Whelping box designs?

PamHelenLaw

New member
I'm so tired of having pups suffocate when I fall asleep. Nothing worse then waking up to a dead puppy and knowing you could have done something. Even though it's a rare event it still happens too often. i know i can never completely avoid accidents but has any one had good experiences with different whelping boxes? a friend suggested making one with a small diagonal bar across a back corner so the can have an escape and I've heard pigrails work well too. Any thins work particularly well for you?
 

Ginny

New member
Most breeders I know don't leave their pups for the first 3 weeks in order to avoid this kind of thing. Yes, it's exhausting, but necessary. My box has a pig rail all the way around, but that doesn't keep accidents from happening. Vigilance is the best prevention.

In reading your bio, you indicate that you're only 16 and that you hope to one day become a breeder. How is it that you already have a litter??? Do you have a mentor? Does your bitch have her health clearances (HEART, hips, elbows, patellas)? What about the sire? Do they adhere to the breed standard i.e. have they been shown? I'm not trying to chastise, but as one steward of this special breed, these questions need, IMHO, to be asked...
 
When my Basset Hound breeder friends had a litter back in 2010, it was 24/7 care for several weeks She had the sire's humans, husband, friends all watching over the welping box.
 

Jeannie

Super Moderator
I use to work for a well respected breeder. When they had pups the mother was never allowed with the pups without supervision. Basically someone was with the litter/mother 24/7 for the first 3 weeks. Yes it is exhausting but necessary.
 

PamHelenLaw

New member
yes i have a mentor and I've assisted with several of her litters and this is the first on my own. when with her we wouldn't leave them but would take shifts watching the box while the other slept (more napped then slept). So far i've assisted with five litters and now my dam is 2 years (as of may) and had had her hips, heart, and elbows certified and a clean bill of health. The sire is also certified and healthy and has fathered a good amount of litters and is truly a beautiful specimen of the breed. I've done as much research and really have been learning all i can to be a good, healthy litter. In no way would i want to harm the breed or breed my dog for something as selfish as money. I adore newfs and really lucked out when i got my girl, shes a wonderful newf, and i'd love to be able to continue her line and better the breed. and yes i am only 17 but its never to young to start doing something you're passionate about.
with that understood; i will have my mentor assisting me with this litter but it will be the first of my own. i was trying to simplify before but my point is that even when we constantly supervised the pups and there were 2 of us all the time, mistakes still happened and 2 of the puppies were crushed before they were 2 weeks old. that breaks my heart and i'm just looking for the best whelping box i can get or make to try and give them the best chance.
 

Jeannie

Super Moderator
I was just going over some of your other posts. On 1/22/13 you posted you have a 9 month old newf and that this is your first newf. This is June that means your newf is 14 months old If you've bred her did you do so on her first heat cycle? At this age she is too young for health clearances. I would suggest you get a mentor to help you in respectable and proper breeding this wonderful breed. You should try to better the breed not just produce puppies.

I bought a male newf 10 years ago hoping to show and breed. He was to be the foundation of my kennel. He was from top breeders in the country. He passed all his health clearances, even had OFA excellent hips. His bite went off. I chose not to breed him because I would not be bettering the breed.

I then bought a bitch. I had a prelim done for her hips. They are bad, not even able to be listed as 'fair'. Even though she shows no sign of being lame (she is now 8) and she has points as well as one major, I chose to spay her.

I say this because not every dream can come true if you want to better the breed. Yes I could have bred and taken my chances but why?

Again a mentor who can guide you through the breeding process is important. You can join your local newf club to find a respectable mentor.
 

Jeannie

Super Moderator
now my dam is 2 years (as of may)
Question: on 10/18/13 you posted you just got your first newf a few months ago and that she was 5 months old. You also stated you were 16. How can you now be 17 and your newf suddenly be 2 years old.
 

Angela

Super Moderator
Last August you got your first Newf you said. Now she is two years old and has her health clearances??? Something doesn't make sense to me.
 
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Ginny

New member
It sounds like your intentions are good and that you've been making an effort to learn about this fabulous breed - I applaud you for that. You're right about youth not being a disqualifying trait. Your comment:
I'm so tired of having pups suffocate when I fall asleep. Nothing worse then waking up to a dead puppy and knowing you could have done something.
is what caused me concern. I'm glad you have a mentor although the number of litters that person has whelped in a short time is concerning. I encourage you to get involved with your regional Newf club and connect with their members. Ultimately, having a NCA mentor and joining the NCA will be paramount. Please don't take offense at questions about your bitch and the sire. This breed has its share of health problems which ultimately cause a ton of heartache. Clearances posted in the OFA database are something all potential owners and other breeders should be able to readily access...
 

crubin

New member
I think that at 17, still needing to finish high school, you probably will not have the time necessary to devote 24 hours a day to care for and supervise a newborn litter of puppies. It sounds like there has been a few discrepancies in your story. Please, for the sake of your dog, make sure that the information you are giving is clarified so that the more experienced people here can give you the best advice.
 
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victoria1140

Active member
I dont agree about the time and devotion bit on breeding dogs.

At 17 I was described as an old soul and had been looking after our household for many years, now I realise not every teenager is like that but I know I could and did look after many rescue animals in varying states of health and age. Some youngsters I know could still do it if they wanted to.

However i would appreciate knowing a bit more please, as others have pointed out the disparities in your previous threads and believe me we want to help you but as passionate people about this breed we need to know more and understand. if you have misled us with some of your statements now is the time to be truthful and there is a wealth of advice in this forum.

If you are as passionate about this breed as we are you will understand this and we dont want to scare you off but also we will always be concerned about the byb potential, etc. Have you shown your dogs?
What backup do you have if something goes wrong?
 

Ginny

New member
Just MHO: I think it's best that we try to guide new people to regional and the national club/s. While, I, too, would like to have things clarified, driving away someone already in the throws of breeding, will do our precious breed no favors...
 
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