Whelping Boxes & Whelping Supplies

What a whelping box is for

A bitch looks for somewhere enclosed and her own to whelp, and a whelping box answers that instinct: sides that keep newborn puppies together and out of draughts, and puppy rails (often called pig rails) a little above the floor that leave a gap a pup can roll into when mum lies down against the wall. The W-Help-ing whelping box includes three rails.

Choosing the right size

Mum should be able to lie flat on her side, fully stretched out, with room to spare for the litter to feed along her, so measure her lying down before you order. If you are between sizes, go up. For a large dog whelping box, look at the 48in size: a Labrador, for example, needs roughly a 4ft square box, which is what the Large is.

Centimetre sizes are converted at 2.54cm to the inch and rounded. The breed sizes are a general suggestion; your dog's length lying down is what counts, and our guide to what size whelping box you need goes through it breed by breed.

The cardboard flatpack box, and why it is hygienic

A common worry is that a cardboard whelping box is simply a cardboard box. The W-Help-ing box is sturdy corrugated cardboard designed for the job, with a splashproof internal coating, a wax-lined base insert to prolong the life of the floor and protective chew rails along the top edges. It arrives flat packed and stores easily until you assemble it, around two weeks before the due date.

It is made for one or two litters, and that is where the hygiene comes in: instead of scrubbing and storing a permanent pen, you use the box, recycle it and start the next litter fresh.

Cardboard or plastic whelping box?

Both do the same job, and the honest answer is that it depends on how many litters you expect. A plastic whelping box is washable and reusable, so it suits a breeder who has litters regularly and somewhere to clean and store it in between. It costs more, and it needs storing between litters.

The cardboard box we sell is designed for one or two home litters and is then recycled. It makes sense for a first litter, an occasional litter, or anyone who does not want to buy, clean and store a permanent pen. It is not intended for repeated professional use, long-term pen use or as a permanent kennel; if that is what you need, a plastic box is the sounder buy.

Build a whelping kit

No single box covers a litter, so we have grouped the pieces as a whelping kit. Each item is added to the basket separately, so you choose the box, pad and bedding sizes that fit your dog and leave out anything you already have. A full puppy whelping kit from our range is the W-Help-ing whelping box for the space, the KozeePet puppy heat pad for warmth, Identi-Pet whelping collars to tell the pups apart, an Inconti-Pet washable pad for the base, Original Greenback Vetfleece on top and the Hungry Henry litter feeding bowl for weaning.

Keeping the litter warm

Newborn puppies struggle to keep their own temperature up. The KozeePet Puppy Electric Heat Pad holds a regulated 38°C, the same temperature as the womb of most animals before birth, so it gives familiar warmth rather than fierce heat. Two thermal cut-offs set at 38°C, a fire-retardant cover, a chew-resistant cable and a low-voltage 12V DC supply are built in, and it is made to meet a long list of British Standards. At 44 x 33cm it warms part of the box, so the pups can move off the warmth when they choose. It is for household use only; keep the cover fitted and the transformer dry. A genuine spare cover is sold separately.

Heat pad or heat lamp?

A heat lamp warms from above, so everything beneath it, mum included, gets the heat, and it has to be hung at the right distance, fixed securely and checked often. A heat pad warms from below, and because the KozeePet pad is held at 38°C and covers only part of the floor, the puppies can crawl on to it or away from it as they need. Whichever you use, warm one end of the box, never all of it, and ask your vet what your litter needs. Our guide to heat pad or heat lamp for puppies has more.

Telling the puppies apart

You need to know who is who to track each pup's weight and progress. Identi-Pet 12 Whelping Collars are twelve soft hook-and-loop collars in twelve colours, with no buckle or clip to irritate newborn skin or catch on bedding. Cut each to length with a curved end, wrap it back on itself and fit it snug but not tight. At 35cm they suit most breeds, and they are washable and reusable.

Washable pads for the base

A whelping box gets wet. The Inconti-Pet Washable Training Pad has three layers: a brushed top that wicks moisture off the surface, an absorbent core and a PVC-coated backing that keeps liquid off the floor. It washes at 40°C, or occasionally up to 95°C for infection control. The 60 x 60cm, 90 x 90cm and 120 x 120cm squares are close matches for the Small, Medium and Large boxes, so measure the inside floor before ordering, and keep three in rotation: one in use, one ready, one in the wash.

Bedding on top

The box and pads are sold without bedding, so finish with vet bedding over the pad. We suggest Original Greenback Fleece for whelping: its double-woven green backing lets liquid pass straight through to the pad beneath while the 25–28mm pile stays warm on top, it washes at 40°C, and it cuts to fit without fraying. It comes ready cut in 24in, 36in and 48in squares, one for each box size.

