The nine weeks, counted from breeding
Day 1 is the day of breeding. Gestation is about 63 days from ovulation, but counting from the first accepted breeding gives a range of roughly 58 to 72 days, because sperm survive for days before the eggs are ready. The calculator on this site uses 63 days with a window of 58 to 68.
| Week | Days | Example dates* | Puppy development | What you may notice or a vet can do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-7 | Mar 1 to Mar 7 | Fertilization. No visible change. | Nothing to see. Many dogs show no signs for the first three weeks. |
| 2 | 8-14 | Mar 8 to Mar 14 | Embryos are still free in the uterus. | No signs in most dogs. |
| 3 | 15-21 | Mar 15 to Mar 21 | Embryos begin to implant, which takes days 18 to 23. | Nipples may enlarge and turn pink. Some dogs are more affectionate or less active. |
| 4 | 22-28 | Mar 22 to Mar 28 | The fetus begins to take shape by day 22. | Some dogs have morning sickness after implantation. A vet may feel embryos from about day 20 to 28 and can run the relaxin test from about day 27 to 30. |
| 5 | 29-35 | Mar 29 to Apr 4 | Eyelids form by day 32 and toes are visible by day 35. | Ultrasound can show pregnancy and fetal heartbeats from about day 28 to 30. |
| 6 | 36-42 | Apr 5 to Apr 11 | Nails form by about day 40. | Appetite may rise, the dog may gain weight. |
| 7 | 43-49 | Apr 12 to Apr 18 | Coat and skeleton develop around day 45. | Appetite can dip around day 45. The abdomen becomes enlarged and firm from about day 45 to 50. |
| 8 | 50-56 | Apr 19 to Apr 25 | Puppies are growing quickly. | Puppy movement may be visible around day 50. X-ray, to count puppies, starts around day 55. |
| 9 | 57-63 | Apr 26 to May 2 | Puppies are nearly fully developed by about day 58. | Nesting often starts around day 58 to 62, appetite may drop around day 61 to 62, and body temperature falls 12 to 24 hours before labor. |
*Example for a dog bred on Mar 1, 2026. The expected whelping date is about May 3, 2026, and the window runs from Apr 28 to May 8. Enter your own date in the dog pregnancy calculator, or find it in the dog pregnancy calendar.
What to expect by stage
- Weeks 1 to 3. The dog usually looks and acts normal. This is the stage where it is hardest to tell whether she is pregnant.
- Weeks 4 to 6. The first checks are possible, and this is the best time for a vet visit to confirm the pregnancy and talk about food and care for a pregnant dog.
- Weeks 7 to 8. The belly grows and the puppies develop fast. An X-ray around day 55 shows how many puppies to expect.
- Week 9. Nesting, restlessness and appetite loss are common. A drop in body temperature 12 to 24 hours before labor is the best-known warning that whelping is close.
Plan ahead
Pick a quiet place for the whelping box in week 7 or 8 and let the dog get used to it. Have your vet's number and the out-of-hours emergency clinic written down. Strong straining without a puppy, a long gap between puppies or green discharge with no puppy are reasons to call at once.
For the signs themselves, see signs of dog pregnancy. For how and when it is confirmed, see the dog pregnancy test guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many weeks is a dog pregnant?
About nine weeks, or 63 days from ovulation. Counted from breeding, whelping usually falls between days 58 and 68.
When can a vet tell if a dog is pregnant?
Ultrasound can show pregnancy by day 28 to 30, and a relaxin blood test works from about day 27 to 30.
When can you see puppies moving?
Puppy movement may be visible around day 50, and an X-ray from about day 55 can count them.