Home Dog Ownership & Care # Dog Pregnancy: Maximize the Chance Your Female Dog Gets Pregnant The Woof & Beyond Team Updated August 1, 2022 4 min read Not veterinary advice ![](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/static/dcb8362ccb84c1d7c34d5da237263fa4/5e493/image.jpg) Getting your female dog pregnant probably sounds like it should be pretty simple. You understand the basics of Reproduction 101. There shouldn’t be much more to it, right? Well, sometimes, yes. But sometimes, it’s a little more complicated. Your pup may get pregnant quickly, but it also may take some time and multiple breeding attempts before she’s a mama-to-be. But did you know that there are things you can do to help this whole process along? **There are many ways to maximize your female dog’s chances of becoming pregnant. Some of these include making sure she’s clear of common infections and health issues, feeding her a proper diet with supplementation if needed, and mating her with quality male dogs who have proven to be fertile.** In this article, I will explain all the ways to increase the chance of your dog getting pregnant. In addition, I will provide helpful tips to maximize your female dog’s fertility and also detail how often you should try to mate your female dog to successfully get them pregnant. While getting a female dog pregnant is simple, it’s not always easy! Join me as I reveal how to best increase the chance of your dog getting pregnant. Let’s go! ## How to Increase the Chance of Your Dog Getting Pregnant ![image1](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/static/7338fcbc22ad14ff9e45eae2c2e9fb32/d7ad1/image1.jpg) Many things factor into how easy it will be for your female dog to get pregnant. Before I get into some tips to increase your odds, I will start with the basics. If you are trying to get your dog pregnant, you will want to make sure you are doing it at the [right time.](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/how-old-does-a-dog-have-to-be-to-breed/) This time is during your pup’s window of fertility called [Estrus.](https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/estrus-cycles-in-dogs#:~:text=Estrus%20is%20the%20stage%20when,can%20be%20shorter%20or%20longer.) During this time, your dog is in heat and capable of being impregnated by a male dog. Your dog will have several heats throughout her lifetime. And she may technically be fertile through them all. But it’s best to wait until your dog has successfully been through at least two heats before breeding her. It is around this time she will be physically and emotionally mature enough to care for her litter. You can continue to mate your female dog throughout her lifetime as long as she is in heat. But her chances of becoming pregnant and producing quality litter will dwindle as she ages. Okay, you’ve waited for a few heats and pinpointed the perfect time to start mating your pup. Great! Here is a breakdown of some [ways](https://breedingbusiness.com/increase-female-dog-fertility/#:~:text=To%20increase%20the%20fertility%20of,their%20estrus%20gets%20messed%20up.) to increase your female dog’s chances of getting pregnant: ### Make Sure She Is Healthy Several health issues can stand in the way of your pup and a healthy and easy journey to pregnancy. Before you even begin trying to mate your dog, it can be a good idea to have her professionally evaluated. During this visit, she can be tested to be sure she’s free of any infections, disorders, or abnormalities. [Tests](https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/infertility-in-female-dogs) your vet may conduct include: - Vaginal swab cultures - Screening for infectious diseases like brucellosis - Abdominal x-rays and ultrasounds - Hormone level screenings - Blood cell count and urinalysis Depending on the results of these tests, your dog may require medication, surgical intervention, or lifestyle modifications. Treating any hidden or underlying conditions may be all that it takes for your pup to get pregnant quickly and easily. ### Evaluate Her Diet and Supplement If Necessary Before trying to mate your pup, make sure that she is at a healthy weight for her age, size, and breed. Ideally, she shouldn’t be overweight, and she shouldn’t be underweight. Your vet can help you determine her best weight if you’re unsure. You will want to feed her a healthy diet, high in protein and good fats and lower in carbs. A diet too high in carbs can throw your dog’s blood sugar levels off and aggravate hormonal imbalances that can cause infertility. Home-cooked diets with simple ingredients rich in greens can help increase your dog’s fertility. Fresh and natural are both good guiding principles, but you don’t want to feed your dog a totally raw food diet. A completely raw diet could put her at risk of contracting bacterial infections. Your vet can help you determine if you should supplement your dog’s diet with a good multivitamin. Another over-the-counter supplement, Sepia 30C, may help support your dog’s body as she is being bred. Sepia 30C may aid in balancing your dog’s hormone levels by helping to calm your pup’s stress levels. If you decide to use any supplement to aid fertility in your dog, since every dog is different, make sure to consult your vet. ### Mate Her with High-Quality Fertile Male Dogs If your female dog is having trouble getting pregnant, it may not be her after all. It could be the male you are mating her with! If a male has a low count or quality of sperm, this could hinder your female pup’s chances of becoming pregnant. If you’ve explored other options and your dog still hasn’t become pregnant, try mating her with a male dog who has proven that he’s already successfully fathered a healthy litter. This may be all it takes! ### Mate Her Frequently, but Not Too Much For the highest chances of your pup successfully getting pregnant, there is a [specific amount of times](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/how-to-increase-chance-for-male-dog-to-impregnate/) you will want to try to mate her. More is not always necessarily better, but one time is usually not enough! While this number can vary a little bit, a good rule of thumb to try is twice within a 24-to-48-hour period. If you’d like to try a little more, the maximum amount of time recommended for mating your dog is twice daily. ## Remember, It’s Simple, but It’s Not Always Easy! ![image2](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/static/066c84aa448c5525eb0eb2927b5882d4/d7ad1/image2.jpg) Even if you understand the very obvious “how” of getting your female dog pregnant, the path to getting her there may be a little tricky. Nature should and often does just take its course, but sometimes your pup may need some help. And this is totally okay! After you’ve made sure your pup is mature and is in heat, it is also wise to make sure she is free from all diseases, conditions, and imbalances that could keep her from becoming pregnant. Feeding her a high-quality diet that is rich in fats and protein and low in carbs may also help. Providing her with necessary supplements and mating her enough times with high-quality, fertile male dogs may also do the trick. But, don’t forget to consult your vet before trying supplements. I hope by implementing these tips, you may find the missing piece to help your pup get pregnant, pronto! This is not a substitute for advice from a vet who can examine your dog. Breeding Dog Pregnancy Previous Female Dog Refuses to Breed? Here’s Why & What to Do Next Feeding Your Dog Once a Day: Is It Cruel? People also ask Dog Pregnancy: Can a Female Dog Get Pregnant When Not in Heat? Dog Pregnancy & Lactation: When Do Pregnant Dogs Get Milk? Dog Pregnancy: When Can You Feel Puppies Move? Going into Heat After Dog Pregnancy: How Long Does It Take? When Can You Bathe Your Dog After She Gave Birth? Why Male Dogs Act Differently Around Pregnant Female Dogs ## Other questions about dog ownership & care The ones people read straight after this. Dog Ownership & Care ### [Dog Pregnancy: Can a Female Dog Get Pregnant When Not in Heat?](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/can-dog-get-pregnant-when-not-in-heat/) So, you’re the proud owner of an unfixed female dog. 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