First litter coming next month and question...

[Karen]

We're expecting our first litter the week of September 17th. The whelping box is built, we bought an extra 4 x 8 piece of plywood, covered it with linoleum, raised it up off the floor with 2 x 4's and put the whelping box on that, then surrounded it with a 4' high x-pen (easy to clean and can be a puppy pen when the whelping box is no longer necessary). We have it set up in a corner of our basement, which is not finished, but is dry and had a dehumidifier running 24/7 in it. We mounted a pole on one side of the whelping box and put a heat lamp on it.

I left the heat lamp running for a couple hours on Saturday with a thermometer in the whelping box. Temp went from 66 to 74 (the temp is a steady 66 degrees year round). I moved the heat lamp down a bit....we got to 79.8. Obviously I need it a bit warmer in the whelping box. Right now the basement is a big, open area, so heating it with space heaters is an issue (the electrical is all one circuit, and it's about 1200 sq. feet). Do I add another heat lamp? A kennel heating pad? Any recommendations.



And Mommy & Daddy!

[Sharon]

Heating pad is too dangerous for pups as they can't move off it easily. Sounds like more space heaters are needed. *Remove them when pups start moving around on the floor.)I value a scale for pups. Not gaining weight is one of the first signs of a pup in trouble. Enjoy the experience.

[Dashin Gun Dogs]

You might need a stronger heat lamp, and you can point it straight down. The temp only needs to be in the 90's in a small section of the box. That way the female can get away from the heat.

[RoostersMom]

I can't see the inside of your box there, but make sure you have pig rails on it for the pups to slide under in case the mama lays on them. I lost a foster pup that way - and it isn't pretty. You likely won't need the fencing around the area until the pups are much larger - my breeder always leaves the area open for her bitch to get in and out of when she wants to.

[Karen]

Yup, pig rails are installed. Thanks!

[kninebirddog]

you can just see the cord over on the right hand side and yes the pups can move off and on as they need I get the door mats from walmart that have the rubberized underside you can get them where you get the front door mats they are like 3 or 4 bucks and then I put the heating pad underneath

[snips]

I get a bundle of whelping pads..They are great..Used hospital bed pads...

[gotpointers]

I would worry about the dog grabbing the heat lamp cord and getting shocked or possibly pulling it down onto the bedding and having a fire or burns to the pups.
The nicest setup i have seen is on phantom kennels facebook page. He has ac and heat along with the heat lamp setup that's guarded. Tied in with a scotts type outside run for bathroom breaks for the mom. I would post pictures of it if i could but i can't off my cell phone.
His website with the facebook link is
Www.phantomkennels.com

[stevoman]

Everything looks great and ready to go. best of luck with the new litter. the parents look like fantastic dogs!