Thinking about breeding your dog for the first time? Or maybe your pup is pregnant with a surprise litter. If this is your dog’s first pregnancy, it can seem overwhelming. We talked to two reputable, experienced breeders to walk us through the stages of dog pregnancy so you know what to expect when your dog is expecting.
Dog Pregnancy Basics
The gestation period—how long dogs are pregnant—lasts anywhere between 58 to 68 days (or roughly nine weeks). Like humans, dogs also have trimesters but they are much shorter at roughly 21 days each. Your dog can get pregnant with as few as two or as many as ten puppies! Pregnancy symptoms are not always obvious, especially in the beginning—early symptoms include lethargy and very rarely morning sickness. “I think it could be easy to overlook the first 30 days,” Tammie Rendon of Rocky Mtn. Bernadoodles says.
But before you dog even gets pregnant, there are several important considerations.
Stage 1: Before Pregnancy
If you are planning to breed your dog, preparation is key. Sarah Halbeck of Sarken Kennels in Tennessee has been breeding Irish Wolfhounds for nearly 14 years—here’s what she suggests:
- Make sure both intended parents are healthy.
- Make your vet aware of your intention to breed. “Each breed is different but all dogs should see a veterinarian before they come into season to make sure they are fit and healthy before pregnancy occurs,” Halbeck says. “Make sure they are up-to-date on shots, too.”
- Have prospective homes lined up before breeding.
- Have the finances available for veterinary care of the mother as well as the puppies. “If a C-section is needed, they can be very expensive,” Halbeck adds.
- Decide what to feed the puppies when they are being weaned. “You may also want to have some formula in case the mother’s milk turns bad at any time,” Halbeck suggests. “In this case, you’ll need oral syringes or baby bottles.”
Once you’re stocked up and ready for the pregnancy, you’ll need to know what to expect, week-by-week.
Stage 2: During Pregnancy
Weeks 1-3: Early symptoms of pregnancy can be easy to miss. You may notice some behavioral changes. You will want to see your vet for a prenatal checkup in week two or three.
If this is the first time you’ve had a pregnant dog, you may want to see the veterinarian more frequently to make sure everything is going well, but if you have some experience with dog pregnancy, use your discretion. “If the pregnancy is going well and the mother is not in distress, it’s up to the owner on the frequency of vet visits,” Halbeck adds.
Regular feeding and exercise is typically recommended in these first stages of pregnancy. Both breeders emphasize a very healthy diet during pregnancy. “Nutrition is of the utmost importance, as well as regular exercise,” Halbeck says.
“It is very important—I cannot understate it,” Rendon adds.
Weeks 4-6: Sometimes there are no external signs of pregnancy until this stage, the second trimester. A trained veterinary professional can feel the puppies in the abdomen as early as four weeks, but you should NOT attempt this at home, as it could result in miscarriage. Later in the trimester—by week five or six—you should begin noticing weight gain.
“At six weeks into the pregnancy, the Wolfhound pups move from the chest cavity into the lower abdomen,” Halbeck says. “Weight gain becomes visible, as do enlarging nipples.”
You should start to increase your dog’s food intake to roughly double that of normal late in the trimester and may want to consider supplementation at this stage.
“I personally don’t use supplementation with my dogs, but they are well-fed with quality food before, during, and after pregnancy,” Halbeck notes. “Sometimes I will give a shot of calcium along with a shot of oxytocin if required during whelping.”
As always, consult with your veterinarian to know what’s best suited for your dog.
Weeks 7-9: With birth drawing closer, it’s more important than ever to be ready in these final weeks of pregnancy. Prepare the whelping box in a quiet area and encourage your dog to sleep there. Some litters may come early, so make sure to have all your supplies on hand (see below).
In these final weeks, you may start to see puppies moving in mom’s belly, and a little milk may start trickling out. The belly will continue growing and may sway back and forth as mom walks. One final vet visit will confirm the puppies’ health, as well as how many puppies will be in the litter.
Your dog will have a voracious appetite and although you should once again increase her food intake, do not overfeed or she may gain too much weight and have complications during birth. She might become a picky eater, so be prepared with healthy alternates.
Stage 3: Whelping
When your dog is ready to give birth, she may start exhibiting a number of the following symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Pooping/urinating more frequently
- Checking and/or licking hindquarters
- Shivering or panting
- Refusing to eat
You should know approximately when she might give birth and check her temperature regularly every 12 hours in the days leading up to birth—a dog’s internal temperature runs higher than ours, usually 100 to 101 degrees, but will drop to 98 degrees when she’s ready to give birth. Halbeck recommends having these supplies ready:
- Towels
- Scissors and thread
- Betadine
- Possibly oxytocin and calcium injection, on approval from your veterinarian
Some mothers are naturals and can handle the birth alone. “It’s funny how the motherly instinct is natural for some, and others it can take three or four puppies to kick in,” Rendon explains. “New moms do not know what is going on, so they can be very uncomfortable and nervous. I’ve had new moms that look at the first puppies like they are aliens that did not come from them!”
There can also be complications. Halbeck says you need to be ready to step in and help your dog. “Pups can be turned sideways, be born backwards, or without a birthing sac,” Halbeck says. “If the mother has a large litter, it is hard for them to reach their rear when whelping, so assistance is needed to birth the pup and cut the cord.”
Your dog may need emergency medical help. “If mom does not deliver for an extended period of time between puppies, you will need to have a vet check if a puppy is not in an unusual position that may require a C-section,” Rendon explains.
Even with 14 years experience under her belt, Halbeck says whelping can still be a little nerve-racking.
“It’s always a scary experience but also marvelous and an honor to be there for their birth,” Halbeck says.
Stage 4: Post-Birth
Once the pups are born, the mother will usually clean them, but if the pups are born too fast or your dog does not have great motherly instincts, you will need to clean the puppies by wiping them with a towel.
Puppies will need to be identified at birth and weighed twice daily for several days to make sure they are gaining the proper amount of weight. Halbeck also suggests deworming the puppies every two weeks from birth until they are ready to go to their new homes.
“We also microchip all of our pups and make sure they have a minimum of first set of shots before they leave us,” Halbeck adds.
The Bottom Line
Welcoming a litter of adorable puppies into the world can be a wonderful experience, but make sure you’re prepared to care for mom through her pregnancy and know exactly what to do should anything go wrong.