What size whelping box do I need ?

What size whelping box do I need ? The most important thing while whelping, is to make sure your dog feels safe, and secure. The best way to accomplish that, is by providing her with the ideal sized whelping box. Her puppies may have trouble staying warm if it is larger than necessary. Too small, and the mother may feel anxious and flustered. So, how big of a whelping box does my dog require? This article will answer that question, and tell you everything else you need to know to ensure that your Labrador is able to deliver her pups without a hitch.

Why Your Dog Needs a Whelping Box

If you’ve never helped a dog give birth before, you may be wondering why she needs a whelping box in the first place. You might think she’ll be fine simply giving birth on a blanket, but this is a mixtake. A whelping box creates a safe and secluded environment for your Labrador, and her litter. A whelping box ensures that your dog and her pups will feel protected. It will also keep them away from other parts of the house, so as to not make a mess during the delivery process.

The Ideal Sized Box For Your Labrador

The average sized Labrador requires a whelping box that is square in shape, and about 4ft by 4ft, with a height of around 2ft. If you’re building a whelping box from scratch, these dimensions don’t need to be exact. After all, not every Labrador is the same size. However, 4×4 ft is generally a good benchmark.

A 4×4 ft whelping box will provide your Labrador with just enough space so that she can turn comfortably in her box, as well as nurse her pups with ease. The 2ft height is just the right height to allow the mother to leave the box if she wants to, while keeping the pups in, for their own safety.

Why The Size of Your Labrador’s Whelping Box Matters

It’s important that you understand why the size of your Labrador’s whelping box is so important, so that you know what to look for when shopping for one, or building one from scratch. Before spending money on a whelping box, take into account your dog’s size and weight. Not only should the whelping box have enough space, it should also be sturdy enough to hold your pregnant dog’s weight. Depending on the material used to make your dog’s whelping box, it may be able to hold more or less weight than others.

We recommend getting your dog x-rayed, so that you can confirm the number of pups she is carrying. The average Labrador produced 5-10 puppies per litter. If your dog is giving birth to a higher than average number of puppies, she’ll need a bigger whelping box. However, as mentioned previously, bigger boxes don’t stay as warm. If you do require a bigger box, remember to use plenty of blankets to help keep your dog and her puppies warm.

When To Let The Puppies Out of The Whelping Box?

The box must maintain a temperature of 30 °C (86 °F) and humidity of at least 55% during the first week. The pups should stay in the box for the first 4 weeks of their life. However, Labrador pups tend to grow faster than most, so they’ll be roaming around and exploring their surroundings in no time. Until then, make sure they stay safe inside their box.

The Perfect Whelping Box For Your Labrador

Material: You need to make sure your dog’s whelping box is made from the right material. Wood is good enough for a Labrador, however it’s not as water resistent as plastic. On the other hand, plastic whelping boxes tend to come at a higher price tag. Plastic boxes tend to be easier to clean, while wooden boxes may need to be disposed later. Petnap offers a wide range of different types of whelping boxes, made from a variety of materials. They even sell whelping boxers in batches, and offer disposable whelping boxes made of cardboard, at affordable prices.

Roll-bars: Some Whelping boxes feature roll-bars, that help prevent pups from being smothered or trapped. If you’re building your own whelping box, it’s very important to remember to install roll-bars.

Bedding: Make sure the bedding of your dog’s whelping box is made from sturdy material that can not be easily ruined. Add as much extra cushioning using towels and cushions as possible, to keep your dog and her pups secure.

Entrance: The entrance of the whelping box should be just wide enough that your dog can get in and out with ease, while still keeping her pups inside until they are big enough to wander around on their own.

How To Make Your Own Whelping Box

If you’d like to make your labrador their own whelping box from scratch, you’ll need to ensure that you have the correct materials. You’ll need plenty of plywood, a hammer, nails, vinyl sheets, and wood glue. There are plenty of instructional videos you can find online, on how to build a whelping box. However, you can save yourself time, money and effort by simply purchasing a pre-made whelping box from Petnap. Petnap supplies non-disposable plastic whelping boxes, as well as disposable cardboard ones. You can even purchase bundles of boxes, if you need to whelp more than one dog at a time.

Now That You Know

Hopefully, this article taught you everything you need to know about whelping your Labrador, and the perfect sized box required to make the whelping process as comfortable for your dog as possible. Now that you know so much more about whelping, what do you think? Will you try to build your dog their own whelping box from scratch? Or would you rather buy one ready made? Make sure to assess all your options, and put your dog’s needs first when deciding what’s best for your canine companion and her litter of pups.