how do i tell if my dog is having puppies

Question
my staffy got a cross my bitch at the end of nov she as put on weight and wants to keep licking me she as no milk coming tho yet

Answer
Hi Claire,

The average dog pregnancy lasts 63 days. That's just an average, it can be a littler shorter at 59 days, or a little longer, around 67 days. Longer than that means your dog needs to be examined by a veterinarian.

So counting forward from when you think your dog was bred, will give you an estimate of when you can expect her to deliver. Here is a dog pregnancy calculator to help you figure out the due date:

http://www.askabreeder.com/Dog+Gestation+Calculator

If you haven't already done so, begin adding a premium puppy food (do NOT use large breed puppy formulas, which are generally lower in protein, fat, and minerals) to your dog's diet. Each week increase the amount of puppy food and decrease the amount of her regular adult food, so when she is in her final week of pregnancy, she is getting only puppy food. Increase the frequency of her daily meals to three. She may need to eat small meals every 3-4 hours during the last week of the pregnancy as the puppies continue to take up more room. Most fetal growth occurs in the last two weeks of gestation, and your dog needs this extra nutrition.

During the last week of pregnancy and the first 3-4 weeks of nursing, your dog may eat 2-4 times the amount of food she ate before pregnancy.  

Now is the time for you to read up and become familiar with what's going to be going on when your dog delivers her litter. There is always the possibility of a problem with delivery and you will need to be able to recognize labor when it is occurring, what is normal and what is a sign you need to see the vet for assistance. Read more about dog whelping (giving birth) here:

http://marvistavet.com/html/body_giving_birth_to_puppies.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Dog-Whelp-or-Deliver-Puppies

http://www.dog-breed-picture.com/dog-whelping.html

Best of luck,
Patti