Your bitch is expecting offspring soon and you are looking for a suitable whelping box?
Then you’ve come to the right place in my test report from 2023!
I looked at many products on the market and spent over 10 hours researching the pros and cons of each. As a result, I will show you my top three whelping boxes for dogs in this article.
Among them is my personal favorite, the FEANDREA puppy run. But the other two products are also highly recommended.
Maybe one of these will fit your needs better than my test winner. After all, every dog owner has different preferences and needs.
Have fun while reading.
My whelping box favourites
My top 3 whelping boxes in the test
FEANDREA puppy run
The third product in my test is the FEANDREA puppy run. This consists of reinforced iron pipe, which is particularly stable and robust. For use in the apartment, floor gliders prevent the grid from leaving scratches on the floor.
Outside, the grid can be anchored to the ground with special rods. That gives extra support.
I find it particularly practical that the grid consists of 8 individual elements that can be flexibly combined with one another. Either you build a square, elongated outlet from the plug-in system or set up the grids so that they stand in an octagon.
The assembly is very easy and quick. The individual parts also save a lot of space when stowed away.
The L-shaped bolts on the door, which cannot be opened by the dogs, provide security. All corners and edges are rounded so that the puppies do not injure themselves.
lionto by dibea puppy run
This puppy run is made of sturdy oxford fabric which is very durable. The fabric is also water-repellent and can therefore also be used outside. Pegs are also included in the scope of delivery.
The puppy run has a pop-up mechanism, which means that the whelping box unfolds itself. This makes assembly effortless and very quick.
When folded, the product can be placed in the carrying case provided. So it hardly takes up any space.
All sides are equipped with air-permeable mesh material that allows good ventilation.
Two entrances ensure flexible access.
TecTake puppy playpen
This puppy playpen is from the company TexTake and is made of fabric. Set up takes seconds, because the dog whelping box is equipped with a pop-up system that unfolds itself.
This saves time and nerve-wracking assembly work and is also very practical when you are on the go. When folded, the puppy playpen hardly takes up any space.
There are two entrances and exits, which allows a lot of flexibility and is also very practical for getting your dog used to the dog playpen.
If you want the entrances to remain open, you can fix the fabric with Velcro. That way the fabric doesn’t fall back again and again.
The scope of delivery also includes pegs.
What you should pay attention to when buying a whelping box
Which material is the best?
Which material is the best cannot be said in general terms. It always depends on the type of use and the puppies themselves.
Basically, one can say that fabric boxes are very easy and quick to set up. They don’t weigh much and can be stowed away to save space when not in use. This makes them a good everyday companion.
However, the fabric is not particularly robust either. Puppies in particular, who explore everything with their teeth and claws, can quickly destroy fabric. This can lead to dangerous situations.
Metal boxes, on the other hand, are much safer because the puppies cannot free themselves from them. However, metal is also heavier and more unwieldy.
Every material has its strengths and weaknesses. You know your dog best and with this knowledge you can decide which material suits you best.
Another alternative is wood, which is difficult to clean.
How big should a whelping box be for my dog?
The height should be chosen so that the mother can climb over the fence. So the bitch can decide for herself whether she wants to be with her puppies or whether she needs a break.
However, the puppies must not be able to climb over the fence at any time. Keep in mind that small dogs grow very quickly.
In order to create a retreat for your dog, the solution could be a separate dog box for the home that only she can enter.
Regardless of whether you want to buy a whelping box or build one yourself: it is important to choose the right size so that the bitch and her puppies feel comfortable in the puppy run.
The general rule is that the spout should be too big rather than too small.
In order to determine the optimal size, the bitch should be measured. Measure the width and length. Sometimes the height can also play a role.
Then at least 30% should be added to the measured area so that the puppies have enough space.
It is important that your bitch can stretch out comfortably and that the puppies still have enough space.
Conclusion – My favorite
The FEANDREA puppy run has fully met my expectations. This whelping box for dogs is stable and robust. So the four-legged friends have no way to free themselves from the enclosure.
The metal is significantly more robust than fabric and can withstand teeth and claws.
I particularly like the individual parts that you can build up individually – depending on how much space there is and what the dog feels most comfortable with. That flexibility is worth a lot.
The individual parts are also easy to transport, so even traveling with puppies is no problem.