A Plain Cardboard Box Turned Into the Coziest Spot of Five Puppies
Inside a plain cardboard box, five black-and-white puppies have tumbled together in a tangle of fur. Faces point in every direction, paws overlap, and tiny noses poke out between the ears. Some are fast asleep, and others seem to be sleepily thinking about waking. The box sits on a bare floor with a canvas bag and some slippers nearby.
Cardboard boxes are a cheap and cozy puppy bed, especially for a litter. The sides keep out drafts and give puppies something to lean on. Many breeders and owners use boxes as whelping or resting spaces, though they should be lined with something soft and replaced once they get damp or chewed. Littermates also keep one another warm this way.
Keep an eye on chewing, since swallowed cardboard is not good for a dog's stomach. Remove tape and staples, and replace the box if it starts falling apart. As puppies grow, a sturdier bed or crate will serve them better. The Havanese coat is long and silky, so a soft liner keeps it from getting rough and matted.
Five sleepers in one box makes quite a picture, and the whole thing seems to rise and fall with a single slow breath. A box was never meant to be this comfortable, but with enough puppies, it has become a palace. It is hard to imagine a better use for a box.
