When breeding raccoon dogs, there are many factors that come into play. The slightest thing can throw your entire plan out the window and you could even end up with sick or dead raccoon hound pups. If you are an experienced breeder, you may know what a whelping box is. If not, I will explain what they are and why they are important to successfully raising a litter of healthy raccoon hound pups.

A whelping crate is a fancy word for a dog crate whose sole purpose is to house the raccoon hound while it gives birth and nurses its pups. However, there is more in the help box. They are designed with many features to protect the mother and the pups. Have you ever had a female to lie on top of a pup and trap it between her and the side of the dog box? This is likely to kill a pup, especially a newborn. I have seen and heard of this more times than I care to remember.

The whelping box is specially designed to prevent the mother from crushing her young. The sides are built so that there are “bumpers” that provide a kind of corner. This corner will prevent the cub from being crushed by her mother. These can be added to any dog ​​book at little expense if required. I have often used 2x4s that were nailed all around with enough room to fit a puppy. This method has helped me out of many a bind when I needed a quick whelping box.

Make sure your whelping box has good ventilation but keeps the litter warm. Of course this will depend on the season, but use common sense. Puppies need heat during the winter and cool during the summer. Don’t underestimate the power of the elements if you want to have a successful litter of coon hound puppies.

Help boxes can be made from various materials. I have seen them made of plastic, wood, metal, and a combination of these. You can make your own whelping box, or you can buy one online or at an animal specialty store like Petco. You may want to search online to find what you like before trying to find one in a store. I have often found great deals online without ever leaving my house to get a good one delivered for an upcoming litter.

Bottom line, whelping crates can help you lose fewer puppies to careless mothers and the elements too. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make one, but you can also buy one if you want. So if you want your next litter of coon hound puppies to live up to the parents, I highly recommend using one. When breeding coon hounds, successful breeders use whelping boxes, and you should too.