Day 1 The length of gestation, and therefore the date of whelping, is determined by the date of ovulation which we have named DAY 0. In fact, there is normally some degree of uncertainly regarding the date of ovulation, which is difficult to identify without precise monitoring of heat by a vet. Day 2 My bitch accepts the male. Mating is preceded by a courting phase during which they play, but penetration can occur rapidly, in under a minute. There can however be a number of attempts particularly if the partners are lacking in experience. This lock phenomenon, that keeps the two dogs locked together for 15 to 30 minutes on average, can seem even stranger if the male does a 180° turn, which is more often than not the case. It is vital not to try separating them as this could cause a hemorrhage or a tear. Day 4 The sperm reach the ovum. Gestation begins when the female’s ova are fertilized by the male spermatozoa. This fertilization gives rise to a fertilized egg of which half of the genetic heritage stems from the father’s chromosomes and half from the mother’s chromosomes. This egg is the first component of a new living being, first of all an embryo until the 35th day of gestation and then a fetus and future puppy in the final third of gestation. Did You Know? Whatever the breed, gestation lasts on average 63 days in the bitch, when you count the duration between the day of ovulation and the day of whelping. This can vary between 56 to 70 days, if we are not precisely aware of the day of ovulation, as the egg can have been fertilized immediately or several days after the introduction of the spermatozoa at mating. Day 7 The embryos are afloat in the uterus Towards the end of the first week following fertilization, the embryos, which are formed very high up in the uterus, will migrate towards the uterine horns. They then float and move around within the uterine liquid. Day 8 The bitch’s heat has finished, it’s time for grooming When her heat has come to an end, you may groom your bitch as usual. The embryos are well-protected in the uterus membrane and will not come to any harm. The embryos become embedded in the uterus, this is called nidation They will progressively be enveloped in a protective membrane that provides them with the necessary supply of nutrients. Day 22 Ears begin to form. Day 25 Your vet can confirm gestation By performing an ultrasound from the 25th day of presumed gestation, the vet can establish a reliable diagnosis, giving you an idea as to the size of the litter and detecting any abnormalities. To diagnose gestation, your vet can also do a blood test to determine the level of relaxin. This hormone is only secreted by the placenta. Its presence in the blood stream is therefore proof of gestation. Whichever method your vet chooses, it is very useful to confirm your bitch’s gestation as early as possible in order to properly monitor her condition. As from the 25th day, little more than one month remains to prepare for the happy event. Day 32 The development of the embryo remains modest, but as from the 30th day, it becomes quite clear. Embryos Now we’re in the fetal stage Your bitch’s requirements are changing How to manage the change in diet? Day 40 Fetuses – The claws appear Day 45 The first hairs appear, the skeleton ossifies. The coat is one of the last organs to develop, as is the skeleton which only begins to ossify in the final third of gestation. Your bitch needs to be wormed, make an appointment with your vet. Prepare a place for your bitch to whelp Don’t forget that the room must be kept warm as newborns need heat. The floor must be easy to clean. The mother and pups will need to use this place for a few weeks, well away from any excitement so as not to disturb suckling. Day 50 The fetuses can now be seen on an x-ray Towards the 50th day of gestation, the fetuses skeletons are ossified. This examination, in most cases, will enable the number of fetuses to be counted. Day 53 All set to go. Check that you have enough linen to change the bedding regularly. Day 54 Milk production Day 55 Did you know? The fetuses are sensitive to touch, stroke your bitch’s tummy. Day 58 The bitch is looking for a quiet place to make her nest In the final days before whelping, you’ll see your bitch’ body shape changing. Her vulva, in particular will dilate and the pelvic ligaments will relax so that the puppies have enough room to pass through. By instinct, the future mother will seek out a quiet place to make her nest and will seem on edge. This shouldn’t worry you. If you haven’t yet done so, set up the whelping nest in the selected place, well away from any excitement and make it easy for her to reach. It’s a good idea to line the box with thick layers of newspaper so that she’s properly insulated from the floor. You can cover them with towels or sheets or any other material that will have to be frequently changed once the pups are born. It’s time to prepare your bitch for whelping Unless you think this will cause too much stress, it is advisable to wash your bitch so that she can give birth to her puppies in the most hygienic conditions possible. Finally, to avoid being taken by surprise at the onset of whelping you can, as most breeders do, take her rectal temperature three times a day. A drop of around one degree as compared to the average of the previous days occurs within a few hours, 24 or 48 hours, prior to whelping. Be The Alpha Teach Basic Commands Socialize Your Dog Go to Class Prevent Nuisance Barking Praise Your Dog Supervise Play With Children Give Your Dog a Job
If your bitch becomes receptive to the male, it means that her body is secreting sufficient hormones to stimulate ovulation and that she finds the male acceptable. He will thus be able to cover her.
