my dogs in labour i think

Question
my dog is 61 days into her pregnancy this morning at about 9.30 she started ripping up her bedding and now she is just laid in whelping box panting , she keeps getting up and walking round then laying down or scratching at her bedding is she in labor and if so how long will this take she is a staffordshire bull terrier and this is her 1st litter

Answer
Hi Shelley:

It certainly sounds as if at least pre-labor is beginning. The panting & restlessness are the most obvious signs of that. As to how long it will continue it's very difficult to say. It could last only an hour or so or considerably longer. On average, once this behavior begins you can generally expect her water to break within an hour or two. Once this occurs, you should see her begin to actively strain as the contractions begin within one to two hours. If her water has broken & she's aggressively straining with obvious contractions yet no puppy is produced within two hours I would seek emergency care ASAP. Since this is her first litter there's no previous whelpings to compare to & I would urge you to err on the side of caution if any possible problems emerge. Also if she should take longer than two hours in between puppies, actively straining it could be another sign that professional attention is needed ASAP.