Hi, I’m a first timer and my girl is day 61 today. Shes a popular gundog breed, always kept fit and trim and raw fed.
She’s been panting and breathing fast for the past two nights, the day between she was normal but followed me everywhere and lay on me every chance she got.
Today she’s eaten breakfast, a little later than usual, but still eaten. Her temperature has been down since Monday and risen a degree each day back up to 99 yesterday morning.
She’s been panting and digging in her box this opening and now asleep on my bed.
She’s had some stringy discharge the past few days too so I’m pretty sure she’s either lining them up or already done so. The puppies were very active and wriggly yesterday but seem still this morning. Do you think she’s likely to start stage 2 in the next few hours?

Many thanks
Susi and Beau

It's impossible to say. Dogs (like people) progress at different rates.

You will probably see her go backwards and forwards between panting and digging and looking uncomfortable, to resting and sleeping and looking like it's all stopped - then back to the former again. Until eventually she doesn't come out of that uncomfortable state but goes into it even more and that's a sign that a puppy is on the way and things are really happening.

However many people have gone to sleep with a resting dog next to them and woken up to find her with a puppy.

So really, there are no rules!

Thanks, it’s very confusing when she goes to sleep again, makes you think it’s all stopped like you say! She’s currently asleep but breathing fast little puffs like a steam train. I’m hopeful she will keep progressing through the day and have some before nighttime

Don't leave her alone from now on, she will feel much safer and more secure with you nearby as well as you needing to be there!

I’m going nowhere :)

Hi my dog dog started panting heavily last night at 10pm and has continued to this constantly since. She is digging a bit and is just lying panting in her whelping area for about the last hour or so.She hasn't eaten or drank anything. This is her and our first time. It's now 12.30 so 13.5 hours since she started panting. Is this normal and how long does stage 1 normally go on for? Julie

The first stage of labour can last up to 36 hours.

> how long does stage 1 normally go on for?

Visibly, 0 -36 hours in my experience.

Stage one as in humans is the prep stage, and some in both species cope/show signs more or less.

Hi my girl is 61 days and since Sunday her temp has been around 37.2-37.3 she has been panting and has had the odd dog in the garden but nothing has happened this morning her temp went down to 36.8 then went up to 37.8 and the. Back down to 37.2 she is still panting a little restless still eating as normal tail wagging ect she has been loosing her plug for the past few day she has got my head baffled as to what is happening anyone gone through the same thing?

https://forum.champdogs.co.uk/topic_show.pl?tid=150771