Dog Pregnancy Calculator
Calculate your dog's due date from the mating date — the 63-day rule with the full 58–68 day window — plus a week-by-week pregnancy timeline and whelping checklist.
Multiple matings? Use the first — the window covers the spread
Pick the mating date to see the timeline.
You might also need:Dog Heat Cycle Calculator·Puppy Weight Calculator
How the due date is calculated
Sixty-three days is measured from ovulation; since mating can precede or follow ovulation by a few days, the honest answer is a window, not a date. If your vet did progesterone timing, count 63 days from the ovulation date they identified — that version is accurate to ±1 day.
Week-by-week pregnancy timeline
| Week | What's happening | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Fertilization, embryos travel | Nothing changes — normal food and exercise |
| 3 | Implantation | Possible appetite dip; keep routines |
| 4 | Heartbeats begin | Ultrasound confirms from ~day 25 |
| 5 | Puppies take shape | Start gradual switch to puppy food |
| 6 | Visible belly growth | Smaller, more frequent meals |
| 7 | Coat and skeleton develop | Set up the whelping box; she'll start nesting |
| 8 | Movement visible | X-ray for puppy count; gentle exercise only |
| 9 | Full term | Temp drops ~1°F below normal 12–24h before labor |
After the big day
- Weigh puppies daily: steady gain is the #1 health signal — predict their adult sizes later with the puppy weight calculator.
- Feed mum like a puppy: nursing is the most calorie-hungry thing a dog ever does — the feeding calculator factors apply to her too.
- Plan the next cycle: whether breeding again or scheduling desexing, the heat cycle calculator maps the timing.
Frequently asked questions
How long are dogs pregnant?+
Canine gestation averages 63 days from ovulation, with a normal range of 58–68 days from mating. Small litters often go slightly longer; large litters slightly shorter. This calculator gives you the due date and the full expected window.
How can I tell if my dog is pregnant?+
Reliable confirmation: a vet ultrasound from day 25–30, the relaxin blood test from day 22–27, or an X-ray after day 45 (which also counts puppies — genuinely useful for whelping night). Appetite and nipple changes are suggestive but not proof.
What should I feed a pregnant dog?+
Normal adult food for the first 5–6 weeks, then transition to puppy food (higher energy density) for the final trimester and throughout nursing. By whelping she may need 25–50% more calories, moving to 2–4× normal while nursing a big litter.
What do I need ready before whelping?+
A whelping box in a quiet warm room (from week 8), towels, a heat lamp or pad for one warm corner, a scale for daily puppy weigh-ins, your vet’s and the emergency clinic’s numbers, and the puppy count from the day-45+ X-ray so you know when she’s done.
When should I call the vet during whelping?+
Call immediately if: more than 30–60 minutes of strong straining with no puppy, more than 2–4 hours between puppies with more expected, green-black discharge before the first puppy, or the due window passes day 68 with no labor. Trust your gut — a phone call is free.