Hi all my girl is on day 61 from mating today and has been panting and worried on an off since early hours of this morning, she has done some digging in her bed and whenever she's had the chance in the garden.  She keeps looking around to her rear end and licking, I haven't seen any contractions but her tummy is as tight as a drum.  She lays down to sleep from time to time and then she sits up after about 15-20 mins panting and looking at her rear end.  I always hate this time, I seem to forget everything I've learnt from previous whelpings and start to panic as to how long I leave them!!  I'm quite happy at the moment that she is not pushing or showing any obvious contractions, everything is ready for her.  Just this horrible wait.  I just wanted to ask you how long do you wait before calling the vet or what signs that something is going wrong.  I don't breed very often only my 3rd litter, several books beside me including Book of the Bitch but nothing better than some first hand experience.  Forgot to say this is my girl's first litter.
Jan

All sounds normal,she isn't distressed if she is napping, it won't be long if she is feeling pressure at her back end, just need her waters to go and things will get moving, the vet told me that unlike humans who are ready to push when 10cms dilated there is no such measurement with dogs.

Alarm signs are her getting distressed, seriously pushing and getting nowhere, contractions stop and don't restart or you see a dark green discharge before any pups,

Good Luck

Thank you Rhodach that did put my mind at rest!

Her waters broke at about 1.45 and she continued pushing for about an hour, I could feel the pup in the birth canal and it felt big but in the right position, just when I was about to call the vet the pup suddenly popped out (2.45am) - no sac and no placenta.  He is quite a big boy but seems ok.  The second pup arrived at 4.05am another boy and a tiny one again no sac and no placenta (she has since delivered one placenta).  She is exhausted and still a few more to go I think.
Jan

Thanks for the update.

Congrats on the new arrivals so far.

Hopefully she can have a rest between horns, have you got vet/nutrodrops and calcium supplement to give her to boost her energy, vanilla icecream works well instead.

She's had another 6 since then, 8 pups in total 5 boys and 3 girls, she's pushing for the 9th now!!

thanks for the tip on the ice cream she must be so tired now poor girl!

Thank you Rhodach.

Jan and Megan

WOW she is on a roll now, hope you get more girls.

The 9th was another boy, she still has one or two more fingers crossed they will be girls!!!

Jan

Is she all done yet?

Yes all done now she had 10 and the 10th was a little girl yippee!!  so 6 boys and 4 girls in total - all seem well.  Megan is calm and learning how on earth to deal with these 10 little creatures!!  She's had a nice porridge mixture after she had finished having the babies and has now had lunch too.

Thanks for being there Rhodach made me feel more confident!

Jan and Megan

Congrats Jan, pleased to read all went well even tho you must all be exhausted :)

Glad all went well and you got another bitch pup.

Enjoy as they grow so quickly.

Congratulations - I'll close this now pups are safely here.