For a good overview of whelping check out Dog Breeding and Canine Reproduction by Debbie Jensen. Dog Breeding and Whelping guide for dog breeders..
Gestation is only nine weeks, so she can't have been pregnant for three months. You can see the puppies moving in the final 7-10 days. You should start now taking her temperature twice a day. *Normally* you should see puppies within 24 hours of the temp dropping sharply and staying down, if she goes longer than that it's best to talk to the vet. Intermittent contractions for more than 2 hours or hard contractions for more than 30 minutes without a puppy means see the vet. Personally, I would rather go to the vet on a false alarm than risk losing a pup.
What would be best is to contact your local basset club and/or rescue, or failing that your local kennel club, explain the situation and see if there is someone experienced with whelping to guide you through it. I had an experienced breeder on hand for my first and their help was invaluable, especially when I had a pup that needed to be revived.
Gestation is only nine weeks, so she can't have been pregnant for three months. You can see the puppies moving in the final 7-10 days. You should start now taking her temperature twice a day. *Normally* you should see puppies within 24 hours of the temp dropping sharply and staying down, if she goes longer than that it's best to talk to the vet. Intermittent contractions for more than 2 hours or hard contractions for more than 30 minutes without a puppy means see the vet. Personally, I would rather go to the vet on a false alarm than risk losing a pup.
What would be best is to contact your local basset club and/or rescue, or failing that your local kennel club, explain the situation and see if there is someone experienced with whelping to guide you through it. I had an experienced breeder on hand for my first and their help was invaluable, especially when I had a pup that needed to be revived.
