How Long Are Dogs Pregnant and What Does it Involve?

Puppies are one of the most uplifting things in the world – that’s why we celebrate National Puppy Day on 23 March each year! When you welcome one into your home it means more joy, more cuddles and plenty of zoomies. A lucky few of us are there to experience the very start of their lives 😍 If your dog is pregnant, you might be wondering how long dogs are pregnant and how to know when she’s ready to give birth…

You might also want to know how to recognise the first signs of labour and how many puppies your pooch is likely to whelp. In this article, PD answers all these questions and more.

Here’s what we’ve covered for you:

How can you tell if a dog is pregnant?

Before we look at how long dogs are pregnant you might also want to know how to tell if yours is. Just like with people, a pregnant dog will probably start behaving differently all of a sudden.

Here are some beacons that may help give the game away:

• Nesting. Is she building a nest of sorts? As in, bundling blankets, toys and pillows into a nest-like arrangement. Sure she could just be pulling a cute card but your pup may also be pregnant.
• Appetite changes. While pregnant humans wish for all sorts of weird and wonderful things like tomato paste to midnight watermelon, dogs don’t have that luxury. You may notice changes in her appetite like eating more or at different paces or different times of the day. She may seem suddenly more inspired to ask you for added treats or be extra interested in your food.
• Slowing down. If your dog seems healthy but she’s taking more naps or daydreaming more, she could be preggers. She may also be less exuberant about usual walks and exercise.
• Swollen nipples. Nipples are often the absolute giveaway. Look for changes in size or colour.
• Weight gain. As it is for humans, weight gain is also a normal part of pooch pregnancy.

Generally speaking all your dog’s usual behaviour could go out the window overnight when she’s pregnant. Keep her healthy, feed her well and give her lots of cuddles during this special time.

Now that you know the signs to watch out for, let’s look at how long dogs can be pregnant.

How many months is a dog pregnant for?

How long are dogs pregnant? Are dogs pregnant for eight, nine or twelve weeks? Or are dogs pregnant for three months or more? These are all common questions that dog lovers around New Zealand google each month and we’re here to tell you the answer.

Dog pregnancy is quick compared to a human’s and only lasts around two months. In terms of days this can be between 58 and 68 days. Of course this can vary slightly, give or take a few days according to the breed and the size of the litter.

How do you know when she conceived?

Often it can be hard to tell the exact date a dog conceives, especially when there’s more than one occurrence of mating. Make a note of the closest possible dates your dog is likely to have conceived and share these with her vet.

It’s also a good idea to note any changes she goes through during gestation, to keep an eye on her health. Share with her vet any unusual changes she experiences so they can update you if they think she needs an unscheduled check-up.

Is it OK for a 1 year old dog to get pregnant?

Most dogs reach sexual maturity at one year old. However, dog size can make a difference as to when she reaches this reproductive maturity.

Bigger dog breeds may need more time to mature as they’ve got more growing to do and this can take up to two years. The little guys on the other hand might go into heat as young as six months of age.

Ideally, though, your dog will have time to be a puppy themselves before they become a parent. They need lots of time to play and mature so they’re physically and mentally ready to move into parenthood.

If you’re planning on letting your dog breed, talk to your vet first. Make sure your dog is the right age for their breed and health status. Also ask about what they should be eating prior to and during pregnancy so they don’t end up becoming unhealthy. Purina has some useful information here on what to feed a pregnant dog.

How many times can a dog give birth in a year?

While it’s physically possible for a dog to be pregnant as many as three times in a year, this shouldn’t be allowed to happen. The physical and emotional drain of this many pregnancies is destabilising and unhealthy for any dog.

Unfortunately many puppy mills in New Zealand do exactly this to reap as many dollars from mum dogs as possible. This is a hideous form of animal abuse that should be avoided at all costs.

It’s precisely why it’s important to buy from ethical dog breeders who will spread out the optimum number of total pregnancies (roughly four) for a dog over its optimum fertile life stage.

Dogs should normally stop having puppies once they’re about five years old. This helps them grow old gracefully without being as likely to suffer from any musculoskeletal issues such as hip dysplasia in dogs.

Pregnancy puts a lot of weight on their spine and hips and is an intense nutritional drain on their body too.

Watch this vlog with Dr Cath Watson for more on hip dysplasia research in dogs:

How many puppies do dogs have?

Litters can range in size but can be as large as 12 puppies in one litter or as small as simply one puppy. In general, most dogs will only whelp around six or so puppies, so more or less the middle ground of the smallest and largest litters.

Here are some fast facts when it comes to litter size:

• The first litters are often smaller
• Older dogs have smaller litters as they begin to age
• Which means, besides the first litter/s, a dog will have her biggest litters between the ages of two and five

The size of a dog’s litter may also affect how long she is pregnant. A bigger litter has less room to grow in and is likely to be born sooner. What this can also mean is that a dog with a smaller litter can be pregnant for a little longer before she giving birth.

What are the first signs of a dog going into labour?

Much like humans, one of the early stages of dog labour includes a drop in temperature. For those of you who’ve been in labour, you probably know that no duvet is fluffy enough and no hot water bottle hot enough to make any difference in this phase.

Next is restlessness, which is followed by nesting behaviour. She may start pacing and panting and, once she’s ready, bring soft things like blankets and pillows to her chosen birthing area. Labour through to the exciting dog birth stage can last up to 24 hours.

After mum dog gives birth to her new pups, she licks each one clean. Then she helps it to a teat to get its first full meal of goodness. This milk is packed with natural antibodies that will keep these puppies safe from illness.

However, as soon as this natural maternal immunity wears off you should already be on course with following your vet’s advised pet vaccination schedules.

Free award winning puppy insurance

Now you know how long dogs are pregnant and what to look out before, during and after a dog birth. So, let’s start planning to keep both mum and puppies safe with dog insurance.

PD Insurance gives dogs and puppies one or more months of free award winning cover. This helps pay a range of valuable pet health medical costs like x-rays, medication, hospitalisation and much more.

The sooner you get your puppy pet insurance the better. If you wait until they’re older and have already developed certain health conditions, these can no longer be covered. Why wait a moment more, click below to get award winning dog insurance.