To prepare for whelping, they are put in stalls that contain plastic wading pools lined with newspapers.
Births can occur as early as five days before the official due date.
During birth, the kennel staff will assist when needed. This assistance may involve resuscitating newborn puppies, clamping bleeding umbilical cords, and feeding females tired from a long whelp. The newborn puppies are weighed daily for the first five days of their lives to ensure they are gaining weight. If a puppy's growth is lagging, the pup may be bottle fed. The nursing mothers' milk is examined for discoloration and tested to ensure it contains the appropriate nutrients and is free of infections.