We've had people ask us how we go about whelping puppies. Each breeder has their own way of doing things. This is ours. This is what works best for us.

Planning and preparing for a litter begins long before the female comes into season. BEFORE she is in season and bred, she is checked and cleared for worms, current on her vaccinations and checked to make sure she is in optimal physical condition.

About a month after she has been breed, we change her food puppy food, both Dry and Wet. We recommend Science Diet Real Puppy Beef. Studies have found that higher conception rates occur, fewer stillborns and more consistent-sized litters are produced from litter to litter on this type of dog food. She is kept on this food through weaning. Then she is put back on her normal maintenance food.

First off we start by printing up a Whelping Sheet. This sheet records everything about this particular litter.

We start by putting the name of the Doxie Dad and Doxie Mom in the top line. Next we figure out when day 55 is (from the first breeding) and put that date on the sheet. Then we put the rest of the dates in until day 64. If the New Doxie Mommy hasn't had the puppies by day 65, then I would have a c-section done anyway.

We start taking the Doxie Mom's temperature three times a day on day 55 with a digital thermometer. Each temperature is recorded in its spot. Its not unheard of that a Doxie Mom's temperature will bounce up and down for a few days before it finally stays down. Once my Doxie Mom's temperature goes under 99°, I know I can expect puppies within 12-24 hours. Any longer than that and a trip to the vet is in order.

We record the time the Doxie Mom's water breaks. If puppies haven't arrived by 2 hours after the water breaks, then a trip to the vet is in order.

We also record the time we see the first contraction. If mom hasn't had that puppy within 3 hours of the first contraction, then a trip to the vet is in order.

This is a diagram of a whelping box very similar to ours.



Notice the two different rooms. The smaller room to the right has a little door that the puppies can easily fit through, but the Doxie Mom can not. We use this as the Puppy Potty room. It helps them in their potty training as puppies naturally do not like to go potty in their sleeping area.

Notice the Doxie Mom's door has places to slide in little wood pieces to make the door gradually taller, so that as the puppies get bigger, they can't jump out, but the Doxie Mom can.

Here you can clearly see the two rooms

We added lots of colors to the inside and outside not only because it's cute, but it is great stimulation for the puppies when their eyes open at 10 to 14 days.

The inside of the whelping box has color too, but not as much as the outside.

This picture shows how the bottom is now lined with Shower Pan Liner
It also shows the railing around the edges so the Doxie Mom doesn't hurt the puppies if she lays up against the side of the whelping box

A quick view through the mommies personal doorway






Here is what Kena's little whelping area looks like.
She has her whelping box on one end, and a little dog run on the other.
That way, she can get out to get a drink or get food or just to take a quick break
But the puppies can't get out, and our Daddy Doxie can't get in.

After each puppy is born and mostly dry,
we weigh it and write down it's weight on a chart.
For the next few weeks to follow, we will weigh the puppies every day
to make sure they are gaining weight regularly.
Putting the weights down on a chart similar to the one above makes it easy to track the puppies progress.
The ones who aren't keeping up as well, we keep a close eye on to make sure they are getting the food they need to be strong healthy puppies!

Click the Stork above
to see pictures of Kena's First Litter