I took my bitch to the vets yesterday on day 53 of mating she only mated once so know exact mate date,today is Saturday and day 54.on Thursday Eve day 52 I noticed a metallic type smell from my bitch and quite a lot of jellish clear discharge,smell still there Friday morn phoned vets and got her in just after lunch.Vet did a sweep and said the discharge is clear and doesn't smell but there is more there than expected at this stage he checked her cervix and said it was dialating which he said it shouldn't be doing at this time either.They sent her through to do a scan and all pups (at least 5 expected from first scan) are healthy and heartbeats are strong which was a relief as was worried due to him saying her cervix is dialating,they took her temp which is totally normal.They have told me to take her in if any concerns but if not don't worry her cervix might stop or she could go in early whelping,not really helpful.Since I came home yesterday I have been on Google to get a clearer picture but all I have found is a site saying that the first stage the cervix dialating at normal only takes a few hours but on first litters (which this is) can last up to 36 hours but other than that I haven't found anything really helpful,I am hoping that posting on here some experience breeders might have come across this situation before or heard of it as I really don't want her to have the litter this early and as she isn't showing any other signs really I just want to know she is going to be ok.

I once saw a litter of healthy puppies born on day 56.  I hope it goes just as well for you.

Thank you is showing no signs of impending whelping so hopefully she will go on a while longer,just would like a idea on how long that might be

I had a bitch go into labour day 54 from first mating. Pups born after midnight so were born only JUST officially day 55. Big litter, big pups, all survived, now a year old.

My girl has just delivered 7 healthy pups on day 58.

Not unusual pups are viable from a whelping a week early, so day 56.

One of mine had a litter of 9 on day 58 and another 4 on day 59, and the rest (20 litters) have whelped anytime between day 60 and 67 from first mating, but most by day 63.

Thanks everyone that's calmed me down a bit to know that they should all be ok.She has started nesting today and keeps going out to lay down out between the 2 back doors in the porch area.I have just sorted out her whelping area again as the bed I had in the area my male dog keeps jumping into no matter how many time I say no,so that has had to come out and I've just made the corner area next to her cage just one big whelping area so hopefully she will feel more settled in there now he won't be going in there x

> I had in the area my male dog keeps jumping into no matter how many time I say no,so that has had to come out and I've just made the corner area next to her cage just one big whelping area so hopefully she will feel more settled in there now he won't be going in there

Hopefully she'll hang onto these puppies for a bit longer ...... just to add set up a whelping area COMPLETELY AWAY from any other household pets or she'll never settle down to her job and if she gets stressed enough, could turn on her puppies in a misguided attempt to protect them.  The male MUST be kept right away - don't rely on saying no because he won't listen and if he gets in with those puppies/her, there could be a bloodbath.   Our litters were in a completely other room (actually the living room so there was a couch for whoever was on duty overnight, to use) until around 3 weeks when they were up and moving around.   After that the original 4 X 4 whelping box was moved into the kitchen and a second 4 X 4 section added, with sides so the litter and mum for as long as she was in with them, could be around the normal household noises but still not actually (puppies) with the others.

Thank you I have moved her box now to the kitchen as it's the only room my male doesn't go into,still no signs yet so all looking good time wise x

I would have stayed in the lounge and shut the male out, The kitchen is not a quiet room and you will need somewhere comfy to catch a few Zzz's while puppy watching during birth and rearing. You will need to spend the first couple of weeks sleeping by the puppies to make sure non are sat/stood/laid on by a clumsy Mother.
You need the whelping box in a quiet, warm secluded place where there is provision for you to sleep by her.
Aileen

I couldn't put her whelping box in the living room as that is the one the family use the most and it's a cold draughty room so wouldn't be warm enough for her with the pups,the kitchen is a quite room that I am normally the only one in,it's warm and she spends most of her time in there as that's where I am most of the time unless I'm in the living room x I can quite comfortably stay in the kitchen with her as it's quite a big room,and since I've put her box in there she seems happier with the choice of room as she gone into it a few times on her own and had a lie down I've just got to get a stair gate for the door to give her extra security from my male x

fingers crossed for you. my girl had her's from day 56 through the night. sure it will be well x

well it's day 59 so assume she is still hanging in there?

Yes so far so good the vet did say it might stop or she might go into early labour but all staying put for now x she's a bit restless today and pups moving a lot but nothing to say impending birth so hopefully she will go through the till her due date x thank you for everyone's advice I'm just sat on the kitchen floor while she's in her whelping box

any news?

She has gone off her food since last night and hasn't eaten today,she's still not panting heavy just sleeping lots and lying down.the waiting is driving me mad i think the pups are happy where they are and don't want to come out lol thank you for asking will let you know when it happens x

Just up date my girl still hasn't had the pups she is now on night 67 she's showing slight signs but nothing impending I have spoken to the vets and they are happy with her progress and her health,if she hasn't had them by Monday then then want me to bring her in for a check but otherwise they are happy for nature to take its course.As for me I'm going out of my mind with worry and constantly checking on her even in the middle of the night,she is my baby and I don't want anything to happen to her or her pups (for her sake not mine) fingers crossed though I think it's close and pups still moving today might be tomorrow night the way the pups are moving down.Will let you know when she has had them or if God forbids anything else changes and I have to take a quick trip to the vets x

She had the pups today day 69 of pregnacy after a long labour she done really well and had 6 beautiful pups xxx