How to Build a Cheap Whelping Box
Whelping is the process in which a new litter of puppies is fed, cared for, and eventually weaned by the mother. A whelping box is a necessity because it will allow the mother to leave the puppies to take care of herself without anxiety about their safety. You should consider building one and having it in place at least a week before the litter is born so the mother dog can get used to the box.
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Things You'll Need
- 4x8 sheet of 3/4" plywood
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Circular saw
- Wood Stain
- Paint brush
- 4 three-sided metal corner brackets
- Wood screws
- Drill with a Phillips-head drive bit
- Contact paper
- Soft Blankets
Instructions
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1
Measure, mark and cut your plywood sheet into four strips that measure 4 feet by 14 inches.
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2
Sand the edges of the plywood strips until they are smooth to the touch.
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3
Stain the plywood strips. Use a brush to apply the stain, making sure to evenly coat both faces and all of the edges. Let the first coat dry and then apply at least one more coat.
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4
Stand two of the strips up on their sides with the 4 foot lengths on the floor. Join them at a 90 degree angle. Place a three-sided corner bracket onto the corner they form and use a drill with a Phillips head drive bit to attach the bracket. Do this with the remaining two pieces so that you have two sets.
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5
Join the two sets together with corner brackets so you have a four-sided frame. Turn the frame over so the corner brackets are on the bottom.
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6
Cut four right triangles out of your remaining plywood that measure 6 inches by 8 inches. This can be done by cutting two rectangles that measure 6 inches by 8 inches, then bisecting each rectangle diagonally. Line up a triangle on the top of each corner so the edge of the triangle is flush with the edges of the box. Screw the triangles into place. This will add extra reinforcement to your box.
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7
Apply contact paper to the inside walls of the box. This will make cleaning it easier.
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8
Place your whelping box in a warm and quiet area of your home and put soft blankets on the bottom of the box.
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Tips & Warnings
The 14-inch height is good for medium size dogs. Custom-fit the height to your dog by measuring from the ground up their front leg to a point 2 inches below their chest. This will give you a whelping box height that mom can get out of easily but puppies won't be able to climb out of.
Do not paint a whelping box. Stain will sink into the wood but paint will remain on the surface, where puppies can peel it off and consume the potentially poisonous material.
