When Are the Puppies Due?
Calculate your dog's due date from the breeding date. See the pregnancy timeline, milestones, and whelping preparation checklist.
Dog Pregnancy Timeline
Canine gestation averages 63 days (9 weeks) from breeding, with a normal range of 58-68 days. Small breeds tend to whelp slightly earlier (day 60-62) and large breeds slightly later (day 63-65). Knowing the breeding date accurately is important — puppies born before day 58 are premature and may not survive.
Key Milestones
Day 25-28: Earliest ultrasound can confirm pregnancy and detect heartbeats. Day 35: Fetuses are palpable during vet exam. Day 45: Switch to puppy food (higher calories and calcium for milk production). Day 55: X-ray to count puppies (skeletons are mineralized enough to see). Day 58-68: Whelping window — monitor temperature twice daily (drops below 99°F about 24 hours before labor).
The temperature drop method is the most reliable non-invasive predictor of whelping. Use a digital rectal thermometer and record readings at the same times daily. Normal canine temperature is 101-102°F. A sustained reading below 99°F means puppies are coming within 24 hours.