The male mounts the bitch and penetrates her, generating a vaginal reflex in the bitch which traps the male until the act of mating is complete.
The two partners thus find themselves with their respective hind quarters stuck together, each dog facing the opposite direction.
Above all, do not spray them with water in an attempt to interrupt mating.
Mating can be repeated two days later
The mating process does not necessarily mean that fertilization has occurred.
Mating might have taken place at a time when the bitch’s fertility had not yet reached its peak. Of course, the sperm can survive in the uterus for up to 7 days and fertilization can therefore take place several days after mating. To increase chances, however, mating can be repeated once after a two day interval.
nidation_medium
The embryos become embedded in the uterus lining where they will subsequently develop.
This transient organ, the placenta, will be expelled at birth and very often eaten by the bitch.
The eyelids appear
The toes separate
The 35th day marks the end of embryogenesis, the first phase of gestation. The organs are all now beginning to form and we may now talk about fetuses even though their development is not complete. It is during this fetal phase (and in particular as from the 40th day) that almost three quarters of the of the puppies’ birth weights acquired by the fetuses.
As from the 5th week the fetuses’ development speeds up. They gain weight and their skeleton mineralises. Your bitch’s nutritional requirements will change, as she now requires a diet with higher energy, protein and mineral content. This might seem contradictory, but you may very well observe a drop in her appetite. It’s time to give her the BIRTH PROGRAMME for optimal nutrition. Palatable, high in energy content and very digestible, STARTER and STARTER Mousse are diets that have been designed as a solution to all of her increasing needs during gestation. STARTER and STARTER Mousse will also be perfectly suited to the period during which your bitch will be suckling her pups and where her nutritional requirements are also extremely high.
The change in your bitch’s diet should be managed progressively, over a period of one week.
Just mix STARTER and STARTER Mousse with her usual diet, and increase the proportions a little each day.
At the end of the 3rd day you will have a mix comprising an equal share of the two diets and at the end of the week, STARTER and STARTER Mousse will have completely replaced her former diet without any digestive problems.
Parasites are a serious threat as they can infect the puppies at birth. This is why your vet will tell you how and with which product to worm your bitch.
To avoid being caught by surprise, start preparing the place for your bitch to whelp.
The chosen place must be quiet and removed from the bustle of the household.
You can therefore ask your vet to do an x-ray.
At whelping, this will reassure you that no puppies have remained stuck.
The x-ray is not damaging to the health of your bitch or her puppies.
They must be completely dry when you use them.
Make sure you have an extra heater to ensure an ideal temperature when the puppies are born, around 30° during the first week, and plan to put in one or two containers filled with water so that the air is not too dry.
Milk begins to flow from the teats about one week prior to whelping.
This is not, however, reliable in determining the date of whelping.
Even though it is comforting to see that your bitch will be able to feed her puppies, make sure you have a tub of BABYDOG Milk, puppy milk specially developed to help cope with any feeding problems or failure in milk production by the mother.
Read the instructions and advice on hygiene.
This will make things a lot easier for you if you have to feed the puppies
In their mother’s womb, the future puppies are sensitive to touch. Don’t be afraid to stroke her tummy, as this tender gesture can be nothing but beneficial both for her and for them.
If she has long hair, you can clear the area around the vulva using round tipped scissors.
Dogs need to know who’s boss – and that boss should be you. You and your dog will be much happier together if you establish yourself as the leader of the pack.
Teach your dog basic commands such as sit, stay, come and down. Training your dog will not only make your life easier, but will also fulfill your dog’s desire to learn and please you.
Expose your dog to different people and settings regularly. Take him to the park, to the pet store, on a walk through town. Praise him for accepting petting from friendly strangers, and for behaving calmly around other dogs. The more your dog learns of the world, the more comfortable he will be in it.
Obedience classes can be a great experience for you and your dog. You may even discover that your dog has a great talent for learning, and be able to compete in obedience, agility or tracking events.
