PawGauge
Dog pregnancy

Dog pregnancy calculator

Enter the mating, ovulation or LH-surge date to get your dog’s due date and a week-by-week timeline of what’s happening. Also called a dog pregnancy estimator or whelping calculator — built on veterinary gestation data.

A pregnant dog resting
Photo: Briseed ~ / Pexels

What most owners know. The due window is wide (~58–68 days) because ovulation timing varies.

Estimated due date

—

likely between —

— of ~63 days Week — of 9 due

—

— · Enter the date to see this week’s stage.

Week by week

  1. Week 1 days 0–7

    Fertilisation

    Eggs are fertilised and the embryos begin travelling to the uterine horns. No outward signs yet — keep her routine normal.

  2. Week 2 days 8–14

    Embryos migrate

    The tiny embryos spread along the uterus and prepare to implant. Still no visible changes.

  3. Week 3 days 15–21

    Implantation

    Embryos implant into the uterine lining (around day 16–18). Some dams show a brief dip in appetite.

  4. Week 4 days 22–28

    Organs form

    Major development — eyes and spine form. A vet can often confirm pregnancy by ultrasound (~day 25–28) and feel the fetuses by palpation. Possible “morning sickness”; handle her gently.

  5. Week 5 days 29–35

    Fetal stage

    Puppies are now recognisable and growing fast; her abdomen starts to enlarge. Gradually increase her food.

  6. Week 6 days 36–42

    Pigment & weight

    Puppies develop markings; the dam’s nipples darken and enlarge and she gains noticeable weight.

  7. Week 7 days 43–49

    Skeletons calcify

    Puppy skeletons harden (visible on X-ray from ~day 45). She may shed belly hair — set up the whelping box now.

  8. Week 8 days 50–56

    Almost ready

    Milk may appear and the puppies move. An X-ray around day 55 can count them. She may start seeking a nest.

  9. Week 9 days 57–63

    Whelping

    Nesting and restlessness. A drop in body temperature below ~99 °F (37.2 °C) usually means labour within ~24 hours. Have your vet’s number ready.

Good to know

General guidance only — an estimate, not veterinary advice. Always check with your vet about your pet’s growth, weight and diet.

How this was calculated

Dog pregnancy lasts about 63 days, but how precisely we can date it depends on what you count from. From a progesterone-timed ovulation it is 63 ± 1 days; from the LH surge, 65 ± 1 days; from the mating date it is roughly 63 days but with a wide 58–68 day window, because ovulation can happen days before or after mating. We add the right number of days to your date and place you on the 9-week developmental timeline.

Source: AKC + UC Davis veterinary reproduction guidance. Full method on our methodology page.

After they’re born: puppy weight →Feeding the mum →

Built by the PawGauge team, reviewed against cited veterinary sources. Last reviewed 29 June 2026.

About our figures →

How dog gestation works

A dog’s pregnancy is short — around nine weeks — and remarkably consistent when measured from the right moment. The body clock that matters is ovulation, not mating: count 63 days from ovulation (or 65 from the LH surge that precedes it) and over 95% of dogs whelp within a day either side.

Counting from the mating date is looser. A female is fertile for several days, and the eggs she releases need to mature before they can be fertilised, so the same mating date can lead to whelping anywhere from about 58 to 68 days later. That’s why breeders who want a precise due date have their vet run progesterone tests to pin down ovulation.

Whatever the start point, the developmental milestones unfold on a reliable schedule — implantation around day 16, organs forming in week 4, skeletons hardening by week 7, and nesting in week 9. The timeline above tracks where your dog is now.

How many puppies to expect

Litter size varies a lot with breed and body size — toy and small breeds often have 1–4 puppies, while medium and large breeds commonly have 6–10 or more. Age, genetics and the timing of mating all play a part, so treat any number before an X-ray as a rough guide.

The only reliable count is an X-ray from around day 55, once the puppies’ skeletons have calcified. It’s well worth doing: knowing how many to expect helps you — and your vet — recognise if a puppy is still to come during whelping.

Dog pregnancy questions

How long are dogs pregnant?
About 63 days. It is very predictable from a hormonal marker — 63 days from ovulation, or 65 days from the LH surge — but counted from the mating date it ranges from roughly 58 to 68 days, because ovulation timing varies.
How accurate is the due date?
Very accurate (within a day or two) if you know the ovulation or LH-surge date from progesterone testing. From the mating date alone, expect a 10-day window rather than a single day.
When can pregnancy be confirmed?
A vet can usually confirm by ultrasound from around day 25–28, feel the puppies by palpation around day 28, and see calcified skeletons on X-ray from about day 45.
How can I tell when she is about to give birth?
In the last day, many dogs nest, go off their food and become restless. A drop in body temperature below about 99 °F (37.2 °C) usually means labour will start within roughly 24 hours. Call your vet if you are unsure.
How many puppies will she have?
It depends on breed and size — small breeds often have 1–4, larger breeds 6–10 or more. The only accurate count is an X-ray from around day 55, which also helps your vet plan for whelping.