German Shepherd gestation period--precise - Page 1

I know that most dogs have similar gestation period, 62-64 days after ovulation.

I want to know if the GSDs (may be most larger breeds) tend to have a bit little longer gestation period, say 63-65 or 66 days after ovulation.


I read that small litters tend to have a day or two longer gestation, since the "We want out" hormone is less.  

breeders of many litters of GSD may have an idea.

My vet has said that it should be 63 days from time of the LH surge, which is effectively 61 days from ovulation. My actual experience has been that my dogs have their puppies 59 to 63 days from ovulation.

I had one litter that I did not do any progesterone testing--and I think she was bred too early (the first litter I bred). She had her puppies 66 days after the day of first breeding--and it was a small, 2-pup litter. Another female of mine never went past day 60 and she was regularly progesterone tested to make sure I knew when she was ovulating.

So, really, 59-63 days doesn't help much at all. I watch the female closely and take her temperature twice a day after day 58. If the temperature drops below 99, then usually, serious labor will start within 24 hours. However, since the temperature will "bounce" below 99 and then back up, you can miss this drop.

Behavioral changes have been the biggest indicators for me--panting, agitation, denning, digging mean that pre-labor has started and real labor will start sometime in the next 24 hours.

Good luck!

In a perfect world, we'd have precise timelines.

In reality, my experience is I have about ten minutes from the time she starts tearing up my blankets and dog beds. LOL

I read from many sources that the average for all breeds is 63 days after ovulation or 65 days after LH surge, not 63 days after LH surge. +/- one day very possible.

I think if you had done progesterone test at the right time, that means catching the 4.5-5.5 ng/ml reading, you can predict the whelping day to within 48 hours.

A reading of about 2-2.5 is also good.

If you get a reading of 15 ng/ml, all it says is to breed at once but the date of ovulation can be off by 48 hours.

Perhaps the practical signifcance is how long to wait until you start to worry.

If say at day 1 the progesterone is 5.0.

If x-ray at day 50 confirms pups and by day 65 there is still no labor, do you start to be concerned?

The issue isn't determining gestation but determining ovulation.

"The issue isn't determining gestation but determining ovulation.

Actually it is both.


Determining ovulation aids the timing of breeding.

Gestation period, after knowing ovulation, aids decisions about labor.
 "

Actually, the gestation period is fairly constant if you know when ovulation occurred.

whelping is NOT a precise thing! They are not machines and many bitches have their own timing. Many of mine deliver on day 59. Sometimes it can vary because of the size of the litter.  It's more like getting to know your bitch's individual whelping habits. After all, human women have their own timing also!!!
Debby