dog labor

Question
Hello,
My dog is 51 days pregnant right now. shes an Italian Greyhound. She always sleep on me, or in her spot..this morning my boyfriend and i woke up and she wasnt in either spot. she was behind a chair, on some blankets. she wouldnt even get up to say goodmorning...i havent seen any mucus, but she was wet down there from licking herself...i can feel the puppies moving...is this early labor??

Answer
Hi Ashley

Gestation is 63 from when the mating took, not necessarily from breeding.  Your female may be looking for a place to whelp her litter.  She should have her own whelping box with old towels in a quiet place, it's safer for the pups and the dam.

Typically the mucus plug will start to drip upto 10 days prior to whelp, again another good reason to have the female in one spot, it's also a easier transition from moving a litter from your bed to their own box before they are born rather than after.

Good luck