What to Expect When Your Dog is Expecting
From midnight cravings for pickles (well, maybe not pickles) to the art of creating the coziest whelping den, this blog is your front-row seat to all things "What to Expect When Expecting Puppies." So grab your doggy treat stash and let's dive into this tail-wagging adventure together!
In the beginning of June, I noticed our Great Pyrenees dogs, Sampson and Gracie, were stuck together. When I saw them struggling, my dad and I ran over and pulled them apart. I had no idea that being "stuck" was totally normal. Technically it’s called “the tie”. I later learned that pulling them apart could have really hurt Sampson's penis, but luckily he didn’t have any damage.
Okay so what was really happened here? A tie is a natural phenomenon of dog breeding in which the tip bulb of the male's penis swells inside the girl dogs vagina. The dogs are pretty much locked together for 15-20 minutes (sometimes even up to 45 minutes) during which time ejaculation has taken place. As soon as the dogs lock, the male usually moves his leg over her back, and they turn butt to butt as they remain locked. After this happened of course I turned to instagram and asked my followers if they have ever pulled their dogs apart during sex and I actually received some really helpful feedback! Almost everyone that said they had done this mentioned that after that happened their dog became pregnant! We've experienced a lot of different animal pregnancies but we've never had a pregnant dog, so this was exciting! We definitely had lots of questions. I asked trusted friends and researched a lot, so I want to share my findings with you!
How To Tell If Your Dog Is Pregnant
Physical Changes: Keep an eye on your fur baby's figure. Is her belly getting rounder? Is she gaining some weight? These can be indicators of little puppies growing inside.
Behavioral Shifts: Dogs have their own unique way of telling us things. Watch out for any changes in your dog's behavior—whether it's extra cuddles and affection or seeking a cozy corner for some alone time.
Nesting Instincts: Just like us humans, pregnant dogs have a knack for creating cozy nests. If you spot your dog collecting blankets or rearranging her sleeping spot, it might be a sign that maternal instincts are kicking in.
Nipple Transformations: Around three weeks into pregnancy, you may notice some changes in your dog's mammary glands. They might become larger, and the nipples may darken and stand out more. (this is what we're starting to see in Gracie)
Veterinary Wisdom: When in doubt, seek the guidance of a trusted veterinarian. They have the knowledge and expertise to conduct physical examinations, ultrasound or X-ray imaging, and other tests to confirm if your dog is indeed on the journey to becoming a mama.
10 Facts About Puppies & Dog Pregnancy!
1. Female dogs are pregnant for 63 days on average.
2. The number of puppies in a litter depends on a few factors: On average, dog have litters of five to six puppies, however this number varies depending on the breed size and age of the dog.
3. Puppies are born blind, deaf and toothless.
4. Puppies spend 15-20 hours a day sleeping
5. Mother dogs help their puppies poop.
6. Provide your dog with a Whelping Box: Use a large plastic kiddie pool for birth!
7. Your mama dog's body temperature will drop and she will start to shiver in the 12-24 hours before she goes into labor.
8. Around 40% of puppies are born tail first
9. Your mama dog may eat the placenta
10. Newborn puppies typically double their birth weight within the first week
We had a sneaking suspicion that Gracie was in fact pregnant, but chose not to get an ultrasound to confirm. Instead, I noticed that her nipples were getting larger, her body was not squishy, and closer to the 50 day mark, I could feel movement in her stomach. As you may already know - Gracie gave birth to 10 puppies!! Solid proof that pulling out doesn’t work for dogs!