Hi all, I'm new to this site and have regulary visited to find out useful information about pregnancy and whelping. My girls is having her first and only litter and is on day 60. Before anyone says anything, shes been fully vet checked throughout and health checked before breeding. So since yesterday I'm assuming she in stage 1 labour, ive been checking her temperature regularly and from last night it's been...
8.30pm 37.6
11.30pm 37.5
1.30am 37.2
5am 37.3
7am 37.3
11am 37
Her usually temp since pregnancy is between 37.8 and 38°c, she's been restless all night, pacing back and forth, panting, nesting  and very clingy. She hasnt eaten much since Wednesday afternoon but did eat this morning. I've overused Google and temperature ranges from under 100, under 99, 98....im confused. My question is, is this stage 1 labour shes in and when do you think stage 2 will start. Thanks for the help

Temperature taking can help - it's when it drops and stays down that whelping can be expected to start within 24 - 48 hours.  I don't however, set that much score by this and certainly wouldn't be sticking a thermometer in her all the time!    I go from the first mating, given that conception may not happen immediately either.

Fact is I clear everything, and just be there.  It's worrying and frustrating, but all part of breeding I'm afraid.

Once she is in labour, having strong contractions, then don't leave her struggling for much over an hour, each delivery, without seeing a puppy arrive.  There's no point letting her become exhausted if at the end of it all, she's going to need a C.Section.   I hope she's sleeping in her whelping box, with you in the same room.

Now is the time to call on your mentor to help you through!

>So since yesterday I'm assuming she in stage 1 labour

Why do you think she is in stage 1 labour? You've only given her temperatures, nothing else...

>So since yesterday I'm assuming she in stage 1 labour, ive been checking her temperature regularly and from last night it's been...

How long have you been taking her temperature for? Recording it twice a day starting from a week before due date is the way to notice the significant drop - which doesn't appear to have happened yet - which indicates that 1st stage labour is underway. A dog's normal temperature is between 38c and 39c, but it usually drops nearer to 36c when birth is expected within 24 hours. It sounds as if she's getting ready but this nesting behaviour can go on for several days.

Been taking her temp since day 55 and it's been between 37.8 and 38 up until yesterday, shes been using her whelping box and I've been sleeping downstairs with her. She's now starting looking for a quite corner so I'm.moving her whelping box to a more suitable area. I'm not going to take her temp now till this evening, I thought it was to much but I sort of went into panic mode

They can be in stage 1 for up to around 36hours. My most recent girl was in stage 1 for just under 24 hours. It’s down to the pups to initiate stage 2 so you really can’t know (other than catching the drop in temp), it’s just a waiting game and knowing/reading the signs if something is wrong. Obviously if and when she starts to push you want a puppy to present itself pretty quickly, if you get green fluid without a pup that’s a bad sign and you need to be phoning the vet. Hopefully she will start second stage soon, is she a small breed etc?

No shes a large breed, 40kg. I've moved her whelping area to a better spot and she's in there now and not coming out. Much more relaxed, still panting but not as bad. Think that could of been half the problem with where it was originally, she wasn't settled and secluded enough. Leaving her in there now to chill and just popping my head round to check every so often. She's been eating food from my hand like chicken which she loves and sausage. Drinking plenty of water too so I feel more settled now and relaxed waiting. Will check her temp now this evening and just go from there. Its so heart breaker watching them knowing you can't do anything just be there Nd comfort when they want it.

Thanks everyone, she went into full labour at 3am and was finished by 10am. She did everything I just sat there and gave her support. She's sleeping and pups are feeding and making noise lol