It is a good idea to build a whelping box well in advance so the bitch has time to get used to it. Unless you have already accustomed her to a whelping box, she may choose your closet or another place you may find inappropriate for a delivery room.

A good whelping box is roomy and has low sides, so you can easily reach in. It should also have a small shelf running halfway up along one or two sides so the pups have something to crawl under to avoid getting rolled on. The box should be located in a quiet, warm, dry, draft-free place. Many breeders prefer to line the box with newspapers until after delivery, because paper can be changed quickly when it becomes soiled. After whelping, newspapers are typically replaced with soft towels or something that provides better footing for the puppies.

A few days before the bitch is ready to give birth, she may stop eating and start building a "nest" where she plans to have her puppies; if you're lucky, this will be in the whelping box you have prepared for her.

Shortly before whelping, the bitch's body temperature will drop to 99 degrees or lower (from a normal temperature of 100 to 102.5). By this time, you should have shaved her belly, where appropriate, to allow the puppies to find the nipples for nursing. If she has a long or dense coat, you should also shave and clean the area around her genitals.

Approximately 24 hours after her temperature drops, she can be expected to enter the first stage of labor, when the cervix dilates and opens the birth canal for the passage of puppies. At this time, she will pant, strain, appear restless and may perhaps vomit. Vomiting is normal at the onset of labor, but persistent vomiting may be a sign of illness. This stage of labor is followed by actual abdominal straining and production of the puppies and placentas.

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References: Portions of this article were taken from this source

American Kennel Club. Responsible Breeding Steps. http://www.akc.org/breeders/resp_breeding/index.cfm