When breeding raccoon dogs, there are many factors that come into play. The slightest thing can send 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 farrowing box is. If not, I’m going to explain what they are and why they’re 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 she gives birth and nurses her pups. However, there is more to the help box. They are designed with many functions to protect the mother and the puppies. Have you ever had a female lay down on a pup and trap him between her and the side of the dog crate? This is likely to kill a puppy, 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 puppy from being crushed by her mother. These can be added to any dog ​​book without much expense if needed. I have often used 2×4’s that were nailed all the way around with enough room for a puppy to fit. This method has gotten me out of a lot of trouble when I needed a fast calving box.

Make sure your farrowing box has good ventilation but keeps the litter warm. Of course this will depend on the season, but use common sense. Puppies need warmth in the winter and cool in 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 purchase 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 have a good one delivered for an upcoming litter.

Bottom line, whelping crates can help you lose fewer puppies to careless mothers and the elements as well. 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 farrowing boxes, and so should you.