Preparing a bed for the pups
It is desirable to decide well in time where the pregnant bitch will deliver her pups. Choose a quite place so that she is not disturbed, and get her used to sleeping there only during the last one or two weeks of pregnancy. Induce and accustom the female to go to her regular bedding there, which can be replaced by newspapers afterwards.
A wooden box of an appropriate size, with sides about 25 cm high, should be prepared in which the mother can conveniently stretch out at full length on her side, with room for whelping and feeding her pups. The sides will protect the pups from rolling out. A shelf or railing, projecting sufficiently from the insides of all three walls, will prevent the mother from rolling over on to the pups and crushing them between her body and sides of the box, especially during the first few weeks. The shelf is nothing but a strip of wood projecting out about 8 cm above the floor of the box and 8 cm out from the sides. This may be modified according to the expected size of the pups. The fourth side of the box should have hinges which open, providing an entrance for the mother and a convenient opening for cleaning the box.
A thick layer of newspapers is the ideal bedding material in the box during whelping. One or two layers of the newspaper could be removed when soiled, with the least disturbance to the mother. The room where the whelping box is kept should be neither too cold nor too warm. There should be no direct draught, as changes in temperature can be disastrous for the pups. Significant puppy losses are attributable to chilling. For long-haired breeds, it will be helpful if the mother’s hair is trimmed from under the tail and around the milk glands to avoid soiling.