The dog is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. Dogs were the first species to be domesticated by hunter-gatherers over 15,000 years ago before the development of agriculture.
Dogs are pregnant for approximately 62-64 days, or about two months, although the Merck Veterinary Manual says, “predicting the timing of a delivery can be difficult because the date of breeding does not always match the date of conception. The length of pregnancy can also vary with breed and litter size.”
Pregnancy in dogs, also called the gestation period, normally ranges from 57-65 days with an average of 63 days. With a planned breeding, you should record the exact date of mating. If there are two matings, make a note of the dates and expect birth to occur between 63 and 65 days later.
The gestation period for dogs is approximately nine weeks, but in that time the most incredible transformation occurs. And once the puppy is born, it goes through even more growth and development before joining you in its new home.
But, during this time they may vomit or have a decreased appetite. On average, dogs can be pregnant for approximately 62-64 days however, the exact dates will vary depending on your dog's breed and other factors.
The Patient Pachyderm
Elephants are the largest land mammals in the world, so it's perhaps not surprising that they have the longest pregnancy of any living mammal: African elephants are pregnant for an average of 22 months, whilst for Asian elephants it's 18 to 22 months.
After the temperature drop, stage I labor begins, characterized by restlessness and anxiety. You may notice panting, pacing, refusal of food and maybe vomiting. Nesting behavior begins. This is the time to place her in the whelping box (hopefully she is already accustomed to the box).
The approximate expected time of a dog's pregnancy is 63 days, although puppy gestation can vary by several days. Dog pregnancy can generally be expected to last between eight and nine weeks. However, just as with human pregnancies, the exact length of puppy gestation can vary slightly by several days.
Week Seven
You will notice your dog's breast tissue is swollen, her nipples are prominent and dark, and you may notice colostrum, a cloudy fluid known as "first milk" leaking from her nipples. She may start to shed the hair from her belly. You may also be able to see and feel the fetuses move beneath her skin.
Some females can produce multiple litters within a 12-month period. It just depends on the dog's natural cycle, body condition and the desires of the breeder. A handful of canines will cycle three or four times a year, but most dogs only have two cycles per year, spaced about six months apart.
Number of Litters for Female Dogs
It's possible for a female dog to have a maximum of three litters a year. Female dogs can go into heat between the ages of six to 12 months and do not go into menopause. Assuming a dog lives to the average age of 11, this means a dog could have up to 30 litters.
Interested in adding a new puppy to your family? A dog is capable of having over ten litters in her lifetime, however, most dogs will not be able to produce this number of healthy litters and remain healthy herself. One obvious sign that a female should be retired is that her litter size drops drastically.
In general, puppies become adult dogs between one and two years of age. But it's not like they wake up the morning of their first birthday and are suddenly grown-up dogs! In fact, puppy maturation is a process, and it varies from dog to dog depending on size, breed, socialization, and more.
A normal litter size can range from 1 to 12 puppies, with 5-6 puppies being average across all dogs. But just as every breed of dog differs by size, function, and personality, they also differ when it comes to litter size, according to AKC registration data.
Most dogs, given the opportunity, will end up mating when the female is in heat. A whopping 40% of female dogs will fall pregnant after just one mating session!
The normal gestation period in dogs is approximately 63 days from conception, although this can vary by several days.
Typically, you can feel the puppies moving around anytime after six weeks of pregnancy. A veterinarian can use palpation around five weeks to potentially feel the puppies sooner. However, manipulating the movement of the puppies might be dangerous for them.
Dogs have the ability to sniff out changes in the human body, and many have developed impressive skill in detecting cancer, diabetes, and other health conditions in humans. During pregnancy, your hormones shift and are released in different patterns and quantities, and these changes are sure to be noticed by your dog.
She will begin to put on a bit of a belly as she gains her baby weight around day 40. Some first-time moms and those with smaller litters may not gain much, making it harder still to identify her pregnancy. Most dogs ends up weighing about 50% more than normal. Her appetite will change, usually increasing.
But as you get closer and closer to delivery, your body will go through some 11th-hour changes that your dog might notice. And as a result, they may become extra protective and clingy, following you around the home to make sure you're OK.
The delivery of an entire litter of puppies can take between 1 and 24 hours. Increased puppy survival is associated with shorter total delivery time (less than 12 hours) and an interval of less than 2 hours between puppies. Discharge from the vulva during this time may be clear or bloody and this would be normal.
ONSET OF LABOR: Within 6 to 24 hours of the onset of labor, the mother will become extremely nervous and restless (whining, crying, panting, shivering, wants in and out, refuses food, etc.). This is normal. At this time, take the mother outside of mild exercise and to go to the bathroom.
Your dog's waters may break, which will be seen as clear fluid. In normal labour, your dog may show weak and infrequent straining for up to 2 hours (or at the most 4 hours) before giving birth to her first puppy.
Get hold of your vet's out-of-hours phone number prior to your dog giving birth, as delivery often happens during the night.