Dogs are approximately 63 days pregnant; however, “approximately” does a great deal of the work there. Puppies may be born anywhere from day 58 to day 68 after mating with the first possible birth on day 58 and the latest by day 68. Our dog pregnancy calculator provides you with an estimated due date, a realistic range of birth dates (in days) and a dated timeline as to what to expect and when, from the first ultrasound to taking her temperature in the last week.
If your vet has done progesterone or LH testing, please select that option for a much more accurate date.
Dog Pregnancy Calculator
Pick the date you know and the calculator builds the rest.
How Long Are Dogs Pregnant?
The average length of time for a dog to be pregnant is approximately nine weeks from ovulation. The reason the mating date and estimated due date are so unpredictable is sperm. Sperm can survive inside the female reproductive system for five to seven days. After ovulation, eggs need about two days to mature, so the day she was mated may not necessarily be the same day the eggs were fertilized.
This is why breeders who want an exact due date rely on progesterone testing. Using the confirmed LH surge as a reference point, most bitches will deliver their pups 65 days after. However, using the mating date as a basis for determining delivery time frame, the delivery window extends from 58 to 68 days.
| Starting point | Average gestation | Normal range |
| First mating date | 63 days | 58-68 days |
| Ovulation (progesterone test) | 63 days | 62-64 days |
| LH surge (vet test) | 65 days | 64-66 days |
How to Tell If Your Dog Is Pregnant
Pregnancies are difficult to confirm in early stages. Some dogs display little to no physical changes during the first month of pregnancy. Signs of early pregnancy may include:
- A slight drop in appetite or mild sickness around weeks 3-4
- Pinker, larger nipples from around day 25-30
- Being a bit quieter or more clingy than usual
- A small amount of clear discharge about a month after mating
- A growing belly from around week 5-6
The problem with identifying these signs is that they are also common symptoms of pseudopregnancy (false pregnancy), which includes producing milk. The only method of verification is by having your veterinarian perform a test.
Vet tests for dog pregnancy
| Test | When it works | What it tells you |
| Ultrasound | From day 25-30 | Confirms pregnancy and puppy heartbeats |
| Relaxin blood test | From day 28-30 | Confirms pregnancy (a false pregnancy won’t produce relaxin) |
| Abdominal palpation | Days 28-35 | Vet can sometimes feel swellings, not reliable alone |
| X-ray | From day 45, best after day 55 | Counts puppies and checks their size vs the birth canal |
An ultrasound test is useful for verifying the presence of a pregnancy; however, it is not effective in determining the quantity of fetuses. If you wish to determine the quantity of pups prior to birth, an X-ray taken in the final weeks before expected whelping would be the preferred option. Identifying the number of pups present is important since it helps identify when the bitch has completed whelping.
Dog Pregnancy Week by Week
Weeks 1-3
Fertilisation happens and embryos travel to the uterus, implanting around days 17 to 21. You won’t see anything. Feed her normally and keep up regular exercise.
Weeks 4-5
This is the stage when you can confirm whether or not she is pregnant. At this time, her puppies’ organs are forming. So avoid any medication your veterinarian hasn’t approved. Nipples become very visible.
Weeks 6-7
At this stage her abdomen expands rapidly and puppies gain a considerable amount of weight. Increase her feed gradually; by the end of this period, she may need 25 – 50% more calories than normal, which could likely be distributed into multiple small feeds per day because there is less room in her stomach. It has been suggested that transitioning her to an excellent quality puppy food at this time is a good idea.
Weeks 8-9
She becomes a “nesting” female: She digs at blankets. Hides. Restless. If you do not already have one, introduce the whelping box. Take her temperature every twelve hours starting at around day 56. Once her body temperature falls under about 99° F (37.2°C) labor should occur within 24 hours.
Signs of Labour in Dogs
- Stage 1 (6-12 hours, sometimes up to 24): restlessness, panting, shivering, nesting, refusing food, sometimes vomiting. No visible pushing yet.
- Stage 2 (delivery): visible straining. The first puppy usually arrives within an hour of strong pushing. Puppies then come every 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- Stage 3: each placenta is passed, usually within 15 minutes of each puppy. Count them, as a retained placenta can cause infection.
When to Call the Vet
Most dogs whelp without help. Call your vet straight away if you see any of these:
- Strong straining for 20-30 minutes with no puppy
- More than 2 hours between puppies when you know more are coming
- Green or black discharge before the first puppy is born
- Heavy bleeding
- Day 68 from mating (or 66 from LH surge) with no signs of labour
- Temperature dropped more than 24 hours ago and nothing has happened
- She seems weak, collapses or is in obvious distress
Flat-faced breeds like Bulldogs and French Bulldogs often need a planned caesarean, so speak to your vet well before the due date. Once the puppies arrive, our puppy vaccination chart and puppy wormer schedule cover their first weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
About 63 days on average, or roughly nine weeks. From the mating date it can range from 58 to 68 days.
Using the mating date, expect a window of about 10 days. With a progesterone or LH surge date from your vet, it’s usually accurate to within one or two days.
An ultrasound can confirm pregnancy from about day 25-30, and a relaxin blood test from about day 28-30.
An X-ray after about day 45, ideally after day 55, is the most accurate way to count puppies. Ultrasound often miscounts.
Yes, if counting from the mating date, since she may have ovulated a few days after mating. Puppies born before about day 58 from ovulation are usually too premature to survive without help.
Normal is around 100.5-102.5 F (38-39 C). A drop below about 99 F (37.2 C) usually means labour within 12-24 hours.
Not much in the first month. From about week 6, increase food gradually so she’s eating 25-50% more by the end, ideally a puppy or performance formula.
Some dewormers are safe and recommended in late pregnancy to cut worm transmission to puppies. Ask your vet which product and dose to use.
Call your vet if she passes day 68 from mating or day 66 from the LH surge without signs of labour.
Vet note: Written and reviewed by Dr. Muhammad Usman, DVM. This calculator is for planning only. Please book your dog in for a pre-whelping check with your own vet.
More tools: Puppy Weight Calculator · Puppy Feeding Schedule Calculator · Puppy Schedule
