Week 1 (days 0 to 7)
Mating and fertilization. Eggs take about two days to mature after ovulation, and sperm can wait for them. There are no visible signs. Keep her routine and diet normal.
Week 2 (days 8 to 14)
Embryos travel down to the uterus. Some females become a little quieter or more affectionate.
Week 3 (days 15 to 21)
Embryos implant in the uterine wall around days 16 to 20. Some dogs have a few days of "morning sickness" and go off their food.
Week 4 (days 22 to 28)
Your vet can confirm pregnancy by ultrasound from about day 25, and often by gentle palpation between days 28 and 35. This is the most delicate stage for development, so avoid rough play and any medicines your vet hasn't approved.
Week 5 (days 29 to 35)
Fetuses grow fast and look like puppies. Her belly may start to round and her weight rises. Start switching gradually to a high-quality puppy or growth formula.
Week 6 (days 36 to 42)
Nipples darken and enlarge, and her appetite increases. Raise food by about 10% a week from now, and split it into smaller, more frequent meals as space gets tight.
Week 7 (days 43 to 49)
Puppy skeletons are now visible on X-ray (from about day 45), so your vet can count them. Knowing the number tells you when whelping is finished. Introduce the whelping box.
Week 8 (days 50 to 56)
You may see puppies moving when she lies on her side. She may start nesting. Begin taking her rectal temperature twice daily to learn her normal baseline.
Week 9 (days 57 to 63+)
Labor is near. A drop below about 99°F (37.2°C) usually means puppies within 24 hours. Expect restlessness, panting, shivering and refusing food. Have your vet's out-of-hours number ready.
Get dates for every stage with the dog pregnancy calculator.
Frequently asked questions
When does a pregnant dog start showing?
Most start to look rounder around day 40 (week 6). Dogs carrying one or two puppies, or with deep chests, may barely show until the last couple of weeks.
How much should I feed a pregnant dog?
Normal amounts for the first 4 to 5 weeks, then increase about 10% per week so she eats roughly 25 to 50% more by whelping. During peak nursing she may need 2 to 4 times her normal amount.