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How old does a female dog need to be to have her first puppies?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female

At what age does a dog give birth???

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Catherine Stecyk

Veterinarian

Published on May 14th, 2019

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. An intact female dog, depending on the size and breed, will likely have her first heat cycle between the ages of 6 months and 18 months. If she were bred at that first cycle, she should give birth approximately 63 days after this mating. I hope this is helpful!

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