How do I work out a dog's due date?

Add 63 days to the date of the first mating. Whelping most often happens between 58 and 68 days after the mating.

What if the bitch was mated twice?

Enter both dates: the window runs from 58 days after the first to 68 days after the last, and the expected date is still counted from the first.

Does pregnancy length depend on the breed?

Very little: 63 days from ovulation, give or take a day or two, whatever the breed. A small litter may be born a little later, a large one a little earlier.

When should a delay worry me?

If whelping hasn't started 68 days after the mating, or if the temperature dropped more than 24 hours ago with no contractions, call your vet.

Dog pregnancy due date calculator

Enter the mating date, or better the ovulation date if you had progesterone tests: you get the expected whelping date, the usual window and the pregnancy's steps.

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You know the date of

Mating dateSecond mating (optional)

Enter a date to see the pregnancy calendar.

An indicative estimate: it doesn't replace your vet's advice.

How long is a dog's pregnancy?

A bitch's pregnancy lasts 63 days on average from ovulation. Counted from the mating, it varies more, usually between 58 and 68 days, because sperm survives several days and ovulation doesn't necessarily happen on the day of the mating.

That's why the calculator starts from what you know. From the mating, it gives an expected date 63 days later and a wide window, from 58 days after the first mating to 68 days after the last. From an ovulation dated by progesterone tests, the window narrows to 62 to 64 days. From the LH peak, ovulation is counted two days later.

Does the breed change the length of pregnancy?

Very little. Counted from ovulation, pregnancy lasts 63 days give or take a day or two, from the smallest breed to the largest. The differences seen mostly come from litter size: a small litter is often born a little later, a large one a little earlier.

What really moves the forecast is the starting point: the mating can happen several days before or after ovulation. A progesterone test brings far more precision than a per-breed setting.

The steps to plan

Around day 28, an ultrasound confirms the pregnancy. Around day 55, an X-ray lets you count the puppies. Around day 58, the whelping area should be ready: whelping box, temperature, supplies.

A progesterone test before the mating and watching the rectal temperature at the end of the pregnancy sharpen the forecast a lot: talk to your vet about it.

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What if all this worked itself out?

In Affixe, every female has her calendar, every litter its tracking, and a reminder arrives in the morning. Free to start.

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