Just wondering, as we're on day 54 now & the whelping box is up & my girl is free to go in & out as she pleases. She had a litter 2 years ago & whelped on day 63, but things seem to be happening quicker this time. Last time I felt pups move on day 53, 10 days before the birth. This time I felt them on day 50. I'm sure of mating days as I vividly remember the 4 hour journey to the Stud Dog. She is also producing milk earlier this time. Do you think this means she may whelp early? I'm here all day, so no worries about her being alone, but I'm getting very nervous about leaving her at night. She's been 'nesting' for almost 2 weeks. Any opinions or advice greatly appreciated :)

You should be sleeping with her at night now.  It is perfectly normal for a bitch to whelp at 8 weeks rather than 9.  I'm bettting that she never read the textbook.  :-)

Producing milk has never been an indicator for my bitches, as I've had some that didn't produce milk until after whelping.

Not a problem we had as my bitch normally sleeps on dd's bed, taking up most of the bed! If dd is away then I let the bitch in my room but she gets the floor. So she's always with one of us. Her labour was obvious though, she lost her plug around 2pm which was an indicator then at 10pm the panting started so neither me nor dd went to bed and the pups were born between 1.30 and 6.30am.

Thanks for the replies. I'll be on the sofa tonight. The whelping box is right next to it, so we're all ready. Whelping kit ready, newspapers by the boxfull, & all the bits & peices ready. I got a bit concerned today, as she's been doing some heavy panting & it's not too warm today. (we had hail earlier!) She's sleeping peacefully at the moment, so hopefully pups will hang on another few days. :)