Sometimes. Many dog labors progress naturally without much need for assistance. However, occasionally, a puppy might get stuck in the vaginal canal. In such cases, with just some gloves and some sterile lubricant, you can gently assist the puppy out.

A whelping box is a comfortable area that the female should be introduced to before she delivers her puppies. It should be large and roomy, with enough space for the mother to stand up and turn around, and it should have a clean, dry area for the puppies.

In a planned breeding, we generally know the due date. If the dog has gone past her due date, there could be complications and it would be advisable to bring the dog in for a check-up. Signs to watch for include extended intervals between puppies or prolonged labor without any puppies appearing.

Yes, in general it is safe. If you are prepared, have a suitable room that is warm in temperature, a clean, spacious whelping box set aside for her, and necessary supplies to assist with the whelping process, home is often the best place for the dog to give birth.

Normally, because we anticipated this labor and prepared for the breeding, we can provide you a due date. However, if the ovulation timing didn't happen, we can monitor progesterone levels towards the end of her pregnancy to define when the dog should be in labor. Also, in stage one labor, signs from the mother like listlessness, restlessness, excessive panting, and a temperature drop 24 hours before labor starts can be observed.