So- we all know that, if we just let the dogs have their own way & didn’t interfere, they’d snuggle into a closet somewhere and have their litter without issue. They know what they’re doing.
Sadly (for my bank account), we’re not going that route. I mean- we don’t have AS much stuff as the vet, but….
The biggest ticket item was the whelping box. I’m well aware that 99% of people build their own, and I have all the necessary tools. I’m just shitty at using them.
Hello, Amazon.
We bought a very nice, easy-to-assemble box by Artemis for $330- and to me, it’s a bargain. It’s a bit large for Miniature Dachshunds (40x40), but we’re okay with that. All plastic, so should be easy to wash & disinfect. Comes with pig rails (the rails that sit a couple of inches off of the ground to make sure Phoebe’s fat ass doesn’t squash any puppies…) and two panels to make the door higher or lower. It does NOT come with a bottom- by design. Instead, the whole assembly sits on a soft, waterproof mat that extends a couple of inches beyond the walls. Brilliant.
We purchased a second pad, as well, just to be sure we’re prepared.
We took a trip to the local thrift shop & purchased several towels. I gotta think they’ll be invaluable. Also went to Canadian Tire- bought a big honkin’ pack of paper towel, along with a half- dozen chamois towels.
Back to Amazon- forceps and surgical scissors; alcohol and iodine pads. Sterile thread for tying off umbilical cords. A pet heating pad, along with a heat emitter and heat lamp assembly (gets cool in our basement). Puppy collars. Record- keeping cards. Barf bags (for me). Digital rectal Thermometer (not for me). Indoor digital thermometer. Bulb aspirator. Puppy feeding station & esbilac. Puppy bowls.
At this point, as a new breeder, I think the only thing I know for certain is that if you decide to get into this responsibly, and think you’re going to make money- you aren’t.
Here's Mom & Dad in the whelping box.
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