Congratulations! You are going to be part of a wonderful experience with your pregnant Rottweiler! What’s sweeter than helping to usher miniature balls of living joy into the world? Whether it’s your Rottie’s first litter or third, the thrill never fades!
If this will be your first experience, Rottie Resource did some research for you and compiled the information into an easy-to-follow format in this informative Rottweiler Pregnancy Guide.
We’ll go over what to expect when your Rottie’s expecting and what you can do to ensure she has top-rate care before, during, and after she delivers! If you’ve not yet decided to breed your Rottie, this guide is a valuable source of information you can utilize to make your decision.
Either way, you’ll learn all you need to know about Pregnancy and Rottweilers!
BUT FIRST THIS WORD: “Whelp” a verb meaning “To give birth to.”
Part One: BEFORE YOUR ROTTWEILER IS PREGNANT
We at Rottie Resource hope you haven’t found your Rottweiler pregnant by accident. Although it happens, every precaution should be taken to make every Rottweiler pregnancy a planned one. Each year, more than 670,000 unwanted dogs are euthanized in United States Animal Shelters simply for being unwanted. Such a sad statistic!
The decision to breed must be made responsibly. That being said, let’s take a look at the complete reproductive cycle of Rottweilers, and how you can best care for your pregnant Rottweiler!
When Can Female Rottweilers get Pregnant?
At as early of six months of age, your female Rottweiler can go “in heat”. Closer to a year of age is more common, but it’s important to know it can happen sooner so that every pregnancy is planned! Your Rottie’s first “heat” IS NOT when you want her to get pregnant!
The reproductive term “in heat” is Canine Estrus, and it has 4 Stages. These are:
- Proestrus: This is the beginning of her “heat” cycle. You may notice her being frisky or even flirty, but she will not let a male mount her now. Her vaginal area will appear swollen, and small amounts of blood will drip from her. This can last a little less or a little more than a week.
- Estrus: This stage is the “prime” breeding stage, and your female Rottweiler will happily accept coupling with a male. This stage is also about a week-long, give or take a couple of days on either side.
- Diestrus: Your Rottie won’t entertain advances from males any longer. Diestrus lasts the length of her pregnancy, or about 80 days if no pregnancy occurs.
- Anestrus: This is the time between your Rottweiler’s heat cycles. Males won’t be attracted to her during this time.
REMEMBER: Your female Rottweiler will go through this “heat cycle” about every six months, and it will last approximately three weeks. These are estimates, and like human females, your Rottie can have fluctuations in her reproductive cycle.
Preventing Pregnancy When Your Femail Rottweiler is “In Heat”
Make no mistake about it, the odor from the pheromones (chemicals) your Rottie is releasing while she’s “in heat” will be detected by male dogs as far away as two miles! Their inherent instinct to breed will overpower even the most well-behaved dog’s training and good manners. You’ll be astounded to learn how smart and creative some of these males will be in gaining access to your female!
The only way to prevent unwanted pregnancy for your Rottweiler is to guarantee no male is granted that access! Do not let your Rottie outside alone when she’s “in heat” even in a fenced yard! If she will have to be around male dogs, secure her “danger zone” in a Canine Garment designed especially for his reason.
PLEASE NOTE: When a female is “in heat” both the male and female revert to instinct. Do NOT underestimate their intelligence or determination! Even pants or diapers can slip or be moved in a male’s attempt to mount. The best way to prevent pregnancy is to keep your female Rottie AWAY from males. Diapers and pants to prevent pregnancy are both intended to be used under human supervision.
Breeding Your Female Rottweiler
Timing is essential when breeding your Rottweiler! We discovered above when your Rottweiler can achieve pregnancy and the fact that this shouldn’t occur in her first “heat cycle”. If you’ve skimmed to get to this section. Please go back to the “When Can Female Rottweilers get Pregnant?” section for important information regarding your Rottie’s reproductive cycle.
The reason you don’t want your Rottie to become pregnant during her first “heat” is that she is still growing herself, and will not thrive while trying to provide her pups with adequate nutrition.
A pregnancy, while she is still considered a pup herself can be dangerous for both your Rottie and her puppies! Watch for her to enter her first “Proestrus” (as discussed previously in this article) and make your preparations to keep her pregnancy-free during her “prime time”. A female Rottweiler will finish maturing in her second year. This is the age of an optimally healthy pregnancy.
BREEDING FACT: Another benefit of waiting until your Rottweiler is fully mature before you breed her is learning to predict her reproductive cycle. Although it’s not an exact science, she will come “in heat” twice yearly, at about the same time each year.