Don’t let your dog’s incessant barking annoy your neighbors. Teach your dog not to bark without real provocation. If your dog’s barking is causing problems while you’re away from home, try a silencing collar.
Because your dog loves you, he wants to please you. Praise him lavishly for obeying commands and behaving well. Using positive, rather than negative, reinforcement will help your dog enjoy learning.
Children and dogs can be great companions, but they also require supervision when playing together. Your dog may be “good with kids,” but what if he encounters a kid that is not good with dogs? Very small children should never be left alone with a dog, no matter how stable his temperament.
Keep your dog active and alert by giving him tasks to do. Teach him to fetch the paper, carry groceries in a pack or empty the dryer. Make him sit before getting a treat or lay down before going outside. Giving your dog a sense of purpose and accomplishment will increase his sense of well-being.
Bred Date JAN |
Due Date MAR |
Bred Date FEB |
Due Date APR |
Bred Date MAR |
Due Date MAY |
Bred Date APR |
Due Date JUN |
Bred Date MAY |
Due Date JUL |
Bred Date JUN |
Due Date AUG |
1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
4 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
5 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 |
6 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
7 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
8 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 |
9 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 |
10 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 |
11 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 13 |
12 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 14 |
13 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 15 |
14 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 |
15 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 14 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 17 |
16 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 |
17 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 19 |
18 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 |
19 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 21 |
20 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 22 |
21 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 23 |
22 | 26 | 22 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 24 |
23 | 27 | 23 | 27 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 25 |
24 | 28 | 24 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 26 |
25 | 29 | 25 | 29 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 27 |
26 | 30 | 26 | 30 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 28 |
27 | 31 | 27 | MAY 1 |
27 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 29 |
28 | APR 1 |
28 | MAY 2 |
28 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 30 |
29 | APR 2 |
29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | JUL 1 |
29 | 31 | 29 | 31 | |
30 | APR 3 |
30 | 30 | JUN 1 |
30 | JUL 2 |
30 | AUG 1 |
30 | SEP 1 |
|
31 | APR 4 |
31 | 31 | JUN 2 |
31 | AUG 2 |
Bred Date JUL |
Due Date SEP |
Bred Date AUG |
Due Date OCT |
Bred Date SEP |
Due Date NOV |
Bred Date OCT |
Due Date DEC |
Bred Date NOV |
Due Date JAN |
Due Date DEC |
Bred Date FEB |
1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 |
7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 |
9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 10 |
10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 11 |
11 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 12 |
12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 |
13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 |
14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 |
15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 16 |
16 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 17 |
17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 18 |
18 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 19 |
19 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 20 |
20 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 21 |
21 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 22 |
22 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 23 |
23 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 24 |
24 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 25 |
25 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 26 |
26 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 27 |
27 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 28 |
28 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 28 | MAR 1 |
29 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 29 | DEC 1 |
29 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 29 | MAR 2 |
30 | OCT 1 |
30 | NOV 1 |
30 | DEC 2 |
30 | JAN 1 |
30 | FEB 1 |
30 | MAR 3 |
31 | OCT 2 |
31 | NOV 2 |
31 | Jan 2 |
31 | MAR 4 |
Questions and Answers
[dropcaps type=”normal” color=”#03386F” size=”50px”]Q[/dropcaps] My female dog in heat was in the backyard with a not fixed male dog? So my dog is in heat. Its been around 7 days since shes been in heat. She is still dripping a little blood not a lot. I let her play with my friends dog who is not fixed. He started humping her. He was humping her for a out a hour. Do you think she could have got pregnant? Doesn’t she have to be completely done with bleeding in order to get pregnant? Or is she pregnant?
Posted by Priti J.
[dropcaps type=”normal” color=”#03386F” size=”50px”]A[/dropcaps] I would definitely keep an eye on her. It wasn’t very responsible of you to let your neighbors dog do that for an hour. But I do know that dogs do that as a way to prove they are the dominant dog even if it’s a male and a female. Here’s some info about signs to look for in your dog to indicate pregnancy:
Dog Pregnancy Primer
A female dog, correctly referred to as a bitch, can only become pregnant if she is bred during her heat cycle. The pregnancy generally lasts about 63 days from the date of the first breeding, although this period may be slightly shorter or longer. Consult LTK’s Canine Pregnancy Calendar to figure out your dog’s due date according to the date(s) she was bred.
Signs of Dog Pregnancy
Let’s break the signs of dog pregnancy into stages.
