valleygirl Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 Hi, I am new here and this is also my first time breeding. My bitch is expecting pups in 3 weeks and we have got her box ready in the laundry with access to outside but she is not at all interested in it. Have tried locking her in the room but she scratches and scratches and cries. My dogs are outside dogs but will sneak inside whenever they get the chance. Any tips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 Feed her in there.. sit with her in there ... give her bones in there .... let her know you're happy for her to be there ...put some of her bedding in there, so it smells good ... don't lock her in ....if she has never been locked indoors before it will be VERY stressful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 All that Persephone said. Also, I would not want her to be able to choose access to outside in the beginning as she will likely choose to make a best outside and have her pups there or relocate them from the box once born. My girl didn't like her whelping box initially either. I used to spend time just sitting there with her having quiet time together. Once things started happening though and the door was shut and I was in there with her se was happy to use the box and stay there with her pups. I did find 2 huge very well hidden holes outside that she would have used had it been her choice though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poodle Mum Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 My girls babies are 3 days old.....She never spends any time in the box prior to the whelping. But my bitch is allowed access inside so I can keep an eye on her. The pups are whelped inside & the box is in the lounge room so the pups are part of the household, noises and family etc. When the first stage of whelping begins my bitch follows me around & is restless, will nest under my bed etc. I don't leave the house that day til I know all the pups are out! So on Tues nite/wed morning I sleep in the lounge room & my girl lay with. When the final contractions began & it is obvious a pup was on its way I sat in the box with her & this is where the pups are born. Now she only goes outside for a quick toilet break & rushes back to her babies :) Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 None of mine ever really spent any time in the whelping box until they went into pre labour. I put some sort of old bedding that could be ripped up on their normal bed then put that in the box when they really start to nest and let them rip it too shreds, only taking it out just as they are settled in full labour when it is replaced with paper and drybed. We did have one that had no pre labour and just dropped a puppy on the floor, so we put the puppy and new mum in the box and convinced her it was her baby and she was fine from then. With another I had to sit in the box with her but she was in pain and terrified with a seriously stuck first puppy which took a lot of manipulating to get him out. After that she was happy to stay there to deliver the rest. It is normal for them to dig great dens outside but just keep checking that they haven't dug under a building where you cannot get to them and block it off if they do that. Digging seems to help bring on the labour so I don't discourage it but do watch them carefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 yes, Digging is something I see as a beneficial thing .. it helps wear away some of the tenseness in muscles and mind .. while getting muscles 'warmed up', ready for the strenuous task ahead . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missymoo Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Perhaps better in breeders community valley girl , just pm Troy your prefix and he will add you in :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Too early. Put the box away or prevent her accessing it until the last week. Mine scorn the "approved" place until the last day or two, but they're primarily inside dogs so the couch or dog bed is always better :laugh: The last 5-7 days just put one of her blankets in there, feed her there and make sure other dogs can't access the area and she will almost certainly decide this is a good place. 2-3 days before hand replace her bed with whatever you intend her to whelp on and perhaps put a small piece of her usual bed in there too is she's a fussy type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valleygirl Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 thankyou everyone for your advise. Glad I found this forum. I will have to keep a good eye out for the digging as she is already doing this and we are forever blocking up holes. She is also starting to get very crotchety with the other dogs so will have to be careful there too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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