Nire137 is right, but to give you a general time line to watch for- once you see the mother dog find a nesting spot (unless you already have her in a whelping box) she should start "pushing". She should deliver her first puppy within 4 hours but most likely MUCH sooner! She should NOT go more than four hours between each puppy birth. You would be wise to go through your phone book and write down the number for your closest emergency veterinarian, just in case you need emergency care for the mother dog. I will tell you, an emergency c-section can and most likely WILL be very expensive. Call or visit your local veterinarian tomorrow so they can educate you further on how to help your mother dog. Ask guestions like, what should you feed her while she is nursing? When can the puppies be dewormed for the first time? When can the puppies start eating solid food? How do you feed the puppies if something happens to the mother dog? All the best of luck on your dog's first litter.
