Sharing a Whelping Box

Sharing a Whelping Box as a dog breeder, there are a lot of things that you need to take care of. You have to ensure that the dog and the puppies have a comfortable living environment. Provide them with nutritionally balanced food, and keep them active and engaged in physical activities, among other things. However, the most challenging part of being a dog breeder is dealing with pregnant dogs, especially when they’re near the end of their gestation period. When the time for your pregnant dog to whelp is approaching. It is essential that you provide her with a safe place to relax and deliver the puppies. Not only does it make her feel more secure, but it can be crucial for the puppies’ survival. This is where a whelping box can be useful.

Read on to learn more about whelping boxes and whether multiple dogs can share one.

Sharing a Whelping Box and firstly what is a Whelping Box?

Just like any other mother-to-be, a dog that is close to delivering her babies would prefer having some privacy and comfort when the day arrives. The term “whelping box” may sound a little fancy, but in reality, it is just an isolated space for the expecting dog.

That being said, there are some things you need to take into consideration while setting up a whelping box. Also known as a nesting box, this is the place where your dog will spend the last few days of her gestation period. Afterwards, the puppies will also spend the first 20 or so days in the whelping box.

In addition to providing the mother dog with the much-needed privacy during the time of delivery. A good quality whelping box is designed to keep the puppies contained. Protect them from the weather or any other external factors, and prevent them from being crushed by their mothers.

 So Can Multiple Dogs Share a Whelping Dog?

As a dog breeder, you may have multiple dogs pregnant at the same time. This would naturally spark your curiosity about whether multiple pregnant dogs can share the same whelping box. The simple answer to this question is: No.

While multiple puppies born at the same time will naturally share the whelping box, it isn’t recommended to have multiple pregnant dogs in the same whelping box. Since they can be very irritable during this period, locking them up in a small space together can be a bad idea.

In the best-case scenario, it will make the mothers-to-be even more irritable and alert during a time when they must be calm and relaxed. In the worst-case scenario, they may get so agitated that they might end up attacking the other dog’s new-born puppies in order to protect their own. Either way, it is a much smarter decision to have separate whelping boxes set up for as many pregnant dogs as you have.

That being said, once the whelping box is set up, you can recycle it as many times as you want. So once the first three weeks have passed and the puppies are old enough to roam outside the box, you can remove them and the mother and place another pregnant dog in the same whelping box.

Tips for Setting Up a Whelping Box

Did you know that it isn’t uncommon for dogs, especially males, to kill their own puppies? There have been some observations that explain why this happens. However, an explanation doesn’t stop this from being a dog breeder’s worst nightmare.

Now, if dogs have the potential to be aggressive with their own puppies due to lack of socialization. Competition over resources, and other similar instincts. Imagine how they can treat other puppies. If you have multiple dogs on your property, it is necessary to set up a separate place for new-born puppies where they can safely rest until they are old enough to protect themselves.

Here are a few things you can do while setting up a whelping box for your dogs.

• Set it up in an isolated room where no other dog can enter. Many dog breeders prefer setting up the whelping box in their own bedrooms. This provides the dog with the highest level of security. If you have to set up multiple whelping boxers, try to keep all of them in separate rooms if possible.
• If needed, install extra doors or locks to keep the other dogs outside. Remember, the safety of new-born puppies is your top priority while setting up a whelping box. So take all the necessary precautions to ensure that no other dog has access to the whelping box.
• Add a plastic sheet on the ground and cover it with newspapers and towels. During this period, your dog may excrete a green bodily fluid. It isn’t highly unlikely to be able to remove this colour from fabrics and carpets, so make sure to cover everything properly.

More….

• If your whelping dog refuses to leave the space she is already occupying, it is better to let her remain there. She is already confused, and trying to change her chosen habitat may add to her stress. Instead, try to remove the other dogs from the surroundings. Set up her makeshift whelping box in the same area. Remember to add a lot of newspapers and towels to prevent the green fluid from getting to your carpets and other pieces of furniture.
• No matter how well-behaved an adult dog is, never trust them around a new-born puppy. Aside from the mother, no other dog should be allowed anywhere near puppies until they are at least a month old. Even after that, keep a close eye on the puppies and how the other adult dogs interact with them.

You can also purchase some whelping boxes for your dogs if you’re willing to spend a little extra.

Whether you purchase one or build one yourself, make sure that the whelping box is strong enough to keep the puppies.