Annie has covered this subject very very well, the only proviso's I would add is to keep the whelping room very quiet and darken it down if you can or put a blanket over the top of the whelping box. Bitches in the wild would crawl somewhere very small and very dark and private so try to simulate that.
Try not to interfere with the whelping process unless the bitch is in trouble or a puppy is stuck. Use cooking oil and clean fingers to guide a puppy out if needed, do not pull a puppy out just guide it out when the bitch contracts. The bitches birth canal is straight up towards her tail from her vulva (this sort of shape'?') so its a downward steady pull. If you get this wrong the bitch will squeal.
Some bitches vomit when in early labour too and love to wander around the garden, make sure you keep her on a lead or you may be delivering a pup under a bush!!!!
The best thing that you can do is to sit on the floor at the side of the box and just watch. Stay calm because the bitch will feel it if you are stressed and become stressed herself.
As the pups are born cut the cord with a blunt pair of scissors (sharp scissors allow for bleeding) then pass it straight back to mum to clean and then put the pup to a teat. The puppy sucking will encourage more contractions for the next pup.
The bitch will eat the afterbirths but only allow 3 at the most or she will get scours the next day.
As each pup is born check for deformities, little finger check the roof of its mouth for cleft pallet, make sure tail and anus is there. check legs etc.
If more than 2 hours go by in between pups and you know theres more to come then there is a problem and get her to the vet. After the bitch starts to whelp its easier to feel the pups so you will know if she has more tucked up in there.
Any birth discharge shouldnt smell nasty it should smell sort of like rusty nails (iron) if it smell snasty again you have problems, maybe a dead pup.
Ok now the the awful things; if a pup is deformed dont try to revive it, its not fair on the pup and mum may reject it anyway.
To revive a pup; hold it in your hand under its tummy with your first 2 fingers either side of its head and swing your whole arm like a pendulum, wide deep swings. Do this 3 times then check for breathing, then if needed put the pups muzzle into your mouth and breath out steadily. If still not breathing lay pup on its back and tap its chest quite hard and fast. Put some brandy on its tongue and encourage it to go down its throat.
By now its muzzle and tongue will be blue. Repeat breathing and tapping for 5 mins.
If no response the pup has gone and you did your best.
The next day you can weight each pup and start keeping notes about their individual progress.
Good luck and most whelpings go just fine
