BUILDING THE BOX

Build the box out of plywood and make it strong enough to withstand 4-5 week old puppies who can chew like a beaver. You would like to use it for more than one litter.

The box should be 3 feet by 3 feet and be 2 feet high. The front section should be easy to remove and only 1 foot high so Mom can easily come and go. The whelping box should have feet to hold the box 2 inches off the floor.

Paint your whelping box with lead free white paint. Keep soft bedding in the box that can be washed and replace several times a day.

Once the puppies are beginning to move around well, take off the front of the whelping box and add a training box. The training box should be identical to the whelping box except it is three sided and has hinges so it can be attached to the whelping box. Two wood bars attached to both boxes by nuts and bolts work well. Put newspaper in the training box.

Now the puppies have an area 6 feet by 3 feet to move around in. They will probably sleep, cuddle with Mom, and nurse in the whelping box and play and eventually poop in the training box.

You can usually keep your pups in the whelping/training box for 5 weeks or if you are lucky, 6 weeks. This depends on the number of puppies in the litter and their climbing ability. When they begin to climb then it is time to put them in a pen.

You can make the whelping box 4 by 4 but remember, it will be harder to clean and care for the pups since you will need a longer reach.