How much longer?

Question
QUESTION: I had not-so-recently gained a new dog, she's a lab mix and is just over a year old. She was pregnant when she came to us, and it's very very close to time for her to give birth. Our vet told us that she was due in the next 10-14 days. Well, that was approximately 10 days ago. But she hasn't started to lactate yet. I'm really worried that, either my vet estimated wrong, or there is something wrong? The dog's been really overly lazy, and has been eating everything in sight, her belly is enormous and he's been very uncomfortable for two days.

ANSWER: Hi Tiffa

It's extremely difficult to guestimate a due date.

She may not begin to produce milk until after the pups are whelped (especially if she was on a poor diet prior to coming to you), or just hours before.

Do you have a whelping box for her? An area where she can safely and quietly whelp her litter that's not in your clothes closet?  If not, now is the time to give her one, you need old towels or sheets so she can nest in it.

Good luck

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes ma'am I certainly do have a whelping box for her. We have it in her favorite place, near the back door. Sadly nothing is ever quiet around here, we have seven people in our house, and six other dogs. The other dogs are being kept separate from her, except for when she needs to go out. Which is relatively often. I would rather her be in my bedroom, away from all the other commotion in the house, but my room is just too small for her.
But thank you, I was getting worried about the milk.
I'm going to talk with my grandparents about trying to find somewhere much more secluded than near our kitchen, since that is virtually the focal point of our house. But it's a small house with lots of commotion. Do you think that will cause problems?

ANSWER: Yes I do.

She will try and move the pups to what she perceives as a safe place.  If she is a new dog, and there are 6 others in the house, that's a recipe for disaster.  She will try and protect her pups if the other dogs or strangers try and go near them.

You need a Plan B immediately.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: She isn't necessarily new, she's been around our dogs since she was about four months old, but she wasn't our dog at the time. She just recently moved into the household, and the pack. They were quick to accept her, and she's a very laid back dog, while I understand the pack dynamics, and the need to protect her puppies, I'm not entirely sure it would be a bad situation, but I'm working on getting everything cleared up in the house with the arrival of puppies.
We've had other dogs have puppies in our pack environment, though it's been a very long time. We've had four other litters, and none of them ever had problems with the other dogs. Though, I know every dog differs... I'll see what I can do with the separation of dogs.

Answer
Still the move into your household, from a "guest" to a permanent residence will have it's stess for her.

You are kidding yourself if you think there won't be issues, especially if she's a first time mother.  If you raised her from a pup with your pack and she was completely submersed in the family dynamics then I would be more at ease.

A large chaotic environment for first time mothers can cause problems.  The first step is being aware.

Good luck