Sufficent Whelping Box?

Question

Time is growing near for Hiedi to have her puppies...I couldn't find really anything big enough or build anything big enough for a German Shepherd so I went out and bought a 5ft diameter kiddie pool...I think it should work out well.

Answer 1

a baby pool is the BEST for puppies! i have bred germans shepherds in the past and it works great. you can clean it easily. put some newspaper in the bottom and cover the paper with old blankets. when the time comes she will shred them, so make sure they are old and can be thrown away after she has the puppies. good luck with your puppies. if you need any help just ask me. i can answer any questions you may have about whelping/breeding or puppies. feel free to ask away.

Answer 2

That should work fine. I know several people that used exactly that for a whelping box. It's easy to clean, won't hold fleas like cardboard boxes do, no sharp corners, shallow enough for you to reach in & mom to get out when she needs to, yet high enough to keep the pups in. You might want to line it with something absorbent like puppy pads & towels or fleece for softness. I went to thrift shops (always wash before using) & picked up old towels. You can also find remnant material at some stores that you can use.

Good Luck Hiedi, hope all goes well.

Answer 3

That should be big enough for a german shepherd. I raise german shepherds and sometimes they won't use a box that you give them. Most of the time they chose for themselves. One litter was born in a kennel beside a dog house and the dog wouldn't have it any other way. Put lots of newspaper and soft things for her to use to make a nest. It has to be perfect for her desires or she might start making a nest elsewhere. Watch her outside because she may have something started and you could get an idea of how she wants it or see where she wants it. You might have to even put the pool outside eventually depending on her. But yes the kiddie pool is plenty big enough for her!



Good Luck with the Pups!

Answer 4

I've seen people use pools for whelping before. I hope you bought the hard plastic kind, not inflateable? If so it should be fine, just pad it down with lots of towels and suchs to make it comfortable. Good luck and congrats! :-)

Answer 5

Sounds fine to me.

The main thing with a whelping box is that it should be short enough for the mother to get out, but tall enough for the puppies not to.

Answer 6

Sounds like your are doing just fine. Put blankets and newspaper in there so she has the option of making it a little bit more comfy and watch for signs of labor. Good Luck