|
I get a lot of requests for
information about my whelping box design and my dog shower. This
page illustrates how each were made....with a few other photos for
ideas....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Our
whelping box begins with a fiberglass shower stall base,
purchased in the "Scratch & Dent" section of Home Depot for $25.
The fiberglass is very easy to keep clean. |
Using
1" x 12" boards, a frame was built around the shower stall base
to provide protection from drafts and to keep puppies in the
whelping box. The frame has a drop front that can be lowered to
make it easier for mom & puppies to come and go from the
whelping box. |
A
piece of pegboard was cut to fit within the shower base. |
Bedding is then wrapped around the pegboard, with the ends
tucked under and held in place by the weight of mom and the
puppies. The whelping box allows plenty of room for mom
and puppies and the sides are low enough for me to easily assist
with whelping. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our puppies spend the first 6 weeks of their life
in an atrium in the center of our house. At three weeks of
age, they move to a Rover Pet
pen and they are given the bottom half of a Vari-Kennel
crate to sleep in. The Rover Pet panels are 30" x 24" and
4' x 2' with one door panel turned upside-down, as shown in the middle
photo. This enables mom to come and go while keeping the
puppies safely in their pen. |
The
puppy pen is lined with brown painter's paper, which comes in
rolls, available at Home Depot. This is a great, affordable
alternative to newsprint. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At six weeks of age, the puppies move to a small
puppy run in the kennel where they spend the next 3 weeks, before
going to their new homes. Rover Pet panels come in handy
here, too. I've used 30" x 24" panels, turned on their
side, to keep the puppies in while allowing me to step over into
the run. |
4' x
2' panels, laid on their side, form the indoor portion of the
run. A small piece of remnant vinyl flooring is used on
the floor and can be replaced with each litter. |
4' x
2' Rover Pet panels also form part of the indoor enclosure for
our second dog run. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Our
dog shower was another great Home Depot "scratch & dent" find.
It's a fiberglass shower stall that was cracked on one side.
We took out the utility sink in the kennel bathroom, and put the
shower stall right on top of the existing bathroom cabinet,
cutting the stall down to fit within the space. The shower
head was ordered online from a pet supply company.
No more bending over a tub to wash the dogs! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
