How Long Are Beagles in Labor Before Whelping?

Breeding beagles can be a rewarding and profitable adventure. Once your dog is bred and expecting, it is important to know the stages of labor and whelping, so that you can have the best outcome possible from a home birth. Knowing how long your beagle can be in labor is a must.

  1. Stage 1

    • The first stage of labor, also called whelping, is the longest stage. It can last anywhere from four to 20 hours, but should not last longer. This is the stage where the dog will be restless, sick, in discomfort and may show signs of "nesting" or other restless behavior.

    Stage 2

    • This stage of labor is where delivery of the puppies occurs. Fluid will be expelled, followed by the puppies, each in their amniotic sack. The female dog will clean each puppy and likely eat the attached sack and any other tissues or fluids she expels.

    Problems

    • If a female dog is pushing a puppy out, and it makes no progress within an hour, the dog will need help. Additionally, if four hours have passed after one puppy has been delivered and you are sure there are more puppies to be birthed, an immediate trip to a veterinary hospital is necessary.

    Final Stage

    • After all the puppies have been delivered, the last stage of labor is the final expulsion of any remaining tissues, blood and fluid from the beagles womb. This is generally completed within an hour or two of delivering the final puppy. It is not uncommon for a mother to rest after the last delivery before pushing out the remaining afterbirth.