Don’t wait to the last minute to buy the whelping box and introduce your dog to it. A canine pregnancy lasts approximately 63 days. Once you find out from the vet how many weeks your dog is along, you can plan when to start introducing the whelping box.
Make sure the box isn’t too big. The box needs to be keep the puppies and mother close together without a lot of extra room for the puppies to get away.
Remember, it is important that the room is quiet and not busy. For example, your dog may love the living room, but a living room is not a good place to place the whelping box. If you think about it from a motherhood perspective, the dog will want to make sure that she’s finding the safest, best, and most secure spot for her litter.
Don’t put the box in one room and then move it to a different room before the birth.
Good places are guest bedrooms, bathrooms that aren’t used, studies or offices, laundry rooms, or enclosed garages. Make sure the area will be warm, away from drafts, and separate from people or other pets. Other dogs should not have access to the whelping box.
If your dog is small enough, you can physically place her in the box so she starts to smell her scent on it. If your dog isn’t interested in getting in it, let her go away and bring her back the next day.
Putting her toys in there will help the box smell familiar and also give her something to do while she is in the box.
You can also use treats to get her in the box, or give her treats when she gets in the whelping box.
You don’t want to form negative associations with the whelping box. She will only have her puppies there if she feels safe and secure in the box.
