Registered: Dec 2008
Location: Sanford, NC
Posts: 205

My female is due to have her puppies during the first week of March. I have her in a 4' x 4' wood dog house with wheat straw in it. The projected temperatures for that week is high 40's in the day and 20's for the low at night. Will the puppies be okay without a heat lamp? If not, is it safe to put a heat lamp outside of the dog house opening shining into the dog house with the wheat straw in it? If I don't use a heat lamp, I can put a flap over the door to hold in heat.

Thanks in advance for the replies!

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Registered: Apr 2013
Location: West Union, Wv
Posts: 183

I also have a female due with pups 1st of March. Was going to move her into the old barn and fix her a Box with a heat lamp going down through the Top.
But it’s been real cold here lately so on her 57th day I will be moving her into the Basement where it’s warm. But someone will be home to watch her while I’m at work.
I’m going to fix some sort of a pen, put a tarp down on the floor and get a small kids swimming pool in there and let her have them in there for awhile.
I’d rather be safe than sorry.
Goodluck with your pups

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Jackson, MO
Posts: 778

I would want a heat light on them. But straw and a heat light are a fire hazard because the light could get knocked down or the straw dug up against it.

I would take all of the straw out. Put an old piece of carpet down with a 1x4 screwed down around the outer perimeter so she couldn't scratch it up. Most females will try to dig in the bottom of the house when they are starting labor.

Then I would put a 2x4 on edge 5 inches off the floor around the wall so the mother couldn't lean up against the side of the box and smash a pup if one gets behind her.

A good way to put a heat light in a secure position is to make a 2x4 frame just big enough for the light to fit into. Cover one end with welded wire. Screw it to the corner of the house a few feet off the floor depending on the size bulb you have. Place the light inside of it. This works well in a house that has a roof that lifts but probably wouldn't be useable in one that didn't.

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Registered: Jun 2014
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 3369

I use heat tracing under the floor of the dog house. With a flap over the door it stays warm inside. We don't get as cold as most of the country but last winter it was below freezing the first three nights after my pups were born and they were fine.

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Donald Bergeron

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: milan,mi
Posts: 1378

If you have electric get you one of the electric heated pads for pigs.

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Registered: Sep 2017
Location: Elkins,WV
Posts: 61

Just be careful putting anything in the floor because most females will dig like they're going nuts just before having pups. They could possibly dig into heating pads

I was always told not to have any straw or anything else in the box for a while.

I think I would take the straw out and use the heat lamp

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Turk Ramsey
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Registered: Oct 2004
Location: NJ
Posts: 102

You should make sure to put some sort of low barrier at the opening of the dog house so the pups can't crawl out and freeze. Some females aren't the best moms for a couple of days and could miss an escaped pup while focused on the other pups.

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Gloria

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Registered: Sep 2007
Location: Glenmont,Ohio
Posts: 1162

quote:

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Originally posted by micooner
If you have electric get you one of the electric heated pads for pigs.

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Get deep or Get Beat!

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: Nichols Ny
Posts: 1565

quote:

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Originally posted by BluetickHound22
I also have a female due with pups 1st of March. Was going to move her into the old barn and fix her a Box with a heat lamp going down through the Top.
But it’s been real cold here lately so on her 57th day I will be moving her into the Basement where it’s warm. But someone will be home to watch her while I’m at work.
I’m going to fix some sort of a pen, put a tarp down on the floor and get a small kids swimming pool in there and let her have them in there for awhile.
I’d rather be safe than sorry.
Goodluck with your pups

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Registered: Jun 2004
Location:
Posts: 400

Live in Michigan and have had pups in the middle of winter, never used any bedding other than carpet like mentioned. Never used anything higher than a 60 watt bulb (not led the old style). With the body heat from the female and pups it will stay surprisingly warm in there. I've always kept a thermometer on mine. Couldn't imagine how hot it would be with a heat bulb. Would think the female would get pretty uncomfortable fast. Guess all and all depends on how big your box is.

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Registered: May 2009
Location: maplerapids mi.
Posts: 199

don't use straw i found out the hard way lost a couple pup when female started digging out pup wast and carpet works fine.with a good dog house and a flap over the door pups should be fine.

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Brian Sosebee cel (989)534-1291 US Army Veteran .

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Registered: Jun 2014
Location: missouri
Posts: 1141

quote:

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Originally posted by Sonny Phipps
I thought that was a good idea, but mine malfunctioned and caught the whelping box on fire 😡. The puppies were 8 days old and didn’t make it out. Luckily mom survived .

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Sheridan, WY
Posts: 1148

quote:

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Originally posted by mwilkins
My female is due to have her puppies during the first week of March. I have her in a 4' x 4' wood dog house with wheat straw in it. The projected temperatures for that week is high 40's in the day and 20's for the low at night. Will the puppies be okay without a heat lamp? If not, is it safe to put a heat lamp outside of the dog house opening shining into the dog house with the wheat straw in it? If I don't use a heat lamp, I can put a flap over the door to hold in heat.

Thanks in advance for the replies!

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