Once your dog begins hard, visible straining, keep a close eye on the time. Call your veterinarian if she strains strongly for 20 to 30 minutes without producing a puppy.
When should you expect labor?
A dog's pregnancy lasts about 63 days when counted from ovulation. If you are counting from the first breeding date, there is a wider margin, because a dog may be bred several days before she ovulates. Cornell University gives an estimate of 63 days, plus or minus 7 days, from the first breeding. The Merck Veterinary Manual gives a broader range of 58 to 72 days.
Because of that natural variation, it makes sense to start watching your dog closely about a week before her expected due date.
If you are unsure of the dates, our free dog pregnancy calculator can help you estimate the likely whelping window.
Signs of labor, in the order they usually appear
No two dogs behave in exactly the same way, but the pattern below gives you a practical idea of what to watch for.
| When | What you may notice |
|---|---|
| During the last week | She begins looking for a quiet, secure place to have her puppies. |
| During the last few days or final day | Her appetite drops, or she stops eating. Some dogs continue to eat normally, so this sign is not reliable on its own. |
| About 8 to 24 hours before whelping | Her rectal temperature drops below 99°F. |
| First stage of labor | She may become restless, hide, pant, shiver or tremble, refuse food, or scratch and dig at her bedding. Some dogs vomit. A clear, watery discharge may also appear. |
| Second stage of labor | Her abdomen tightens visibly and she begins to strain. A clear or white sac at the vulva usually means a puppy is very close. |
You may also notice fuller mammary glands or a change in the shape of her abdomen. These changes can happen near the end of pregnancy, but the Merck Veterinary Manual notes that they are not dependable enough to predict the timing of labor by themselves.
What the temperature drop means
Many owners watch for the temperature drop because it provides something measurable. It is helpful, but it is not a perfect countdown clock.
| What you are measuring | Figure to know |
|---|---|
| Normal rectal temperature | 100 to 102.5°F |
| Typical pre-labor drop | Below 99°F |
| Merck's reported average | 98.8°F, with a range of 98.1 to 100°F |
| Usual time from the drop to whelping | About 8 to 24 hours |
| How long the dip may last | About 8 hours, which makes it easy to miss |
| Temperature during labor that needs a veterinary call | Over 103°F |
You may see slightly different cutoffs depending on the source. VCA Animal Hospitals, the American Kennel Club, and Cornell use a reading below 99°F. PetMD says labor is likely within 24 hours once the temperature falls below 100°F. In practical terms, a reading in the 98s is the clearest signal that the drop has occurred.
How to monitor her temperature
- Keep a rectal thermometer specifically for your dog. If you have never taken a dog's temperature, ask your veterinarian to demonstrate the correct technique before the due date.
- As the due date gets close, check her temperature twice a day, as the emergency vets at Veterinary Emergency Group suggest. The dip may be brief, so a single daily reading can miss it.
- Record the time and temperature after every check. The important change is a noticeable fall from your dog's usual reading.
- Note the exact time when you see the drop. If 24 hours pass without any signs of labor, call your veterinarian.
Most dogs have this temperature change, but it is not always detected. A normal reading does not guarantee that labor is still far away. Keep watching your dog's behavior as well as the thermometer.
The three stages of dog labor
Stage 1: her body prepares for delivery
During the first stage, the cervix opens and the uterus begins contracting. Those early contractions are not usually visible from the outside. What you are more likely to notice is a dog who cannot settle: she may pace, nest, pant, shiver, hide, or turn away from food.
VCA and PetMD place the average length of this stage at about 6 to 12 hours. The Merck pet-owner guide gives a range of 12 to 24 hours, while PetMD notes that it can sometimes last as long as 36 hours.
Stage 2: the puppies are born
Stage 2 is easier to recognize because you can see the abdomen tighten and your dog begins to push. VCA says that, after a few contractions, 10 to 15 minutes is a reasonable amount of time for a puppy to arrive.
The pause between puppies varies:
| Source | Usual interval between puppies |
|---|---|
| Cornell University | Usually 0 to 30 minutes; up to 2 hours can be normal |
| PetMD | Commonly 30 to 60 minutes; rest periods can occur |
| Merck pet-owner guide | Usually less than 1 to 2 hours, although timing varies considerably |
As a rough rule of thumb, the American Kennel Club says the entire whelping may take about as many hours as there are puppies. A litter of 6, for example, may take around 6 hours. Treat that only as a guide, not a deadline.