Weaning the litter

Weaning a litter on to solid food is messy, and an ordinary bowl becomes a free-for-all. The Hungry Henry Litter Feeding Bowl is a wide stainless steel puppy weaning bowl that lets the whole litter feed together, shaped to discourage puppies from walking through or sitting in the food. It is non-porous, easy to sanitise between feeds and dishwasher safe, and it works for water as well as food. Three sizes, 1.2L (26cm), 1.5L (30cm) and 2L (34cm), let you size up as the litter grows.

Set the box up early, keep spares to hand, and ask your vet about anything that worries you before the first puppy arrives.

Warmth deserves a page of its own, so we have given heat pads one. Our pet heat pads guide explains why the KozeePet pad is held at 38°C, what each of its safety features does, where to put it in the box, and how to use it for kittens as well as puppies. Once the litter has gone, the same pad can move into an older dog's bed under a cut of Greenback: that is the Heated Dog Bed Kit.

Frequently asked questions

What size whelping box do I need for my dog?

The W-Help-ing cardboard whelping box comes in three sizes: Small (24in x 24in x 13in), Medium (36in x 36in x 16in) and Large (48in x 48in x 18in). Mum should be able to lie flat on her side, fully stretched out, with room left for the puppies to feed along her. Measure her lying down, and if you are between sizes, choose the larger box.

Is a cardboard whelping box hygienic?

Yes, when it is designed for the job. The W-Help-ing box has a splashproof internal coating and a wax-lined cardboard base insert, and it is intended for one or two litters rather than years of reuse. Line the floor with a washable Inconti-Pet pad, then recycle the box once the litter has moved on, so the next litter starts with a fresh one.

How warm should a whelping box be, and how do I use a heat pad?

The KozeePet Puppy Electric Heat Pad is thermostatically held at a regulated 38°C, the same temperature as the womb of most animals before birth, with two thermal cut-offs set at 38°C. At 44 x 33cm it warms part of the box, so the puppies can move on or off the warmth as they choose. Use it with its fire-retardant cover fitted, keep the transformer dry, and ask your vet about room temperature for your breed.

When should I put identification collars on newborn puppies?

Identi-Pet whelping collars are designed with newborn litters in mind, so you can assign a colour to each puppy or kitten from birth and track weight and progress from day one. Cut each collar to length with a curved end, wrap it back on itself, and fit it snug but not tight. Check the fit regularly, because pups grow quickly, and leave no gap a small leg could slip under.

How do I keep a whelping box clean?

Line the base with an Inconti-Pet Washable Training Pad, which washes at 40°C and can occasionally be washed up to 95°C for infection control, then tumble dry on low. Keep three pads in rotation: one in use, one ready to change and one in the wash. A genuine spare cover for the KozeePet heat pad lets you swap in a clean one while the other is washed.

What bedding should I use in a whelping box?

The W-Help-ing box is supplied without bedding. Lay a washable Inconti-Pet pad on the base to absorb leaks and protect the floor, then a layer of Original Greenback Vetfleece on top for mum and the puppies to lie on; liquid drains through the fleece to the pad beneath. Choose a pad close to the internal floor of the box: the 60 x 60cm, 90 x 90cm and 120 x 120cm squares suit the three sizes.

When should I set up the whelping box?

Around two weeks before the due date. The W-Help-ing box arrives flat packed and assembles at home, with marked points on the sides showing where the three puppy rails fit. Setting it up early gives mum time to get used to the box as her own space before she whelps, and gives you time to fit the heat pad, pads and bedding without a rush.

Can I use whelping collars on kittens as well as puppies?

Yes. Identi-Pet 12 Whelping Collars are designed for puppies and kittens, with a soft hook-and-loop fabric and no buckle or clip to irritate delicate newborn skin. The twelve colours let you tell each kitten apart at a glance. Cool machine wash or hand wash with minimum detergent, no bleach or fabric conditioner, and they are reusable for future litters.

Do you sell a complete whelping kit?

Yes. Our whelping kit groups the W-Help-ing cardboard whelping box, the KozeePet 38°C puppy heat pad, Identi-Pet whelping collars, an Inconti-Pet washable pad, Original Greenback Vetfleece and the Hungry Henry litter feeding bowl on one page. Each item is added to the basket separately, so you pick the box, pad and bedding sizes that suit your dog and leave out anything you already have.

Should I choose a cardboard or a plastic whelping box?

It depends on how many litters you expect. A plastic box is washable and reusable, so it suits regular breeding if you have somewhere to clean and store it, and it costs more. The W-Help-ing cardboard box is designed for one or two home litters and is then recycled, so it suits a first or occasional litter without the scrubbing and storage. It is not made for repeated professional use.