Dog Pregnancy Calculator

Enter the first breeding date or the ovulation date from your vet. You get the whelping date and a realistic window.

Ovulation timing by your vet gives a much tighter window.

First day of mating, AI date, or day the male went in.

Add a name for the calendar (optional)

Based on 63 days, normal range 58 to 72 days.

Estimated due date

Thu, Mar 5, 2026

Normal window: Feb 28, 2026 to Mar 14, 2026

Today
Not bred yet
Days to go
63

Pregnancy calendar and key dates

Each date links to its source. Your vet may give different timing for your herd or pet.
DateDayWhat to do or expect
Feb 2, 202632About halfway: ask your vet about an ultrasound to date the litter [source]
Feb 28, 202658Check rectal temperature; a drop below 99°F often comes within 24 hours of birth [source]
Feb 28, 202658Normal whelping window opens: have pens, bedding and supplies ready [source]
Mar 5, 202663Estimated due date [source]
Mar 14, 202672Normal window closes: call your vet if no birth [source]

Check with your vet. This is an estimate from average gestation lengths. Your vet can confirm the pregnancy, date it more closely, and tell you when to call for help at birth.

How long are dogs pregnant?

A dog is pregnant for about 63 days from ovulation. Counted from the first breeding, the Merck Veterinary Manual gives 58 to 72 days. The range is wide because sperm can live a week or more inside the female, so the breeding date is not the day she conceived.

Cornell University puts it as 63 days, plus or minus 7, from the first breeding. If your vet times ovulation with progesterone tests, the due date tightens to 63 days, plus or minus 1 to 2. Merck also notes that breed, number of past litters and litter size can change the length.

Dog gestation by starting point
Count fromTypical lengthSource
First breeding58 to 72 daysMerck
Ovulation63 days, plus or minus 1 to 2Cornell
LH surge or first rise in progesterone64 to 66 daysMerck
First day of diestrus56 to 58 daysMerck

How to use the dog due date calculator

Choose whether you know the first breeding date or the ovulation date. Enter that date. The tool adds 63 days and shows a 58 to 72 day window for breeding dates, or a 61 to 65 day window for a known ovulation date.

If you only know the breeding dates, use the first one. Plan to be ready from day 58. The calendar also marks the halfway point, when your vet can measure the puppies by ultrasound to estimate the due date.

Whelping date formula

Due date equals the breeding or ovulation date plus 63 days. From a breeding date, birth can fall anywhere from day 58 to day 72. From a known ovulation date, Cornell gives 63 days plus or minus 1 to 2 days.

Whelping date = date + 63 days

Example: a female bred on March 1, 2026 is due about May 3, 2026. Her window runs from April 28 to May 12.

Signs that whelping is close

Rectal temperature often drops below 99°F within 24 hours of birth, per Cornell. Nesting, panting and restlessness usually start 6 to 12 hours before. Your vet can also test progesterone, which falls sharply within about 24 hours of labor.

Normal temperature in a dog is 100 to 102.5°F. Cornell says each puppy usually arrives within 0 to 30 minutes of active labor. Call your vet if more than two hours pass between puppies.

Questions people ask

How many weeks is a dog pregnant?

About nine weeks. 63 days is exactly nine weeks.

Why is the window so wide?

Sperm can live in the female for 7 days or more, and eggs need 2 to 3 days to mature after ovulation. So the day of mating and the day of conception can be far apart.

Does breed size change the due date?

Merck says breed, litter size and past litters can all affect length. Ask your vet for a check if your dog has a very small or very large litter.

Can I use this as a dog gestation calculator for any breed?

Yes. The 63 day average and the windows apply to dogs in general. Use the ovulation option when you have test results.

Other animals

References

  1. Whelping and Queening in Bitches and Queens. Merck Veterinary Manual (A. P. Davidson, UC Davis), reviewed June 2025.
  2. The normal whelping process. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Riney Canine Health Center.
  3. Approximate Gestation Periods (table). Merck Veterinary Manual.

Written and checked by the Gestation Calculator team against the sources above. Last updated . How we build these numbers.