I need to know how to have the best, safest Saint Bernard-sized whelping box possible. Can you buy them or is it best to build one? And what are the best measurements to follow? Thanks for your help in advance.
Measure your female from neck to flank. Add about 6 inches to accommodate the rails – if you want 4 inch rails, add 8 inches. The sides should be at least 10 inches high, while the measurement you took from your girl plus the railing, is what you want – squared into a box.
As she has long legs, you can take some hollow pvc pipe, cut it down the middle, and put over the tops of the sides so she won’t scrape herself getting out. This pvc also works to keep the puppies in, after they have their eyes, and can see that there’s something out there other than their brothers/sisters.
You can use pvc board (you’ll then end up with a 12 inch side, which is fine, too). Hinge it on the inside, add your rails about 4 inches from the bottom, and voila! you have an easy to clean and store whelping box.
The cleaner you should use is 1 OUNCE Chlorox to 1 gallon of water. When it comes to cleaning/disinfecting, more is not better – it can burn the animals it comes into contact with. This dilution is used in hospitals to kill molds, viruses (including HIV) and bacteria. Don’t spend a lot of cash on trying to make a better mousetrap.
You have to provide the pups with a source of warmth. I just got a piglet warmer from Farmtek it works really, really well. But until I got it, I used a heat lamp – and I’ve been breeding since 1983. The pups move in and out of the heat as needed.
Good luck whelping.
The box will last you years.
your breeder mentor will be able to give you the specks that they used,
it must be big enough for her to lay comfortably on her side to nurse the pups, and make sure there is a pig rail so she wont accidentally squish them.
please spay your pet quality dog.. unless , of course you are showing aand make sure you OFA’d your dog and stud dog too.
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you can by or build
the box should not be much larger than the mother
any good box would be fine
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Buy one.
I know a good website to but whelping boxes on but I do not know how to put a link on so go to:
http://www.whelpingboxstore.com and they have all the sizes from a chihuahua to a great dane so dig right in and find the right whelping box for your dog.
P.S Good luck with the pups!! We are going to breed also but not saint bernards, boston terriers.
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we made ours. its made from plywood.
and we’d rather make it ourselves, to be custom for size and proprtion to the b*tch
if you message me i can give you the whole size l x w and stuff like that. i think it would be alright in size because we built it for a golden.
References :
Measure your female from neck to flank. Add about 6 inches to accommodate the rails – if you want 4 inch rails, add 8 inches. The sides should be at least 10 inches high, while the measurement you took from your girl plus the railing, is what you want – squared into a box.
As she has long legs, you can take some hollow pvc pipe, cut it down the middle, and put over the tops of the sides so she won’t scrape herself getting out. This pvc also works to keep the puppies in, after they have their eyes, and can see that there’s something out there other than their brothers/sisters.
You can use pvc board (you’ll then end up with a 12 inch side, which is fine, too). Hinge it on the inside, add your rails about 4 inches from the bottom, and voila! you have an easy to clean and store whelping box.
The cleaner you should use is 1 OUNCE Chlorox to 1 gallon of water. When it comes to cleaning/disinfecting, more is not better – it can burn the animals it comes into contact with. This dilution is used in hospitals to kill molds, viruses (including HIV) and bacteria. Don’t spend a lot of cash on trying to make a better mousetrap.
You have to provide the pups with a source of warmth. I just got a piglet warmer from Farmtek it works really, really well. But until I got it, I used a heat lamp – and I’ve been breeding since 1983. The pups move in and out of the heat as needed.
Good luck whelping.
The box will last you years.
References :