13 - Accustom your bitch to the Whelping Box
It is a good idea to build a whelping box well in advance so the bitch has time to get used to it. Unless you have already accustomed her to a whelping box, she may choose your closet or another place you may find inappropriate for a delivery room.
A good whelping box is roomy and has low sides, so you can easily reach in. It should also have a small shelf running halfway up along one or two sides so the pups have something to crawl under to avoid getting rolled on. The box should be located in a quiet, warm, dry, draft-free place. Many breeders prefer to line the box with newspapers until after delivery, because paper can be changed quickly when it becomes soiled. After whelping, newspapers are typically replaced with soft towels or something that provides better footing for the puppies.
