Labour starts at the 60-65 days of pregnancy. When birth is imminent, the dog starts cleaning its genital zone with its tongue, it lies on one side and its abdomen tenses because of the strength made to deliver the puppies. Natural birth may last 12 to 24 hours and the gap between one puppy and the other between 20 minutes to 4 hours.

If a puppy stays in the vaginal tract and cannot be extracted softly with one’s hands, you should consult a professional veterinarian.

If the 60-65 days have passed and the dog shows signs of imminent birth (vaginal lick, abdominal tension, lateral decubitus position) and neither a puppy nor the placenta is seen, you should consult a veterinarian.