When Can You Put Whelping Collars On Puppies? How to Use Guide 2022
Putting a whelping collar on a puppy is an important task that must be done correctly in order to ensure the safety of the puppy. There are a few specific times when it is appropriate to put a whelping collar on a puppy, and it is important to be aware of each of these times in order to properly protect the puppy.
Here the question arises when can you put whelping collars on puppies? So, the simple answer is that it will depend on where you are in the whelping process. Here we come up with the detailed answer to this question.
What is a Whelping Collar and Why Do Puppies Need One?
A whelping collar is a piece of soft fabric that goes around the neck of a puppy. It looks similar to an Elizabethan collar, only it isn’t available in cone-shaped and doesn’t have hard plastic on the ends. Whelping collars are usually used during the whelping stage. This is when a dam (female dog) will give birth to puppies.
Standard whelping collars are used to help and prevent the dam from accidentally scratching or harming her puppies while she is in labor. It also provides a safe area for newborn puppies if they happen to fall out of the nest box during whelping. Whelping collars are typically used when there is a whelping box for the dam and newborns to stay in.
When Can You Put Whelping Collars On Puppies
The whelping stage lasts approximately 30 days. If you are concerned about your dam or her puppies, it is important to have a properly fitted whelping collar ready to use in advance of when she goes into labor.
A dam could deliver puppies at any time during this stage. It’s best if you make arrangements in advance for the whelping process, including fitting her with a collar. If you don’t have one ready to use, just keep your dam and her puppies confined in the whelping box until it’s safe for them to come out.
If she happens to deliver during times when you can’t provide a collar because you don’t have one on hand or you aren’t home, take special care not to startle her or the puppies. Let her focus on giving birth without interference. It is imperative that you wait to remove the whelping collar until after she has had a chance to tend to each of her newborns at least once.
An easy way to know when it’s safe to take the whelping collar off is once you see all of the puppies nursing. The dam will naturally relax after she has had a chance to feed her pups for about an hour or two.
The whelping collar at this point is no longer needed and can be properly disposed of without risk of harming the puppies.
Note: It is important to remember that not all dams feel the need to leave the whelping box to tend to their puppies after they are born. This is normal and is up to the individual dam whether she stays in the nest box with her pups or not. If this happens with your dam, do not disturb her unless there is a problem with one of the puppies that require human intervention.
How to Properly Attach the Whelping Collar?
The whelping collar you use should be appropriately sized to fit on the mother dog. It’s important that it isn’t too tight or too loose. A well-fitted collar will give her enough room to comfortably turn her head and lie down, but won’t allow her to reach around with her mouth or front legs to scratch or harm the puppies.
Step 1.
The first step to properly attach the collar is to remove any tags or extra pieces of fabric that your dog might be able to get tangled in. Put the collar on her and make sure it fits securely but comfortably. You should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and her neck with a comfortable amount of space.
Step 2.
The next step is to find a safe, sturdy place for the collar to attach. There should ideally be a place for you to tie or clip the front and back of the collar so that it will stay on securely. This is especially important if you have a puppy who tends to scratch at his face, as he could get his paw caught in between the collar and cause injury. Check your whelping box for any places that might work for this purpose.
Step 3.
The last step is to attach the two ends together using a secure knot, clip, or hook of some sort. This can be done either by tying them with string or attaching them more permanently with something like duct tape. Do not simply tie the collar on tightly because if this happens and you need to take it off, you will have to cut the collar in order to do so safely.
So, above are all the steps you need to follow while putting a whelping collar on a puppy safely without any pain.
Tips for Getting Your Puppy Used to Wearing Whelping Collars?
If you want to get your dog used to wearing a whelping collar, it is important to introduce them slowly and calmly. There are some dogs who may never become comfortable with the use of this type of collar, but many will be able to adapt quickly if they aren’t introduced too fast.
Introduce Whelping Collar During Meal Times
The first step you can take in your puppy’s training is to introduce the whelping collar during meal times. Put it on and take it off, allowing them to habituate themselves to its feel and sound. This is a good way for your dog to get used to the collar itself without associating it with anything too stressful.
Use It with Some Treats and Praises
If your dog still seems frightened by this stage or is getting into dangerous situations where they need to be wearing the collar, then it’s time for more serious training. Put the whelping collar on and use a leash to tie it on securely. Make sure you give your dog some delicious treats and give them lots of praise as you walk around with them wearing the collar.
Keep doing this until your dog seems more comfortable and less likely to panic. You should eventually be able to take the leash off and let them wear the collar freely without distracting them with food.
Putting the whelping collar on dogs is not a hard task but it is important to be careful about it.
Benefits of Using a Whelping Collar On Puppies
There are lots of benefits of using a whelping collar on puppies. It provides safety and protection to the dog. Some of the benefits are mentioned below:
- A whelping collar prevents the mother dog from licking away the puppy’s scent.
- This protects the puppy from being accidentally suffocated or crushed by its mother.
- It also keeps the puppies warm and protected
- You can control the mother and her surroundings during this time.
- You can easily identify the mother with a whelping collar on.
So, these are some of the benefits of using a whelping collar on puppies.
Conclusion
It is important to be aware of the proper time for using a whelping collar on puppies. Make sure you know how to put it on, where to place it and when to take it off. It can save your dog’s life, but only if used properly!
In the end, we hope that now you are well aware of how and when can you put whelping collars on puppies? along with some of the benefits of whelping collars
FAQs
Are there any dangers of using a whelping collar on puppies?
The biggest disadvantage is that a whelping collar can cause a dog to suffocate if it is not taken off at the right time.