large sized pee pads just fit in the play yard and you can just replace them once or twice a day, depending on how messy they are. By 4 weeks, the puppies are getting their own food and water. I like to use the big stainless steel puppy feeder that has a raised are in the center. That way they can all get around it comfortably. They still walk in it and occasionally even leave a present that has to be thrown out with all the food. :confused: But what can you do? I like the water bottle that I am now using. I too, worried over the water bowls. They were always playing in them, making a mess, dirting the water, etc. So, now I have the water bottle on the side of a crate. They all learn to use it in no time. Had to put the small crate in to hold the water bottle as I could not get it to stay on the play yard side. But I made that the new bed area (be sure to take off the door). So they still have plenty of room.

I do not breed but last year my daughter adopted a shi-poo and we found out she was pregnant. I used a rubbermaid container with lid side up cut a fairly large hole on the side but left a high enough lip so puppies could not get out but mom could jump in and out. When she whelped I took of the lid and had plenty of room to assist if and when needed. I placed whelping pads and pee pads on the bottom and changed regularly. Placed blankets fpr padding. It worked well for me.

I have used all sorts of whelping boxes...but find RubberMaid types the best..years ago I saw a oversized cat litter plastic box..we all used those for a few years...then got the RubberMaid...all sorts of sizes and shapes. I never need a top...low side boxes for a few weeks, then higher sided ones...

We started out with a cardboard box - but graduated to a cement mixing tub ... it worked great! It was something like this: 36 in. x 24 in. PVC Black Large Mixing Tub - 887102A at The Home Depot

... and then it became a pond. :)

That looks like it would work well...

I love Plastic containers for whelping, I used a big plastic container and my two girls had their pups in the container, I start them early with the container and get them use to it, as soon as they start getting signs they run to the box. I love the fact that I can sanitize it with water and bleach in my tub and get it ready, with so many things I don't trust any card board next to my new babies..
in my blog is pictures of my container with my last litter.
hth,
hugs,
CArmen in nj

I just wanted to add this is how my whelping box looks like..
hugs,
Carmen in nj

Cut the hole??
 

What did you use to cut the hole? I've always had trouble cutting plastic.

I use her kennel and just take the top and the door off. Since it's not a new bed mom seems more relaxed and the plastic container is easy to clean. The front of the kennel has a slight curve so babies can't get out for awhile. I've thought about the rubbermaid but didn't know how to keep the cut smooth.

i've never used the container, but i imagine either a stanly knife or little saw would make short work of the whole- then some rough sandpaper to smooth it all off...
dont take this as gospel- i am just guessing!! but my dad was always making thing out of plastic for me n my sis when i was little, and that was the way he would make it safe for kids, so it would prob work great for furkids stuff too!

My whelping boxes that I make look like Carmen's, but I cut the hole higher up, so there is a lip on it so she doesn't drag the puppies or they don't crawl out. The mom doesn't mind stepping over the edge I figure by the time the puppies are old enough to crawl out they are old enough not to get the in the water bowl and drown, although I try to keep that on the far end of the xpen.

We made our own whelping boxes. They are out of plastic. They have a small pipe made around the inside to let puppies crawl away so they can't get stepped on. We also don't have a bottom in it, so we can just easily change towels or blankets and makes it better to clean and sanitize them.