Normal gestation is 63 days from the 1st breeding although 'full term' is 58 days. In other words the puppies are fully developed and viable by the 58th day. Since gestation is so short every day is important and even a couple of days short of day 58 can mean some real challenges for the puppies' well being.
Each girl seems to settle into a 'normal' gestation for them so after the 1st litter or two, we can kind of predict what day we expect whelping to occur. We're careful to start checking for body temperature and apatite changes a couple of days before our expected date. If the x-ray that was taken the week before our expected date doesn't give us any cause for concern about complications, we (not so) patiently wait on momma to begin her labor. It is unlikely that serious labor is imminent if she is still eating well. The drop in body temperature is an indication that whelping is close although even this can have a couple of 'false alarms.'
Once labor begins the 1st puppy may be hours away although some moms have much quicker deliveries. Another variable is the overall length of the whelping process. A litter may be completely delivered in 6-8 hours or in some cases the process goes on much longer. The longer the labor is drawn out the more exhausting on the mom (and the human attendant.)
Once all the pups are birthed a whole new set of challanges begin for both the mother dog and the kennel attendant but life will have arrived and the thrill of new puppies begins!
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