This is good to know if you will have to pre-arrange stud service for her next cycle. Finding the right stud, with the right paperwork and medical report, along with agreeing on a contract with the stud’s owner may take some time.
Healthy Rottie = Healthy Puppies
The absolute best way to care for a pregnant Rottweiler is to make sure she’s healthy, fit, and well-rounded in temperament before breeding her is even a consideration.
This includes raising her on a nutritionally sound diet, providing her access to proper medical care, socializing her from an early age, ensuring she has adequate exercise, and training her in a kind and progressive way.
PLEASE NOTE: If you plan to breed your Rottweiler, do NOT administer vaccines directly before breeding, or for the whole time she is pregnant and nursing.
Part Two: Caring For Your Rottweiler During Her Pregnancy
When pregnancy occurs during the estrus cycle (explained above in this article), the embryos and their placenta will attach to the walls of your Rottweiler’s uterus. This is where they will receive nutrition and oxygen from the mother.
For the next two months, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your Rottie, making sure she is comfortable, nourished, exercised and LOVED.
How Long Are Rottweilers Pregnant?
Your Rottweiler will be pregnant for about 63 days. She may safely deliver up to a week before or after, but 63 days is the “official” count for a full-term pregnancy. Rottie Resource recommends a complete veterinary examination if delivery doesn’t happen within 65 days of successful breeding. Nothing is more important than your Rottie’s health!
Does a Pregnant Rottweiler Need to Go to the Veterinarian?
Yes, yes and YES! Take your Rottie for a veterinary exam as soon as you suspect she is pregnant from successful breeding. Follow the protocol outlined during that visit. Your veterinarian will tell you how often to bring your Rottie in during her pregnancy.
Often, a veterinarian will recommend x-rays to be taken a week or so before delivery. This ensures that all pups are alive, “in place” and can provide a puppy count, helping you know what to expect. Prenatal medical care is as essential to your Rottweiler as it is to any expecting human!
SAFETY TIP: Do NOT give any vitamin supplements to your Rottie unless the veterinarian prescribes them! Some supplements can actually cause birth defects in the puppies!
Should Your Pregnant Rottweiler Eat More?
Sound nutrition is essential to your Rottweiler for her entire life! When pregnant, her requirements for fat and protein will increase though, to provide adequate nutrition for her developing pups. The Rottie Resource suggests that you switch your Rottie to food designed for pregnant and lactating (nursing) dogs at the beginning of her “heat” cycle if you intend to breed her.
This will ensure from the beginning that her, and her developing puppies, have everything they need. Don’t be alarmed if your Rottie’s appetite fluctuates during pregnancy! Some days she will eat very little, and other days, she can eat double her normal portion! Follow her lead, this is not the time for portion control!
FEEDING TIP: It’s normal for a female Rottweiler to eat double her normal portion during pregnancy and even triple her regular portion while nursing!
Pregnant Rottweilers Need Exercise!
Your Rottweiler will ALWAYS need exercise! Pregnancy is no exception. Exercise forms strong muscles, aids in the digestion process, prevents obesity, relieves boredom, and helps release excess energy.
Regular exercise makes the whole reproductive process is healthier (and easier!) when your Rottie is healthy and fit. As the pregnancy progresses, she may slow down a bit, and that’s okay! Offer regular walks, and let her set the pace.
Additionally, you may still play the games your Rottie loves playing. Don’t over-work her, and always be sure she has a fresh supply of clean water for hydration. This hydration is critical always, but more so during pregnancy and while she is nursing! After she has exercised, your Rottie is sure to appreciate a nice rubdown, with or without a brush, and then some time to rest.
Being pregnant can make movement uncomfortable, and your Rottie will tire more easily. Remember, every interaction you have with your Rottweiler is an opportunity to strengthen your bond with her!
The Benefits of Massage for Pregnant Rottweilers:
If you’ve never been pregnant, you may not fully understand how uncomfortable a changing body can be. If you have been pregnant, you know for sure! On top of all the hormonal changes taking place, your Rottweiler’s skin is stretching as her puppy grows inside her. This can cause back pain, leg pain and just an allover feeling of discomfort.
Massage is an excellent source of relief for this discomfort! On top of that, massage is a wonderful bonding tool for you and your Rottweiler. Rottie Resource has a helpful Mini Massage Manual to teach you the technique. You’ll find it in THIS ARTICLE
Can You Bathe Your Pregnant Rottweiler?
You may continue with your already-established grooming regime throughout your Rottie’s pregnancy. Chances are, she won’t need a bath during the time she expecting, but if one is required, her comfort should be your primary concern. Rotties, like humans, have hormone levels that greatly fluctuate during pregnancy, and even a Rottie that usually loves bathtime might balk at it in her condition.
