“How do I know when my girl is in labour?” I get asked this all the time at ultrasound appointments.
And honestly? It’s a fair question.
Because if you’ve never been through it before, it can feel a bit like… “Is this it? Or is she just being dramatic?” (Spoiler: sometimes it’s both.)
The reality is there isn’t a flashing neon sign that says LABOUR HAS STARTED. What we’re looking for is a collection of signs, behaviours, and changes that all start to line up.
So let me walk you through it the way I usually explain it to clients standing in front of me, while they’re half excited, half panicking!
This is usually where the messages start coming in.
Your girl might:
This is early labour, stage one, and it can last anywhere from a few hours to the best part of a day.
You’re close… but not quite there yet.
At this point:
Nature’s got a plan, even if it doesn’t always share it with us.
If you want a slightly more scientific heads up, this is your friend.
A bitch’s temperature will typically drop:
And that drop usually means labour is coming within 12 to 24 hours.
The catch? You need to know what her normal is first.
So ideally, you’ve been taking her temperature daily for a few days beforehand. If not, don’t panic, it’s helpful, not essential.
Now, this is where things get a bit more precise and something a lot of people overlook.
During pregnancy, progesterone stays high to maintain it.
Right before labour, it drops sharply.
So instead of tracking the rise, like we do for ovulation, we’re now watching for the drop, hence reverse progesterone.
For some clients, especially those with breeds more prone to C sections or needing tighter planning, this can be an absolute game changer.
Takes a lot of the “is it or isn’t it” out of the equation.
This is when things stop being subtle.
You’ll see:
And then your first puppy arrives.
Typical timings, loosely because dogs love to ignore textbooks:
And yes, she might pause.
Completely normal.
Dogs aren’t in a rush. They’ll take a breather, reset, and go again.
Each puppy usually comes with a placenta.
And yes, she will probably eat them.
It’s normal. It’s natural. It’s not particularly pleasant to watch, but here we are.
This is the bit I really want people to remember.
Call your vet if:
And above all else, trust your gut.
You know your dog. If something feels off, it probably is.
If I had to sum it up simply:
Your bitch will show you what’s happening…
you just need to know how to read her.
Between:
You can build a pretty clear picture of when things are about to kick off.
Most of the time, she’ll handle it brilliantly.
Your job is to be prepared, stay calm, and step in only when needed.
This is the “keep you on track” version.
The full picture, what’s normal, what’s not, when to intervene, how to help puppies properly, what to do after birth, that’s a whole different level of detail.
That’s exactly why we created our Puppy Natal Pack.
It takes you from:
Step by step, no guesswork, no panic Googling at 3am. If you’re heading towards a litter and even slightly unsure, grab one of our Puppy Natal Packs. Just drop us a message and we can get it sent over.
Like I said, I get this question all the time. And I’d much rather you ask it early than wish you had later!
Our desire is to work within a world
where our expertise makes a difference.