Early Signs
* Decreased appetite is usually one of the earliest signs that your bitch might be pregnant. Not all females go through this doggie version of “morning sickness”, but a small percentage will eat less during the first few weeks of gestation, usually making up for it later in the pregnancy.
* A sudden decrease in activity can indicate that your bitch is pregnant. Just like some women, canines may also experience feelings of exhaustion as their hormone levels change to support embryo production.
* Nipple growth is a good indicator that your bitch’s body is going through pregnancy changes. The nipples of an unbred female are usually quite small, and the area immediately beneath them will feel flat. However, once a pregnancy is in progress, breast material will develop beneath the nipples, which will also increase slightly in preparation for eventual milk production.
* Behavioral changes may also be noticed, with either an increase in affectionate behavior or an expressed desire to be left alone.
Progressing Signs
As the pregnancy progresses, you will notice further changes.
* An increase in appetite is usually noted about three to four weeks into the pregnancy and is especially noticeable if your female slacked off her food after her heat cycle ended.
* Weight gain should be noticeable by one month into the pregnancy. The bitch’s abdomen will thicken, and gentle examination of the belly will reveal a firm, rather than fat feeling to the area.
Late Term Signs
The signs of dog pregnancy will increase dramatically in the last weeks of gestation.
* A definite increase in abdomen size will be hard to miss if your bitch is carrying the average size litter for her breed. However, if there are only one or two pups, the abdomen may seem only slightly increased but still be firmer than her pre-pregnancy condition. A lot depends on the size/breed of the dog involved. Larger dogs have more room to carry pups, and if the litter is small, they won’t show as much. Smaller breeds usually show more since they don’t have as large an area to house the pups, and some small breeds’ abdomens will literally drag the ground near the end of the pregnancy.
* Puppy movement can be felt and seen during the last weeks of pregnancy, with a definite increase in movement a few days before delivery as the pups get into position for birth.
* Milk production begins in earnest and colostrum, the first milk, can be gently expressed from the nipples, sometimes leaking a bit on its own as the time for delivery draws near.
Signs Delivery Is Imminent
* Nesting behavior is usually displayed by a bitch in the 24-48 hours proceeding delivery, although some females begin a little sooner. You’ll notice a general restlessness, and she will likely prepare the area where she intends to deliver the pups by scrunching up blankets, newspapers and such.
If you haven’t provided your bitch with a suitable whelping box, you’re likely going to suffer some household damage, as she may decide your bed or couch cushion seems like the perfect place, and tear it up accordingly. If this happens, blame yourself, but don’t punish your bitch for this perfectly normal behavior. She is simply operating on instinct.
* A temperature drop down to 97-99 degrees Fahrenheit and held for two readings taken twelve hours apart signals impending delivery within the next 24 hours.
A normal dog temperature hovers around 101-102 degrees Fahrenheit, so if you begin taking your bitch’s temperature daily from about 58 days gestation, you will be able to establish her normal temperature, as well as when the drop takes place.
[dropcaps type=”normal” color=”#03386F” size=”50px”]Q[/dropcaps] Any ideas where I can find a canine pregnancy calendar online? I have found one before where you tipe in the date she was bred and it gives you a timeline of what to expect and an estimate on the delivery date……
Http://www.borzoicentral.com/breeding.ht…
[dropcaps type=”normal” color=”#03386F” size=”50px”]Q[/dropcaps] My Shihtzu is about 6-1/2 weeks. When am I able to detect movement in her abdomen?
I am almost 100% sure she is pregnant. She has all the signs. I was looking at at a website that had dog pregnancy calendar and had the different states of a dog’s pregnancy. It said by the 19th of this month, it should be very easy to feel movement in her abdomen. I have felt all over and haven’t felt anything, so that got me to thinking maybe her pups are dead. If anyone out there has or had a Shihtzu that got pregnant, at what point in the pregnancy were you able to detect movement?
Posted by Mark A.
[dropcaps type=”normal” color=”#03386F” size=”50px”]A[/dropcaps] I suggest you take your female to the vet.
If you are one of these dog owners that avoid the vet at all costs, then you are in no way going to be able to raise a litter of puppies successfully. The mother should go to the vet anyway during pregnancy to check everything is alright, the size and number of puppies so that when the time comes you know if there should be more or if they are too big that she’d need a C Section.
The puppies may have been absorbed or she could be going through a phantom pregnancy else you just can’t feel the pups. Either way you need to go to the vets.