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4 DIY Whelping Boxes You Can Build Today (With Pictures)
If you are expecting puppies to arrive, you are most likely thinking about getting a whelping box for the new family. You can build a whelping box with a few basic materials over a weekend, depending on your skill and confidence level. You can save money by learning how to build a whelping box of your own, and you have the freedom to customize it to your dog and the space you have available.
We rounded up four free whelping box plans that are easy to follow, so you can build a quality box in a short amount of time. Check them out below!
The 4 DIY Whelping Boxes
1. Easy DIY Whelping Box from Big Red Button
| Materials: | 4x8 plywood sheet, 3 2x4s, 2 hinges, bolt latch, wood screws |
| Tools: | Impact driver, Tape measure, pencil, skill saw, jigsaw, straight edge |
| Skill Level: | Beginner to intermediate |
If your precious pup is giving birth to her puppies very soon, you can build this easy DIY whelping box in a day! The plans from Big Red Button are all detailed in their excellent and informative YouTube video. Even better, you need very few tools; all of them are pretty basic, and your DIY skill level doesn't need to be set to “expert” by any means.
The maker included 2x4s along the inside so that the mama dog doesn't squish her puppies when they’re feeding. As he notes in his video, this whelping box is easy to take apart and transport.
2. DIY Whelping Box from Hallmark Channel and Ken Wingard
| Materials: | Various pieces of plywood, PVC pipe, wood discs, wood letters |
| Tools: | Jigsaw, ruler, eye protection, ear protection, sharpie, clamps, t-square, level |
| Skill Level: | Beginner to intermediate |
This DIY whelping box from the Hallmark Channel and Ken Wingard is easy to take apart and transport and can be taken outside quickly for cleaning whenever needed. Like many of the other DIY whelping boxes on our list, the PVC pig rail on the inside protects your new puppies from being smooshed by their mama when feeding.
We genuinely like that the four sides of this whelping box are not glued or screwed together but slide into each other. That makes it ridiculously easy to put together or take apart, but it's still sturdy enough to ensure your dog and puppies won't knock it over.
3. Whelping Box for Large Fogs from Canine Whelping Box
| Materials: | Various pieces of plywood and lumber sandpaper, wood screws |
| Tools: | Circular saw, drill and bits, screwdriver, wood glue |
| Skill Level: | Beginner to intermediate |
We think you’ll like this whelping box for large dogs, and it should come apart quickly when you’re ready to move it, or your puppies have grown up. You should note that the maker, Canine Whelping Box, makes and sells whelping boxes to their customers. They've been kind enough to provide the plans for this whelping box for free, but they aren't exactly the most detailed. Still, if you have decent DIY skills, it shouldn't be a problem putting this together in a day.
4. Easy DIY Whelping Box from Muddy Paws Dog Blog
| Materials: | 4x8 plywood sheet, 3 2x4s, 2 hinges, bolt latch, wood screws |
| Tools: | Impact driver, Tape measure, pencil, skill saw, jigsaw, straight edge |
| Skill Level: | Beginner to intermediate |
Materials: Melamine shelving, drywall screws, double track for shelving, PVC elbows, T’s, couplers, bushings, melamine veneer edging, PVC primer, glue
Tools: Table saw or circular saw, cordless drill and bits, Phillips screwdriver, grinder, jigsaw, T-square, PVC cutting tool, heating iron
Skill Level: Intermediate
This DIY whelping box from Muddy Paws Dog Blog is easy to make and comes with step-by-step instructions. It also has a two-tier door system for safety and security when your puppies are being whelped. Also, the doors are adjustable so that, as your puppies grow, they can have access outside of the whelping box. It also allows the mother dog to easily and quickly get in and out of the box.
Conclusion
Learning how to build a DIY whelping box is a great option to save money and gives you the opportunity to customize one to your liking. Hopefully, one of these plans will suit your needs, so you can build the best whelping box for your dog and her puppies.
Featured Image Credit: Jus_Ol, Shutterstock
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Greg Iacono is a self-taught writer and former chiropractor who, ironically, retired early due to back problems. He spends his time writing scintillating content on a wide variety of subjects. Greg is also an accomplished video script writer known for his ability to take a complex subject and make it accessible for the layperson.
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