The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word WHELPS
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
W
H
E
L
P
S
Buddy explains!

The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does WHELPS mean?
WHELPS noun- A young offspring of a canid (ursid, felid, pinniped), especially of a dog or a wolf, the young of a bear or similar mammal (lion, tiger, seal); a pup, wolf cub.
- An insolent youth; a mere child.
- A kind of ship.
- One of several wooden strips to prevent wear on a windlass on a clipper-era ship.
- A tooth on a sprocket wheel (compare sprocket and cog).
- (of she-dog, she-wolf, vixen, etc.) To give birth.