How Long Are Dogs Pregnant?
Dogs are pregnant for about 63 days, or nine weeks. VCA Animal Hospitals gives a normal range of 57 to 65 days; how close you can get to the real date depends on what you count from.
Quick due date
63 days from breedingFor LH or ovulation dates and the full milestone list, use the dog pregnancy calculator.
Why the dog gestation period has a range
Counted from the day she ovulates, pregnancy is remarkably consistent: the Merck Veterinary Manual puts it at about 62–64 days. The spread comes from the breeding date. A bitch may accept the male before she ovulates, and the AKC points out that this is why due dates counted from breeding range from 58 to 72 days.
Breeders who need an accurate date, for instance because a planned C-section is likely, ask their vet to track progesterone or the LH surge. The AKC calls the ovulation date or LH surge "the best predictors of the due date."
Dog pregnancy length in weeks
Nine weeks is the rule of thumb. Broadly, the first three weeks are early pregnancy with few outward changes, the middle three are when a vet can confirm it and her shape starts to change, and the last three are when she needs more food and you prepare for whelping. Our dog pregnancy week-by-week guide covers each week.
Does breed or litter size change it?
The published figures apply across breeds. Individual dogs vary, and because the date of breeding doesn't always match conception, Merck notes that "predicting the timing of delivery can be difficult." Your vet can refine the date with an ultrasound or an X-ray late in pregnancy.
If she passes the end of her window, or shows signs of labor well before it, call your veterinarian. These timings are general guidance and can't replace an examination.
Questions breeders ask
How many weeks are dogs pregnant?
About nine weeks. The average is 63 days, with a normal range of about 57–65 days (VCA).
How many months is a dog pregnant?
Roughly two months. At 63 days it is just over two calendar months.
Can a dog be pregnant for 70 days?
Counted from the first breeding, the AKC gives a range of 58–72 days, because she may have been mated days before ovulating. Counted from ovulation it is only about 62–64 days. If you are unsure or she seems overdue, ask your vet to check her.
What is the most accurate way to know the due date?
Vet-confirmed ovulation timing. The AKC gives 63 days from ovulation and 65–66 days from the LH surge, compared with the much wider range from a breeding date.