Never leave your dog while she is whelping many mothers and litters are lost because no one was there to help during an emergency. There are three stages to canine labor:
Stage 1 - The first stage of labor you may not notice. The mother dog will become restless and may not want to eat. She will clean herself by licking her vulva. She will take frequent trips outside to urinate and defecate. You might be able to feel contractions. This first stage can last anywhere from 6 - 12 hours.
