Dog Pregnancy Calculator,
gestation calendar & whelping date.

Whelping guide

Everything you need to know about canine pregnancy.

Confirming pregnancy

Unlike humans, dogs cannot be tested at home with a pregnancy kit. The most practical early confirmation is a veterinary ultrasound around days 25–28, which can detect embryo sacs and heartbeats. A relaxin hormone blood test (from day 25–30) is also highly accurate. Around days 28–35, an experienced vet can palpate the abdomen to feel the grape-sized embryo sacs — though this requires a gentle touch to avoid harming the litter.

After day 45, an X-ray provides an accurate count of the expected litter size (because bone mineralization makes skeletons visible). Knowing your puppy count before whelping is critically important: you need to know when labor is truly complete.

Signs of approaching labor

The most reliable predictor of imminent labor is a drop in rectal temperature. A dog's normal temperature is 101–102.5°F (38.3–39.2°C). When her temperature drops below 99°F (37.2°C) and stays there for a second reading taken 2–4 hours later, labor typically begins within 12–24 hours. Other signs include:

• Food refusal (even favorite treats)
• Intense nesting — digging, scratching, repositioning bedding
• Restlessness, panting, and shivering without being cold
• Clear to slightly pink vaginal discharge
• Vomiting or dry heaving
• Seeking isolation or alternatively becoming extremely clingy

The three stages of whelping

Canine labor occurs in three distinct stages that can span 12–24+ hours for a large litter:

• Stage 1 (6–12 hours): Cervix dilation and early contractions. Your dog will be visibly restless and uncomfortable but will not yet be producing puppies. This is the longest stage and is often mistaken for false labor.
• Stage 2 (active delivery): Strong abdominal contractions produce puppies. Each puppy arrives roughly 30–60 minutes apart; up to 2 hours between puppies is within normal range. Some puppies arrive in their amniotic sac — break it immediately if the mother does not.
• Stage 3 (placenta delivery): One placenta follows each puppy. Count carefully — a retained placenta causes life-threatening infection. Mothers often eat the placentas, which is instinctive and generally harmless in small amounts.

Setting up the whelping area

Introduce the whelping box at least two weeks before the expected due date so your dog accepts it as her space. The ideal whelping box:

• Is large enough for her to stretch out fully with room for puppies
• Has low sides she can step over but puppies cannot escape
• Is lined with clean, washable materials (puppy pads, old towels, or vetbed)
• Is placed in a quiet, warm room (ideally 70–75°F / 21–24°C) with a dedicated heat source for newborns
• Has "pig rails" — a ledge around the inside perimeter so the mother cannot accidentally crush puppies against the wall

Newborn puppy care in the first 24 hours

Newborn puppies cannot regulate their body temperature. Keep the whelping area warm (85–90°F / 29–32°C in the first week). Ensure each puppy nurses within the first few hours — the colostrum (first milk) is packed with maternal antibodies essential for immune system development. Weigh each puppy daily for the first two weeks; healthy puppies gain weight consistently.