Pregnancy & Whelping
What this section helps with
- Understanding typical pregnancy length and natural timing variation
- Recognizing how pregnancy progresses from early development to delivery
- Distinguishing normal delivery variation from situations needing attention
- Avoiding rigid timelines or pass–fail expectations
Guides in this section
All 12 articles
Featured guide
Dog Pregnancy Week by Week
A complete, detailed week-by-week guide covering every stage from fertilisation to whelping — what's happening with the dam, puppy development, what to do each week, and when to act.
How Long Are Dogs Pregnant?
A foundational explanation of typical canine pregnancy length, why timing varies, and how breeders plan around realistic delivery windows.
How to Use a Whelping Calculator
A plain-English walkthrough of the whelping calculator — which date to enter, what the due date and whelp date mean, and why your result is a delivery window, not a single day.
Progesterone Testing Protocol
Time your breeding window accurately using progesterone testing. Covers the LH surge, ovulation window, and optimal days for natural and AI breeding with interactive curves.
3 Trimesters of Dog Pregnancy
Trimester-based view: each stage's diagnostic windows (ultrasound day 28, X-ray day 55), feeding shifts, and breeder action items.
Signs a Dog Is Going Into Labor
What to watch for as your dog approaches labor — the temperature drop, behavioral changes, physical signs, and what normal active labor looks like.
What's Normal vs Not During Whelping
A practical guide to understanding normal variation during delivery and recognizing when closer observation may be reasonable.
How to Care for Newborn Puppies
A practical guide to the first weeks of life — warmth, nursing, weight monitoring, supplemental feeding, and recognizing when a puppy needs closer attention.
French Bulldog Pregnancy Week by Week
A week-by-week walkthrough of French Bulldog pregnancy — what typically happens at each stage, what to monitor, and how to prepare for whelping in this unique breed.
C-Section in Dogs — Prep, Cost & Recovery
Which breeds commonly need C-sections, how to prepare for scheduled and emergency surgery, cost ranges, and a complete recovery timeline for dam and puppies.
Post-Whelping Complications — Mastitis, Eclampsia & What to Watch For
Recognizing and responding to post-whelping emergencies — eclampsia, mastitis, retained placenta, metritis, and when each typically occurs.
Whelping Box Setup — Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about setting up a safe, comfortable whelping area — sizing by breed, materials, pig rails, bedding, and temperature management.
How to use this section
Start with the foundational articles to understand how pregnancy typically progresses and what variation is considered normal. Use the delivery-focused articles as a reference when questions arise, rather than as a checklist to follow rigidly.
Pregnancy and delivery are natural processes shaped by timing, variation, and individual differences. These resources support confidence and preparation — not urgency or fear.