Hi I am new to breeding, my toy breed bitch is pregnant, she has been to the vets and is having four puppies, she has 9 days to go before the birth, I have been taking her temp, which has been on the eve 37.5 on the 10/12 morning it was 36.8, eve 36.1, then on another site someone said don't take temp as bitches have enough trauma being pregnant, anyway my vet said to continue to take it, so I began again last night 14/12 where it was 37.5, this morning 14/12 36.7 and at 2pm 36.8, is this normal, I just want to get everything as correct as I can for her, her whelping box is ready she goes in sometimes but prefers to be with me. She was digging yesterday but nothing today any advice welcome

As a very experienced person with your breed I disagree with your vet.   He has only ever seen bitches close to whelping, when a section is needed.  He is not an experienced breeder of your breed.  And if you kept shoving something up my backside I would soon bite you!

You say she has 9 days to go.  Are you aware that this breed commonly whelps on day 56?  Would you recognise inertia?  The breed is famous for whelping problems.  I've owned other toy breeds but yours is the most difficult to whelp.  And you say that you're new to breeding.  Is your mentor going to be with you at the birth?  How many whelpings have you watched?  Have you read The Book Of The Bitch?

Are you sleeping with her yet?  Don't leave her to manage without help.

Personally, although it is a guide, I don't set too much score by temperature taking ....... far better is to count from the first mating, remembering that conception may not have taken place immediately.   And by how the bitch herself is.   I'd be having her sleeping in her whelping box about a week ahead of her due date, and me being in there too as many times, a bitch will start whelping during the small hours.   You need to be right there to see what's going on.   Don't leave her having strong contractions, pushing hard, for much over 1 hours without seeing a puppy delivered - each delivery.   There's no point letting her get exhausted if she's going to need surgical help to get them out.

Just to add vets know the theory, but how many have actually DONE a whelping!!!

Unlike Jean I do monitor temperatures. I take temperature reading twice daily with approx week to due date. My bitches are not at all concerned about the procedure and just stand and wag waiting for a treat.
I find the temp fluctuates a little and generally up to a degree Lower than typical adult body temp, when a get a definite further drop of one degree from the average of previous readings I expect labour to start with in 24 hrs.  I have only had inetria once:  knew ovulation day, temp drop noted but she didn't progress as I expected. Bitch seemed ok and pups active so vet not concerned but I asked for serum progesterone which confirmed she should have been in active labour so section undertaken.