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Whelping Box and Bench

Can someone tell me a good size to build for a whelping box, I have in the past just let them whelp in their regular dog house but I have a litter coming out of Bill Smiths Setemup Bojack and I don`t want to take any chances on losing any. I also need the requirements for a show bench as my wife wants to show some of the dogs, Thanks, Mike

Regulation Bench

All the info is in your rulebook . . . .right off the top of my head, I believe it's 18" wide, 44" long, and 24" high. I always have Ax build to smallest allowable so our dogs know what it's like. Some clubs have much larger benches and some have the min. size and want the dogs to feel comfortable on any size bench.

What a great way to get the family involved, hope the your wife enjoys the hounds as much as I do.

Cindy

P. S. Right from the rulebook:

Dogs must be benched. The bench on which the dogs shall be shown must be two (2) feet high and eighteen (18) inches wide with the top covered with indoor/outdoor carpeting or some similar non-slip surface. Individual benches of a minimum length of 44 inches are recommended. If the benches do not meet these standards, the Judge shall still allow the show to be held, but should instruct the club to correct the problem and notify UKC that the benches do not meet the standards.

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Born to hunt, forced to work.

Dwayne built our bench last year and did a real good job - its collapsible and easy to travel with. We'll have it with us at tx state next weekend and you can look at it and see how it's built. You gotta bring your own if you want to practice before the show because of a certain "charming" power ego trip board member who likes to guard the show ring and tell anyone wanting to use the benches pre-show to "get that d@mn dog out of here".

Edited to add: The bench built last year has taken a real beating with me leaving it out in the weather so much, and bubba broke it a couple days ago. My goofball dogs LOVE to be on the bench, and I was setting the bench up and before I could get the supports up here comes bubba galloping across the pen "ooh oooh show me show me show meeeee!" and jumps up there and breaks it down. Dwayne gave it last rites today, said he couldn't fix it this time,so off to town for materials for a new one. Just for your information, the materials for a new one ran $38.

Edited again to add - IMO the best and safest place to whelp puppies is IN THE HOUSE. Our whelping boxes are 4 x 4 but reallly i'd suggest a minimum of 4 x 6. Mostly I have them whelp in our big walk in closet or in the big master bathroom, and keep pups inside for the first couple weeks. They are just too important to have out where I can't keep a close eye on them that first couple of weeks, and i prefer to keep them inside where I can be more in control of climate and cleanliness.

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Lynn Wilson Hill
Howling Hills Kennels
www.coonhoundcrew.com

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People may forget what you said, people may forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel
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