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01 · Foundations & Planning16 articles01 · Foundations & Planning11 articles01 · Foundations & Planning15 articles02 · Mating to Birth15 articles02 · Mating to Birth14 articles02 · Mating to Birth14 articles02 · Mating to Birth16 articles03 · Raising the Litter15 articles03 · Raising the Litter15 articles03 · Raising the Litter13 articles04 · Placement & Follow-Up18 articles04 · Placement & Follow-Up13 articlesThroughout · Kennel Operations16 articlesThroughout · The Breeding Dog’s Life8 articles

Pregnancy, whelping & the litter

Browse Breeder’s Library →Get the free whelping checklist →

She whelped two days ago. Now she’s pacing, panting and nesting again.

Afterpains, another puppy, or something that can’t wait? What to check tonight.

November 12, 2026

Find your way in

Where are you right now?

I’m planning my first litter
I’m not sure my dog should be bred
I got DNA results I don’t understand
I want to keep inbreeding down

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Where are you right now?

I don’t know when to mate her
I think she might be pregnant
Labor isn’t progressing
A newborn is weak or cold

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Where are you right now?

The puppies are ready to wean
When should I worm and vaccinate?
I want to start socializing
Which puppy should go to which home?

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Where are you right now?

I have more inquiries than puppies
I need a puppy contract
A buyer wants to return a puppy
I want to keep in touch with buyers

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Where are you right now?

An illness is spreading in my kennel
My records are a mess
Is my breeding paying its way?
What happens if I can’t care for my dogs?

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Where are you right now?

How should I feed her between litters?
How many litters is she allowed to have?
Is it time to retire my dog from breeding?
My retired dog needs a new home

← 01 Foundations & Planning All Responsible Breeding articles Next areaBreeding Goals & Strategy →

← 01 Foundations & Planning All Breeding Goals & Strategy articles Next areaGenetics & Hereditary Health →

← 01 Foundations & Planning All Genetics & Hereditary Health articles Next areaReproduction & Fertility →

← 02 Mating to Birth All Reproduction & Fertility articles Next areaPregnancy & the Pregnant Dam →

← 02 Mating to Birth All Pregnancy & the Pregnant Dam articles Next areaWhelping & Postpartum Care →

← 02 Mating to Birth All Whelping & Postpartum Care articles Next areaThe Neonatal Period →

← 02 Mating to Birth All The Neonatal Period articles Next areaLitter Health & Nutrition →

← 03 Raising the Litter All Litter Health & Nutrition articles Next areaBehavior & Enrichment →

← 03 Raising the Litter All Behavior & Enrichment articles Next areaPuppy Evaluation & Matching →

← 03 Raising the Litter All Puppy Evaluation & Matching articles Next areaPuppy Buyers & Sales →

← 04 Placement & Follow-Up All Puppy Buyers & Sales articles Next areaFollow-Up & the Next Generation →

← 04 Placement & Follow-Up All Follow-Up & the Next Generation articles Next areaKennel Operations →

← Kennel Operations All Kennel Operations articles Next areaThe Breeding Dog’s Life →

← The Breeding Dog’s Life All articles in The Breeding Dog’s Life Back toBreeder’s Library →

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Pregnancy, whelping & the litter

She whelped two days ago. Now she’s pacing, panting and nesting again.

Where are you right now?

Where are you right now?

Where are you right now?

Where are you right now?

Where are you right now?

Where are you right now?