What is “Whelping”?
Whelping is the process of a dog giving birth. Our new Whelping and Growth (WAG) Center is where puppies born into our breeding program spend their first 5-6 weeks of life.
Our History of Whelping
For several years, Can Do Canines volunteers opened up their homes to care for these dogs. Whelping homes welcomed the expectant mom about 10 days before her due date and continued the care through the first several weeks of her puppies’ lives. These volunteers provided continuous care to the dog and pups, with Can Do Canines offering 24/7 support through the process.
In August 2023, we purchased a property in New Germany, Minnesota—about 45 minutes southwest of our New Hope location. We bought this site, which is in addition to our current facility, to serve as a whelping center.
The Reason for the WAG Center
We opened this WAG Center to ease the burden on volunteers. Now, we can offer shifts at this new location, where the Can Do Canines Breeding Coordinator and three part-time Canine Nursery Assistants office. Dozens of volunteers help care for the newborn puppies and their mamas. Due to the need for a sterilized environment, very few other visitors are allowed at the WAG Center, so it is not open to the public.
Long-Term Goal
The WAG Center is a temporary solution to our whelping needs while we move forward with an expansion project at our New Hope site. We plan to add on to the main facility and include a whelping center—along with other space needs (more offices, additional client apartments, etc.), with hopes of having construction completed in 2027.
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