Dog Pregnancy Week by Week

Quick answer Counting from mating, a dog's pregnancy runs about nine weeks: week 1 is days 0 to 6, week 2 days 7 to 13, up to week 9 (days 56 to 62) and week 10 (days 63 to 69). Most puppies arrive between day 58 and day 68. For a mating on 1 October, the expected date is 3 December.

A dog’s pregnancy is about nine weeks long, and it helps to break that time into stages. A week-by-week view gives you a calendar: you can see which dates belong to which week, when it makes sense to book the ultrasound, when to prepare the whelping space and when to be on alert. This guide counts from the mating date and also explains how it changes if your vet has measured ovulation. It is a planning aid and does not replace your vet’s examination, which is the way to confirm a pregnancy and its stage.

The weeks, from the mating date

Week	Days from mating	For a mating on 1 October 2026
1	0 to 6	1 to 7 October
2	7 to 13	8 to 14 October
3	14 to 20	15 to 21 October
4	21 to 27	22 to 28 October
5	28 to 34	29 October to 4 November
6	35 to 41	5 to 11 November
7	42 to 48	12 to 18 November
8	49 to 55	19 to 25 November
9	56 to 62	26 November to 2 December
10	63 to 69	3 to 9 December

The normal birth window from mating is day 58 to day 68 (28 November to 8 December in the example), with the middle at about day 63 (3 December). Most puppies arrive in weeks 9 and 10. The Dog Pregnancy Week Calculator says which week your dog is in today.

Why the window is wide

Counting from mating is the least exact method, because sperm survive for several days and ovulation does not always happen on the day of mating. If your vet has measured ovulation with progesterone tests, the due date is about 63 days after ovulation (62 to 64), and if the LH surge was identified, about 65 days after it (64 to 66). Our guide to how long dogs are pregnant explains the three methods, and the Dog Pregnancy Due Date Calculator handles each.

A practical plan for each stage

Weeks	Focus	What to do
1 to 3	Record and confirm	Write down every mating date. Keep her routine normal. Book a vet visit for around the end of this stage
4	Confirm	An ultrasound from about day 25 can confirm pregnancy; a blood test for relaxin is another way. Ask your vet about feeding and parasite control
5 to 6	Plan	Discuss food, exercise and a whelping plan. Ask what to have at home
7	Prepare	Choose and set up the whelping space. Ask your vet about an X-ray or scan to estimate litter size, if they recommend it
8	Practice	Let her use the space. Keep your vet’s out-of-hours number and the nearest emergency clinic’s details to hand
9	Watch	Check on her calmly, note changes in behaviour and keep notes of the time and signs
10	Birth window	Stay calm and know the warning signs

Food and exercise

A pregnant dog does not eat like a normal adult. Her needs change as pregnancy and then nursing go on, and the right plan depends on her size, condition and litter. Ask your vet for a feeding plan, and do not use the standard Dog Food Calculator, which is built for normal adult dogs. Gentle exercise is usually fine, but ask your vet what suits her, especially later in pregnancy, and keep her away from other dogs that may carry infections unless your vet says it is safe.

A worked example

A dog mated on 1 October 2026. Today is 5 November.

Days since mating: 35.
Week: 35 ÷ 7 = 5, so the first day of week 6 (days 35 to 41).
Expected date: 3 December; normal window 28 November to 8 December.
Days to go to the expected date: 28.
Checklist: ultrasound confirmed? Food plan agreed? Whelping space chosen?

If the vet had timed ovulation on 1 October, the window narrows to 2 to 4 December (62 to 64 days).

Preparing the whelping space

Quiet, warm and clean, away from traffic and other pets.
Big enough for the mother to stretch out and for the litter; a standard crate is usually too small. Ask your vet about a whelping box, and read our guide to crate size for the general idea of measuring.
Washable bedding, and spare.
Easy access for you to check on her without disturbing her.
Introduce it early so she chooses it.

When to call the vet

Call your vet straight away if:

There are no puppies by day 68 from mating.
She has strong straining for 30 to 60 minutes without a puppy.
There are more than 2 to 4 hours between puppies while she still has more to deliver.
She has green discharge without a puppy.
She seems unwell at any point in the pregnancy.

Whelping problems can become urgent quickly, so when in doubt, call.

After the birth

Keep her quiet, warm and well watered. Watch that every puppy feeds and stays warm. Ask your vet when to bring the mother and litter for a check and when vaccinations should start. When the puppies are older, the Puppy Age Calculator tracks their age in weeks, and our puppy feeding chart explains their calorie needs.

