Whelping Log

The whelp itself is the worst possible time to be improvising a log. You're exhausted. The dam is laboring. Puppies are arriving in fast succession, and you need to record the time, sex, weight, and condition of each one without losing your place. Most breeders end up with chicken-scratch on a paper towel and reconstruct the timing later from memory.

The Whelping Log fixes this. It's a live spreadsheet you start before whelp begins, with pre-whelp dam temperature tracking on the way in, per-puppy birth records as deliveries happen, and an auto-calculated whelp summary at the end.

What the document does:

It captures the data the vet will ask for if anything goes sideways and the data your records need to be complete. Pre-whelp temperature monitoring tells you when whelp is imminent. Most whelps happen within 24 hours of the dam's temperature dropping below 99 degrees. Per-puppy birth log captures arrival time, sex, weight, presentation, condition at birth, and notes. Intervals between deliveries calculate automatically so you can see at a glance whether labor is progressing normally or stalling.

What is included:

• Pre-whelp dam temperature tracking with multiple readings per day in the days leading up to whelp
• Per-puppy birth log capturing time, sex, weight, color, presentation, condition, and notes for each delivery
• Auto-calculated interval between births, so abnormal gaps between puppies are visible immediately
• Whelp summary at the end with total puppies, total time in labor, and any complications noted
• Litter information header (dam, sire, breeding date, expected whelp date, vet contacts) so the document is fully self-contained
• Printable PDF version for breeders who prefer to fill the log by hand during whelp and transcribe to the spreadsheet later

Format and how it works:

Editable spreadsheet (.xlsx) with live formulas plus a printable PDF version. The .xlsx works in Excel, Apple Numbers, and Google Sheets. Most breeders open the spreadsheet on a tablet or laptop in the whelping area and type entries in real time. The PDF version is for breeders who prefer pen on paper during the whelp and want to transcribe to the spreadsheet afterward.

Save one file per litter. The litter ID and dam name go at the top so each historical whelp is searchable later.

Why this version is different:

Most whelping logs you find online are static PDFs that ask for the same data in a layout that doesn't survive a real whelp. This one is built around the moment of delivery. Large fields for fast handwriting, auto-calculated intervals so you don't have to do mental math at 3 a.m., and a summary section that reads like a vet handoff if anything needs follow-up. It also includes the pre-whelp temperature tracking that most logs skip.

Who this is for:

For breeders who whelp at home and want a real-time record of the litter as it arrives. Especially valuable for first-time breeders, breeders working with a backup helper who needs a structured place to record data, and any program that wants searchable whelp records across litters. Pairs with the Whelping Kit Checklist and the Puppy Weight Tracker.

Get the log on its own, or open the bundle for the full litter system at the kit price.