Stage 3: the placentas pass
A placenta is delivered for each puppy. In dogs, stages 2 and 3 overlap, so the pattern is not always puppy, placenta, puppy, placenta. It is common for two puppies to arrive and then be followed by two placentas.
A word about green discharge
The timing matters. Dark green or bloody fluid can be normal after the first puppy has been born. Green discharge before the first puppy is different. Cornell explains that it can mean a placenta has separated, so a puppy should follow immediately. If that does not happen, call your veterinarian.
What to do when the signs begin
- Settle your dog in a quiet whelping area with soft, washable bedding.
- Keep other dogs away from her.
- Place fresh water where she can reach it easily.
- Write down the time of the temperature drop, the start of hard straining, and the birth of each puppy. These are the details your veterinarian will need if you call.
- Keep your veterinarian's number and the nearest emergency clinic's number beside the whelping box.
- Stay close enough to observe her without making the room busy or noisy.
- Do not give calcium or any other supplement unless your veterinarian has specifically instructed you to do so. Calcium supplementation during pregnancy may raise the risk of complications after birth.
Is it labor or a false alarm?
One sign by itself does not always mean labor has started. A dog may begin nesting several days before delivery. Some dogs skip a meal early, while others continue eating until labor is well underway.
Look for a pattern instead. Nesting becomes more meaningful when it appears alongside a temperature drop, panting, restlessness, and a loss of appetite. The more of these signs you see together, the more likely it is that labor is close.
When to call your veterinarian immediately
- Your dog has been straining hard for 20 to 30 minutes without delivering a puppy.
- A puppy or fluid-filled sac is stuck in the birth canal while she strains for 8 to 10 minutes.
- More than 2 hours have passed since the last puppy and you know or suspect that more puppies remain. Some guidance allows a pause of up to 4 hours, but VCA, the American Kennel Club, and Cornell advise calling at 2 hours.
- Green discharge appears before the first puppy and no puppy follows immediately.
- Bloody discharge appears before the first puppy, or fresh bleeding continues for more than 10 minutes.
- Her rectal temperature rises above 103°F.
- More than 24 hours have passed since the temperature drop and labor has not started.
- Signs of first-stage labor continue for more than 24 hours without a puppy being born.
- She appears to be in distress—for example, she collapses, becomes exhausted, trembles severely, seems to be in intense pain, or is listless or unresponsive.
- She is overdue. The American Kennel Club advises calling if there are no signs of whelping by 64 days after the last mating. Merck considers more than 70 days from a known breeding date prolonged. Ask your veterinarian in advance which date they want you to use.
- After the birth, vaginal discharge develops a bad smell or begins increasing instead of gradually decreasing.
If you cannot tell whether labor is progressing normally, make the call. Cornell's guidance is clear: uncertainty itself is a reason to seek veterinary care promptly.
Frequently asked questions
How long after the temperature drops will my dog give birth?
Most dogs begin whelping within 8 to 24 hours of the temperature drop. If 24 hours pass and you have not seen any signs of labor, call your veterinarian.
Can a dog go into labor without a temperature drop?
The drop occurs in most dogs, but it lasts only about 8 hours and can easily go unnoticed. Do not rely on the thermometer alone; watch for behavioral changes too.
How long does dog labor last?
The first stage commonly lasts 6 to 12 hours, but it can continue for 24 hours and, in some cases, up to 36. Once delivery begins, the American Kennel Club's rough rule is about one hour of total whelping time per puppy.
How long between puppies is normal?
Puppies often arrive 30 to 60 minutes apart. A pause of up to 2 hours can still be normal. Call your veterinarian if more than 2 hours pass and additional puppies are expected.
Is green discharge normal during dog labor?
It can be normal after the first puppy has arrived. Before the first puppy, green discharge should be followed immediately by a puppy. If it is not, contact your veterinarian.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Whelping and Queening in Dogs and Cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Dystocia in Small Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual, pet-owner version – Management of Reproduction in Dogs
- VCA Animal Hospitals – Breeding for Pet Owners: Whelping in Dogs
- VCA Animal Hospitals – Breeding for Dog Owners: Problems at Birth
- American Kennel Club – Dog Pregnancy: Signs, Care, and Preparing for Puppies
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine – The Normal Whelping Process
- PetMD, Melissa Boldan, DVM – Whelping: A Guide to Help Your Dog Through Labor
- Veterinary Emergency Group – 6 Signs of a Dog in Labor
Last reviewed November 2026. This guide is educational information only and is not veterinary advice. Always work with your veterinarian.