How Do Dogs Reproduce?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 26, 2020

Dogs give birth to litters, meaning multiple puppies. They first come into heat and then must have sex in order to become pregnant.

A female dog comes into heat for 18 to 21 days every 6 months. Larger breeds only go into heat once a year. She will be attracted to male dogs approximately 3 to 4 days afterwards. The two dogs become stuck together during the mating process. This is called being tied together. Pregnancy in dogs lasts about 2 months. Labor in dogs is similar to human labor. The dog begins contractions before giving birth. After birth, she removes the umbilical cord.