How long are dogs pregnant?
Dog pregnancy (gestation) lasts about 63 days, or nine weeks, from ovulation. Counted from the breeding date it can look much more variable — anywhere from about 58 to 68 days — because sperm can survive in the female’s reproductive tract for several days and eggs need time to mature after ovulation. That is why the starting date you choose changes the window:
| Starting date | Estimated due date | Typical window |
|---|---|---|
| Breeding (mating) date | + 63 days | 58–68 days |
| Ovulation date (progesterone testing) | + 63 days | 62–64 days |
| LH surge date | + 65 days | 64–66 days |
Dog pregnancy week by week
- Weeks 1–3: fertilisation and implantation; few visible changes.
- Weeks 3–4: a vet may be able to confirm pregnancy by ultrasound from around day 25.
- Weeks 5–6: the abdomen begins to enlarge and appetite usually increases.
- Weeks 7–8: puppies’ skeletons are visible on X-ray (from around day 45), which helps a vet count them.
- Week 9: nesting behaviour; a drop in rectal temperature often signals whelping within about a day.
Dog pregnancy calendar: an example
For a bitch bred on March 1, 2027, counting from the breeding date:
| Day | Date | What commonly happens |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | March 26, 2027 | Ultrasound can often confirm pregnancy from around now |
| 28 | March 29, 2027 | A vet may be able to feel the developing puppies by palpation (around days 28–35) |
| 45 | April 15, 2027 | Puppy skeletons become visible on X-ray, useful for counting the litter |
| 58 | April 28, 2027 | The whelping window opens; have the whelping box ready |
| 63 | May 3, 2027 | Estimated due date |
| 68 | May 8, 2027 | End of the typical window — contact your vet if whelping has not started |
Enter your own breeding date above to get these dates for your dog. Progesterone-timed breedings give a much narrower window, which is why the calculator lets you count from the ovulation or LH-surge date instead.
Preparing for whelping
Have a whelping box ready a week or two before the window opens, and agree a plan with your vet — including when to call if labour is not progressing. Use the Days Until Date calculator to count down to the due date, or the Add Days to Date tool to find any other day in the pregnancy. Expecting a human baby? Use the Due Date Calculator.