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How to build a whelping box for a small breed dog?
We have rescued a chihuahua and we just learned she is pregnant.We would like to make our own whelping box for her and her puppies when they arrive. I have looked all over the net and found lots of really nice boxes with excellent instructions on how to build them.
The only problem is they are all huge. I can not find any plans for building a whelping box for a small breed dog. Does anyone out there know where I can find plans for a small dog? We are not good with carpentry. We can just do the simple stuff. So taking the plans I have found and scaling them down is beyond our capabilities.
Does anyone know where I can find plans and instructions for a small breed dog? Does anyone have the knowledge needed to draw out plans and instructions or scale down the plans for big dogs?
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
10 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
I found out my puppy was pregnant - this is what did.
I went and got 2 packing boxes,a box of packing paper and some of the roll of plastic that they give away to protect your car when buying plants. The boxes are perfect as they have the pre creased folds - slit them down the middle so that they lie flat.
Tape them together to fit the size of the area you want the dog to stay in - make sure you make it big enough for 1. when the puppies come and 2. to leave a poop and pee area.
Leave it laying flat - now spread the plastic over the flat plastic and tape - like wrapping a book .
Once you have taped them - then go and make the sides - follow the folds and they will come up easily to not let the dogs out. It will be high enough to keep the pups in and mom can come and go.
Now you have a waterproof box - its sooooooo much easier. Arrange the bedding on one side and far to the opposite corner lay packing paper for the toilet area.
i laid towels down over the plastic.
Now instead of mopping up all day long - i just bring up the linens i have put in there - quickly swiffer the plastic - set new linens and throw the dirty in the washing machine.
Hope I helped. It works for me and the pups are nearly 7 weeks old.
- JaniceLv 45 years ago
You can use a child's paddling pool (empty of course!) as a whelping 'box'. But it's vital she has it in a quiet room, away from the everyday traffic of the normal house - so having her in her crate in the living room isn't going to work!! If mum isn't quiet, and feeling unthreatened, she could well become too stressed to get down to her job, and could even turn on her puppies. And obviously ALL other household pets must be kept strictly away from her, and her puppies because again, she'll feel threatened. And it's also vital that you can get to her when she starts whelping which I can't see happening if she's in a crate!!! She should be sleeping in her whelping quarters from at least the last week of her pregnancy too. I forgot to say there must be adequate heating where she has her puppies because puppies cannot regulate their own heat to begin with. Ideally you need a brood lamp, but a heat pad, not hot! or upping the temperature in the room so it's at least 80F is vital. Tell your parents, tactfully, they are nuts!! Totally irresponsible, at best. She should have been wormed before being mated, had her boosters brought utd so her puppies would have max. immunity from her first milk, just for starters. I guess there's no point hoping these puppies will be purebred, not mutts? If not, she shouldn't have been put in whelp - period! If she's starting to lick herself etc. and on day 560, yes, whelping will happen within the next 48 hours. Are you able to take her temperature? If you had, you'd have noticed it dropping from the normal 101, to around 98 and back up again during the last week. When it drops to 98, or lower, and stays down, whelping is going to happen, soon. Don't leave her by herself, and if you have to take her outside at night, keep her on a lead - it's not unknown for a b itch to drop a puppy outside, only to be found dead the next morning. Also, once she's having strong contractions, don't leave her struggling without seeing a puppy arrive for more than 1 hour. And that goes for every delivery. Even with a healthy b itch, complications such as a big puppy that's stuck, can happen. Breach births, which are quite common, can run into difficulties too. Have the phone number of your vet to hand and parents or not, don't hesitate to phone if you are worried, or mum is in trouble. Bitches more often than not, give birth in the small hours - so stay with her, sleep down with her, from now on, just in case. I'm very sorry for you, and your b itch re your parents - once this is all over, and the puppies have gone home, call your vet and get her spayed, so this never happens again. You should be able to pay for the spaying from the proceeds of this litter!
- 1 decade ago
I agree with using the bottom half of a Vari Kennel or other plastic crate. It can be cleaned and disinfected (unlike the cardboard box), and a dog the size of a chihuahua is unlikely to crush the pups. And then when you're done you have a crate that you can still use, instead of a whelping box that you will (hopefully) never use again.
However, Chihuahuas often have complications and/or require c-sections. I suggest you have around $2000 set aside in case of emergency, and work closely with your vet. Better yet, contact your nearest Chihuahua club or rescue, explain the situation, and see if they have someone who is willing to help and advise you.
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- 1 decade ago
A cardboard box and cut a hole in front just tall enough for her to get out. Not tall enough for the puppies to climb out at 3-4wks. A whelping box is a waste of time and money. Or I have heard of people using a kitty litter pan or a rubbermaid container and cutting the front out and you can put the lid on so it is more like a den.
- bluebonnetgrannyLv 71 decade ago
Just use a cardboard box that is the right size. Or alter the plans for the large ones to that is is small just for your dog.
If it calls for 4 4ft boards get 4 2ft boards. It is fairly easy to make something smaller or larger especially for something that is as easy as a whelping box.
http://www.whelping-boxes.co.uk/breed-ps.htm
Put down layers & layers of newspaper for easy clean up. Just remove what is dirty & you have a fresh newspaper under what you have removed.
- Anonymous8 years ago
Hillbillie, I am in the same boat as you. I got a Chi on Sept 29th. All of a sudden her belly got huge over night. She is due anytime now. I found that you can create one from 2 cardboard boxes, but the key it to line them with a solid piece of plastic. My little girl is a teacup, so I am able to use a box for copy paper. It is large enough for like 3 of her size to be in, so thats ample room. I am going to go to home depot to get good plastic to line it with.
Fomr there you can pick what type of bedding you want to use. alot of people use newspaper. The night part is that having the plastic lining, it makes it so much eaier to clean up and wipe down.
- AntonioLv 44 years ago
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Source(s): Expert Advice on Woodworking http://woodworkingprojects.enle.info/?96e1 - 1 decade ago
Use half of a size 200 vari kennel. Unless your chihuahua is enormous, it should do fine.