You can use a warm wet cloth for touch-ups on her fur if she doesn’t want a bath. There are even pre-moistened towelettes available designed for quick Canine clean-ups. You’ll find these and any product mentioned in this article on our handy RESOURCE PAGES (Coming Soon!).
What You’ll Need in the “Delivery Room”
- A Whelping Box: A whelping box is essentially a container where the mom can go and feel comfortable before, during, and after delivery of her pups, called whelping.
You can buy pre-made whelping boxes or make one yourself. A sturdy cardboard box with the front cut down for entry works, as well as a large laundry basket or bin. The sides only need to be high enough to prevent any drafts from reaching the pups.
- Towels (and lots of them!)
- Emergency supplies: You’ll want to have scissors, rubber gloves, an antiseptic solution, and heavy thread or dental floss in the event you need to tie umbilical cords.
- Emergency Veterinarian Telephone Number
HELPFUL PUPPY HACK; “Mark” your puppies by tieing a short piece of different colored ribbons or string around one ankle on each, tracking the birth order. Be sure it is snug enough to not be chewed off by another puppy, but it SHOULD NOT be tight or binding. This will make it easy to distinguish which puppy is which at a glance!
Call the Veterinarian IMMEDIATELY if Your Pregnant Rottweiler…
…Starts Bleeding
…Cries Out in Pain
…Can’t Tolerate Food or Water
…Can’t Pass Urine or Feces
…Miscarries Her Litter
Part Three: The Birthing Process for Rottweilers
If you’ve never been present for an animal giving birth, it can be a little unsettling! The more you know what to expect and what you can do, the more comfortable you’ll be for the grand event! Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) about a Rottweiler’s birthing process and their answers.
“When will my pregnant Rottweiler go into labor?”
The exact perfect timing for a Rottweiler pregnancy is 63 days from successful breeding. The birthing process is called labor, and this labor could begin as much as a week early or a week late.
If it’s been 65 days since breeding, the Rottie Resource recommends you take your Rottie to the veterinarian to be sure there are no complications preventing labor.
“How will I Know my Rottweiler is in Labor?”
PLEASE NOTE: Someone should be with your Rottweiler through the COMPLETE birthing process (especially for the first litter)! Try not to leave your Rottie alone from about two weeks before her due date.
It’s not unusual for your Rottweiler to start gathering her blankets or rearranging her bedding area as she nears her due date. This is an instinct called “nesting” and she is literally making herself and her puppies a “safe place” for birthing.
Approximately two weeks from her due date, you should begin taking her temperature (rectally) once a day, at a consistent time. Your Rottie’s temperature is a big indicator of impending labor. Her normal temperature will be between 101°F and 102.5°F.
A drop in the body temperature signals the beginning of labor. A temperature below 100°F means that your Rottie should begin delivering within the next twenty-four hours.
You will also want to start checking your Rottie for physical signs of the onset of labor. These include:
- Pacing (This pacing helps promote the onset of labor.)
- Excessive Panting (Have fresh water available, but don’t be surprised if your Rottie isn’t thirsty. Leave the decision up to her, just have it available.)
- Restlessness (Your Rottie knows something big is about to happen! This might make her nervous.)
- Loss of Appetite (Don’t be alarmed if your Rottie isn’t interested in food at all a day or so before delivery, this is normal. Offer the food at mealtime, and remove the bowl in 15 minutes, whether she’s eaten or not.)
- Vomiting (Your Rottweiler is instinctually emptying her stomach for the birthing process, do not be alarmed unless there is blood in the vomit, or she doesn’t stop vomiting.)
- Shakiness (As her body’s instincts take over, your Rottie may appear weak and shaky. This is normal. Have her in her safe place, and offer reassurance, affection or massage.)
- Contractions (Your Rottie’s abdominal muscles will drastically tighten at intervals of increasing frequency. These motions are called contractions and will last until the puppies and the “afterbirth” are delivered.)
HELPFUL DEFINITION: Afterbirth: The placenta and fetal membranes discharged from the uterus after the birth of offspring.
“How long will labor last for my Rottweiler?”
The length of the birthing process can be from 6-18 hours.
“Should my Rottie eat or drink while in labor?”
Chances are, your Rottweiler will neither eat nor drink during the labor and birth process. For sure, you’ll want to have fresh clean water nearby, but offering food isn’t necessary unless your Rottie has been in labor for more than 12 hours. She probably won’t eat, but if she wants to, there is no harm in it.
