The Benefits Of Whelping Boxes

By Author: Mary Porter
Total Articles: 829
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Whelping boxes are specially designed boxes to protect newborn puppies once they are born. It has four sides that are high enough so puppies cannot get out. Whelping boxes will have an opening in the front of them to allow the mother to get in and out easily. There are rails inside which run along the bottom of the inside walls which stop the mother dog from squashing the puppies between her and the walls of the box.

You can purchase many different sizes of whelping boxes and the size you need will depend on the size of the mother. Whelping boxes should be chosen that allow the mother space to lie down comfortably and keep her puppies in front of her so she can she them. The space should be just right and not too big else the puppies will end up scattered around which can leave them feeling frightened. They need to stay close to each other and their mother to feel safe and happy.

It is a good idea to introduce the whelping box to the mother before the birth to get her used to the new space and teach her that this is where she will go when she is ready to have the puppies. This should make her feel less scared when ...
... the time comes as she will know she has a private place to go and have the puppies. All the birthing mess will be contained inside as whelping boxes are waterproof and easy to clean. It also means that once the puppies are born all their mess will be done in the box making it easier to keep clean.

Many whelping boxes are reusable so are a good investment for people who breed dogs or plan to breed dogs in the future. You can purchase absorbent pads to put in whelping boxes for during and after the birth and these make keeping the box clean a lot easier. To help protect the puppy’s especially in winter you can also purchase heat mats to ensure the puppies are kept warm. You can also buy ready assembled whelping kits along with whelping boxes so you have everything you need for the delivery and aftercare of the mother and the pups.