About 2 weeks before she gives birth
When Does A Mother Dog Start Producing Milk?
Usually around a week before they give birth.
A week to a few days before birth she will begin producing colostrum. My dogs are consistantly a few days before 98. After 3 or 4 days of colostrum (there will be more once they start nursing) which is different from milk the actual milk will drop and she'll get bigger and the puppies will get fuller faster (which is a relief when you supervise all feedings :-). The puppies should always be quiet until they start to become actual puppies. Sleep , eat, mom stimulates. If they are fussing a lot they are either hungry or there is something wrong with her. Watch her very closely for anything that seems wierd because there a lot of things that go wrong.