“Will there be blood when my Rottweiler has her Pups?”
Don’t be surprised by a small amount of bleeding during the birth process. The fluids and membranes of the placentas will be blood-streaked. Your Rottie may also acquire small tears in her vagina as she delivers, and these can bleed, as well.
The kind of bleeding to be concerned about is any “gushing” blood. This is a sign of hemorrhaging, and requires immediate medical attention!
It is normal for your Rottie to continue “spotting” a little blood for up to a week after delivery. Again, spots or streaks are okay, a “whoosh” of blood is not.
DICTIONARY DEFINITION: Placenta: A circular, sac-like organ in the uterus of pregnant eutherian mammals, nourishing and maintaining the fetus through the umbilical cord.
“Should I Pet or Massage my Rottweiler While She’s in Labor?”
A healthy Rottie will most likely welcome your gentle strokes and light massaging while she’s in labor. However, she may not want to be touched at all! Each dog is different and every delivery is different, even with the same dog.
Follow your Rottie’s lead. Pet her if she’ll receive it, leave her be if she won’t. But remain near.
“What if my Rottweiler Starts Eating a Puppy?”
There are some circumstances where a female Rottweiler may eat a newborn puppy or even a puppy that is a few days old. As awful as that sounds to us, this is how it’s done in nature, and there is a reason behind it. The reason can be one of the following things:
- The Rottie doesn’t recognize the pup as her own. This reason often follows a cesarean birth, as natural hormones (scents) are missing without the natural birthing procedure.
- Stillborn or Unhealthy Puppy: Instinct will dictate your Rottie remove a stillborn or unhealthy pup from her “den”. This is to protect the living puppies. She may just push the unhealthy or stillborn pup away from her, she may try to bury them under something, or she may begin to eat it.
- Mastitis: This is essentially an infection in your Rottie’s teats that causes inflammation and pain. You will notice her nipples are red, cracked and swollen if mastitis sets in. If the suckling pups cause enough pain, your Rottie may see eating them as a solution. Mastitis is easily remedied through over-the-counter balms like the one pictured.
- Stress or Fear: Under extreme stress or fear for her pups’ safety, a female Rottweiler may manifest her negative emotions like aggression, cause her to “turn” on her pups. Always be sure the birthing area and the area in which your Rottie will live with her puppy is chaos-free.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR ROTTIE BEGINS TO EAT A PUP: While speaking in soothing tones, gently remove the puppy from the mother. If she growls or snaps at you, CEASE. Look away and let nature take its course.
“Why Is my Rottweiler Eating the Afterbirth? EW, GROSS!”
Animals eating the “after-birth” or placenta is known as “placentophagy” scientifically. The placenta, which contains high levels of prostaglandins may help stimulate the “clean out” process, helping the uterus to return to a pre-gestation size.
There is also a belief that eating the placenta once held an important survival purpose. It helped hide any trace of birth that could have attracted dangerous predators and helped keep the den area clean from bacteria.
Its protein content may have also been helpful considering the great use of energy when giving birth and the fact that in the wild she could have not hunted for several days. It is not harmful to your Rottie to eat her after-birth and it’s a great time for you to step away for a breath of fresh air!
IMPORTANT TIP: Each puppy is enveloped in his own placenta. You’ll want to count placentas as you count pups born. A placenta that remains inside the mother can cause infection and make your Rottie very sick.
Bonus: What to do After Your Rottweiler has Her Pups
After all that work, your Rottweiler momma is going to be busy cleaning up her puppies and checking their umbilical cords. You can help by making sure no one has any excessive bleeding and by cleaning up. Remove all soiled bedding and provide fresh bedding and/or towels. Pay mind that no puppy is stuck in bedding or under your Rottie.
Make sure there are food and water available for when your Rottweiler is ready. She may or may not wish to go out for a potty break, don’t force her. The thing she will need most is some rest. You may quickly (and gently) wash her hind-end up a bit with a wet cloth, but keep things minimally intrusive.
Stroke her affectionately, and use words of praise. Then LEAVE THE NEW FAMILY ALONE and let nature take the lead. Check on your Rottie every hour or so with her new pups, always making sure they are safe in the whelping box.
Keep the environment as stress-free as possible. Momma Rottie knows just what to do! It’s time now for you to relax with a cup of tea and look over the pictures you snapped during this amazing event.
Rottie Resource congratulates you on the addition to your family!
Your pregnant Rottie needs your time and attention, so I saved you some time by finding some products that will be useful to you…and to her! Each link below will take you directly to the product on Amazon. I was careful to find the highest quality products that are also economical.
*This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.
