Time Frame

• A dog's gestation cycle lasts 60 to 64 days.
  
  

Signs

• Dogs don't begin to exhibit signs of pregnancy until the fifth week. At that point the dog's breasts and nipples will enlarge.
  
  

Expectations

• At eight weeks the dog will begin to excrete a white or transparent liquid from her nipples. Around 10 days before the puppies are due, the dog will begin nesting--attempting to find a suitable place to give birth to her puppies.
  
  

Considerations

• Towards the end of the dog's gestation cycle she will begin to show a decreased appetite. Panting is also normal among dogs about to give birth.
  
  

Preparation

• Ten days before the scheduled arrival of the puppies, begin preparing a comfortable area for the dog to give labor. For a sure sign the puppies are coming, take your dog's temperature with a rectal thermometer. When her temperature is under 100 degrees Fahrenheit, labor will begin within 24 hours.