How to Prepare for Your Dog's Due Date

 The weeks leading up to your dog's due date are both exciting and intense. You know the puppies are coming — but are you truly ready? Preparation is everything when it comes to a smooth and safe delivery. The more organized and prepared you are before labor begins, the calmer and more confident you will feel when the moment finally arrives.

When Bella's due date was approaching I made a complete checklist of everything I needed to have ready. That preparation gave me enormous peace of mind — and when labor began I was not running around looking for supplies. Everything was exactly where it needed to be.

Here is a complete guide to preparing for your dog's due date.

Step 1: Know Your Due Date

Everything starts with knowing approximately when your dog is due. The average dog pregnancy lasts 63 days from ovulation — or between 58 and 68 days from the mating date.

Count 63 days forward from the mating date and mark that as your target due date. Then mark day 58 as the earliest possible delivery date and day 68 as the latest. This gives you a clear window to be prepared and present.

Write these dates somewhere visible — on a calendar, on your phone, or on a notepad on the wall. From day 58 onwards you should be home and available as much as possible.

Step 2: Confirm the Pregnancy and Get a Puppy Count

If you have not already done so book a vet appointment for an ultrasound around day 25 to 35 to confirm the pregnancy and get a rough idea of litter size. Then around day 45 to 55 book an X-ray appointment to get an accurate puppy count.

Knowing exactly how many puppies to expect is one of the most important pieces of preparation. It tells you when labor is truly complete — so you do not assume delivery is over when there are still puppies inside.

Step 3: Set Up the Whelping Box Early

The whelping box should be set up and ready at least two weeks before the due date — ideally three weeks before. Your dog needs time to explore it, sleep in it, and claim it as her own before labor begins.

A dog that goes into labor without ever having been introduced to her whelping box can become anxious and may try to deliver in inappropriate places — under the bed, in a closet, or in a corner of the room.

Place the whelping box in a quiet, warm, private area of the home. Line it with clean soft bedding — old towels or whelping pads work perfectly. Make sure it has pig rails installed to protect the puppies from being accidentally rolled on by the mother.

Encourage your dog to spend time in the box in the weeks before the due date. Feed her near it, place her bed inside it, and let her explore it at her own pace.

Step 4: Gather Your Whelping Supplies

Having all your supplies ready before labor begins is essential. You do not want to be searching for scissors or a thermometer while your dog is actively delivering puppies.

Essential supplies checklist:

Clean soft towels — at least six to eight

Sterile surgical scissors — for cutting umbilical cords if needed

Unwaxed dental floss — for tying umbilical cords before cutting

Small bulb syringe — for clearing fluid from puppies airways

Kitchen scale — for weighing each puppy after birth

Thermometer — rectal thermometer for monitoring mother's temperature

Nitrile gloves — for handling puppies and assisting if needed

Notepad and pen — for recording birth times, puppy weights, and placenta count

Heating pad — set to low, placed under half the bedding in the whelping box

Heat lamp — positioned safely to one side to keep puppies warm

Puppy milk replacer — in case any puppy cannot nurse

Feeding syringes or bottles — for supplemental feeding if needed

Clean scissors and alcohol — for sterilizing equipment

Plastic bags — for disposing of placentas and soiled bedding

Keep all of these supplies in a dedicated bag or box placed right next to the whelping box before the due date arrives.

Step 5: Prepare the Whelping Area

The area around the whelping box needs to be as clean, warm, and private as possible.

Choose a room that is quiet and away from household traffic and noise

Keep the room temperature warm — around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit for the birth room itself

The whelping box interior should be warmer — around 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit for newborns

Place a small thermometer inside the box so you can monitor the temperature

Have extra clean bedding ready nearby so you can swap out soiled towels quickly during and after delivery

Keep other pets out of the room during labor and for the first week after birth

Step 6: Start Taking Her Temperature

From day 58 of pregnancy begin taking your dog's rectal temperature twice daily — once in the morning and once in the evening. Record the readings each time.

A dog's normal temperature is between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. In the 12 to 24 hours before labor begins the temperature will drop significantly — down to around 98 or 99 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature drop is the single most reliable advance warning sign that labor is imminent.

Without daily temperature readings you will have no warning that labor is approaching. With them you will know — with reasonable accuracy — that delivery is likely within the next 12 to 24 hours. This gives you time to alert your vet, clear your schedule, and be present when it matters most.

Step 7: Save Your Vet's Emergency Number

Before the due date arrives make sure you have your vet's number — and the number of the nearest emergency veterinary clinic — saved somewhere easy to access. Not just in your phone but written on a piece of paper near the whelping box.

Have a brief conversation with your vet before the due date about what to watch for during labor, when to call, and what the plan is if an emergency arises outside of regular clinic hours.

Knowing exactly who to call and having that number ready before you need it is one of the most important preparations you can make.

Step 8: Adjust Her Feeding in the Final Week

In the final week before delivery your dog's belly is very large and her stomach has very little room. Switch to three or four small meals per day instead of one or two larger ones. This is more comfortable for her and ensures she is getting adequate nutrition right up until delivery.

In the final 24 to 48 hours before labor most dogs stop eating entirely — this is normal and not a cause for concern. Keep fresh water available at all times.

Step 9: Clear Your Schedule

From day 58 onwards make every effort to be home as much as possible. Labor can begin at any time — day or night — and you need to be present for the entire delivery.

Inform anyone who needs to know — family members, your employer if necessary — that you may need to be unavailable for a day or two around the due date. Ask someone you trust to be available as a backup in case you need another set of hands during a complicated delivery.

Step 10: Know the Warning Signs

As you approach the due date make sure you are fully familiar with the signs that something is wrong during labor and requires immediate veterinary attention.

Call your vet immediately if:

Active straining continues for more than 45 minutes without a puppy being delivered

More than two hours pass between puppies when you know more are inside

A puppy is visible but not progressing through the birth canal

The mother collapses, becomes very pale, or seems extremely weak

You count fewer placentas than puppies at the end of delivery

The mother shows signs of illness in the days following delivery

Knowing these warning signs before they happen means you will not waste precious time wondering if something is wrong. You will know — and you will act immediately.

My Personal Experience

I started preparing for Bella's delivery two weeks before her due date. The whelping box was set up and she was sleeping in it by day 50. My supply bag was packed and sitting next to the box by day 55. I started taking her temperature on day 58 and kept a little chart on the wall.

On the morning of day 61 her temperature dropped to 98.2 degrees. I called the vet, cleared my entire day, made sure my supply bag was within reach, and settled in to wait. By that evening labor had begun and by midnight all five puppies had been safely delivered.

That preparation — those two weeks of getting everything ready — is what allowed me to stay calm and focused during the delivery itself. There was nothing left to figure out. Everything was already done.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for your dog's due date is not just about having the right supplies. It is about creating the right environment, building the right knowledge, and giving yourself the peace of mind that comes from knowing you are truly ready.

Start early. Set up the whelping box, gather your supplies, take the temperature readings, save the vet's number, and clear your schedule. When labor begins you will be grateful for every bit of preparation you did in the weeks before.

She is counting on you to be ready. Be ready.

For more dog pregnancy and whelping guides, keep exploring PawMama! 🐾