Common mistakes

Counting from the day she looked pregnant.
Treating day 63 as a fixed date.
Using an adult food chart.
Not knowing the out-of-hours number.
Leaving the whelping space until the last week.
Waiting too long to call the vet.

A second calendar and a progress check

Different mating dates give different calendars. Here is a dog mated on 15 September 2026.

Week	Days	Dates
1	0 to 6	15 to 21 September
2	7 to 13	22 to 28 September
4	21 to 27	6 to 12 October
5	28 to 34	13 to 19 October
7	42 to 48	27 October to 2 November
9	56 to 62	10 to 16 November
10	63 to 69	17 to 23 November
Normal window	58 to 68	12 to 22 November
Expected date	about 63	17 November

Ultrasound from about day 25 would fall on 10 October, in week 4. If the owner mated her more than once, for example on 15 and 17 September, the window widens to 12 to 24 November.

A progress check by week

By the end of	Have you …
Week 3	Written down all mating dates? Booked a vet visit?
Week 4	Had the pregnancy confirmed? Asked about food?
Week 6	Agreed a feeding plan and exercise limits?
Week 7	Chosen and set up the whelping space?
Week 8	Let her use the space? Saved the vet and emergency numbers?
Week 9	Prepared supplies the vet suggested? Told family what to do?
Week 10	Watching calmly and ready to call if needed?

Ticking these off turns a long wait into a series of small, achievable steps, and it is easier to ask your vet specific questions at each point.

What to ask at each visit

First visit: Is she pregnant? Is she healthy enough? What should I change now?
Mid-pregnancy: What should I feed? Should we scan for litter size? What exercise is right?
Late pregnancy: What should I have at home? When should I call? Who covers out of hours?
After whelping: Are the mother and puppies healthy? When do puppies need checks and vaccines?

Litter size and the late weeks

Litter size varies with breed and with the individual dog, and your vet can usually estimate it with a scan or an X-ray later in pregnancy. The estimate is approximate, and it helps to know roughly how many puppies to expect, because it tells you when whelping may be finished and what to prepare. A single large puppy can sometimes arrive later or need more help than a normal-sized litter, so tell your vet what the scan shows.

If the due date passes

If day 63 passes with no puppies, that is not an emergency: the normal window runs to day 68 when counted from mating. What matters is what the dog is doing. If she is eating, bright and comfortable, wait and keep watching. If she seems unwell, has a discharge that is green or bloody without a puppy, is straining, or reaches day 68 with nothing, call your vet at once. If your vet has timed ovulation, the window is narrower, and they may give you earlier trigger points.

Keeping notes during whelping

Write down times, because your vet will ask. A simple log:

Time	What happened
	First signs of restlessness, nesting or panting
	Straining begins
	First puppy born
	Next puppy born, and so on

Keep the phone close, and tell the vet’s team the times if you call.

Quick summary

Count from mating: week 1 is days 0 to 6, week 9 days 56 to 62, week 10 days 63 to 69.
The normal window is day 58 to 68, centred on about day 63.
For a mating on 1 October the expected date is 3 December (28 November to 8 December).
Ultrasound can confirm from about day 25; plan food, space and out-of-hours care in the weeks after.
Call the vet for no puppies by day 68, straining for 30 to 60 minutes or green discharge without a puppy.
Use the Dog Pregnancy Week Calculator for today’s week.

Frequently asked questions

How many weeks is a dog pregnant?

About 9 weeks. Counted from mating, puppies are usually born between day 58 and day 68, which falls in weeks 9 and 10.

How do I work out which week my dog is in?

Count the days since mating and divide by 7. Days 0 to 6 are week 1, 7 to 13 week 2, and so on.

When can a vet confirm a pregnancy?

Ultrasound can confirm pregnancy from about 25 days after mating, and a blood test for relaxin is another option.

What if I know the ovulation date?

Use it. Due date is about 63 days after ovulation, and about 65 days after the LH surge.

Should I change her food?

Pregnant and nursing dogs have different needs from adults, so ask your vet rather than using the standard food amount.

When should I prepare the whelping space?

Several weeks before the due window, so she can get used to it.

When should I call the vet?

If there are no puppies by day 68, strong straining for 30 to 60 minutes without a puppy, more than 2 to 4 hours between puppies, green discharge without a puppy, or if she seems unwell.

Sources

Reviewed by the CalcuPaw Veterinary Review Team

Last reviewed 18 Oct 2026 · Meet the review team · This guide is general information, not veterinary advice.