Here is the whelping box I put together for our litter of Labs. It cost around $30 and took about an hour to put together. It requires the following:
(1) Sheet of good quality 1/2″ plywood
(1) 4′ x 2′ additional piece of 1/2″ plywood
(2) 2″ x 4″ x 8′ for bumper rail
(2) 2″ x 2″ x 8′ for supports
(1) Roll of contact paper
We cut the plywood in half and formed the floor, then we cut the remaining half into thirds (3 pieces at 16″ less the saw kerf). Next cut the 4′ x 2′ piece of plywood to the same 16″ width and save both sides. Next cover the inside of each piece with contact paper. Contact paper is relatively cheap and makes messes easy to clean up. It is easiest to cover before it is put together and the pieces are flat. Next, cut the 2″ – 2″s to go around the outside of the floor base and up the insides of the box (see photo) and assemble with screws from the backside of the plywood. Next, stand three of the 16″ walls around the inside of the floor and screw them down. For the front of the box, while the pups are small use the 8″ piece of the plywood so the dam can more easily step into the box. When the pups are a little older and more adventuresome we will replace the front with the 16″ side. Finally cut the 2 x 4s and notch for the 2 x 2 edges and screw in at the level of the dam’s backbone when she is laying on her side (for my lab it is 4″ from the bottom). I use several rubber backed bathmats for the flooring, when they are damp or soiled, just toss in the washing machine.
The design is fairly light and can be moved when and where needed. The dog took to it right away. The small size seemed to be just the right next she was looking for. Because it is screwed together I can take it apart into a few stackable pieces when we are done with the litter and save storage space.
