Download Article
Download Article
Discovering the sex of your puppy is fairly straightforward when you know a few anatomical landmarks. Make sure to handle your puppy gently and carefully. If you can, try to wait until the puppy is 3-4 weeks old before trying to determine its sex. If you handle the puppy too much before it has had time to bond with its mother, the mother may reject the puppy.
Steps
-
Pick up the puppy gently. Newborn and young puppies are very delicate. Handle them with care. Puppies can’t see or hear very well before they’re a few weeks old, so picking them up and holding them may make them nervous or fussy. [1] X Research source
- Never pick up a puppy by its tail! Slide your hand under as much of the body as possible to offer the best support as you pick up the puppy.
- Handle puppies as little as possible during their first two weeks after birth. Over-handling them could upset the mother dog or harm the puppies.
- If possible, wait until the puppies are at least 3-4 weeks old before trying to determine their sex. They will have had enough time to bond with their mother and develop a bit by then.
-
Hold the puppy in cupped hands. Lay the puppy in your hands on its back, with its paws in the air. Make sure you support the puppy’s whole body with your hands so you don’t stress their spine. Don’t squeeze the puppy.
- It may be easier if you have someone else hold the puppy so you can do the visual inspection.
- You can also rest them on their backs on a warm towel spread on a table. This will help keep the puppy warm.
Advertisement -
Work quickly. Newborn puppies cannot maintain their own body temperature for several weeks after they’re born. They can take a chill very easily. Don’t hold the puppy away from its mother longer than is necessary. 5-10 minutes should be the limit for handling young puppies. [2] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source
- Use a heating pad or hot water bottle wrapped in a towel in the puppy’s bed to help keep it warm.
-
Observe any distress. If the puppy shows signs of distress, such as squalling or squirming, put the puppy back with its mother immediately. The mother may also become distressed if she isn’t used to you handling her pups. If you notice signs of her getting distressed, such as barking at you, put the puppy back with the mother. [3] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source
Advertisement
-
Look at the puppy’s belly. You will probably see a “belly button,” or umbilicus. This is usually located almost at the center of the belly, just below the rib cage. [4] X Research source If the puppy was born within the last few days, the umbilical cord may still be attached. Once the umbilical cord shrivels and falls off -- which should happen within a few days -- there will be a little scar left behind on the belly. This scar is a slightly brighter color than the surrounding skin and feels a little bit thicker.
-
Look below the bellybutton or umbilicus scar. If your puppy is male, there will be another small raised spot or “button” of flesh about an inch or so below the scar. This is the prepuce, or sheath, of the puppy’s penis. The prepuce will have a small hole at the center. [5] X Research source
- The prepuce may have little wispy hairs around it or even on it.
- Do not attempt to pull out or unsheathe a male puppy’s penis until the puppy is at least 6 months old. Dogs have an os penis, or “penis bone.” You may damage the penis or penis bone if you attempt to forcibly unsheathe a young male dog’s penis.
-
Check for testicles. Male puppies will have testicles, although you may not be able to feel them before they are 8 weeks old. If you can locate the testicles, they will be high up between the puppy’s hind legs.
- Depending on your puppy’s size, its testicles will be about the size of a lima bean. By 8 weeks old, the testicles are usually enclosed in the sack-like scrotum.
-
Feel the puppy’s belly. Unlike male puppies, female puppies will have smooth bellies (other than their umbilicus scar). Females do not have a prepuce.
-
Examine the puppy’s rear end. A puppy’s anus is located directly under its tail. If your puppy is male, you will only be able to see its anus. If your puppy is female, you will see a raised, fleshy area just under the anus. This is the vulva.
- The vulva of a female puppy is small and leaf-shaped. It has a vertical slit. It is usually located almost directly between the puppy’s hind legs. The vulva may have some wispy hairs on it. [6] X Research source
-
Disregard the nipples. Just like humans and other mammals, both male and female dogs have nipples. They will not inform you of a puppy’s sex.
-
Consult your veterinarian. Puppies should have their first set of vaccinations at around six weeks old. If you can’t figure out what sex your puppy is, your veterinarian can help you with this during a routine visit. [7] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionI want to make sure my tiny Shih Tzu is a girl, as some people say its a boy. How can I check?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.For a puppy, follow the information in the guide above. If the dog is adult things get a lot easier. Boys have some distinctive habits and anatomy, which should make it fairly obvious if he's male. Slide your hands between the dog's back legs and feel for the presence of two testicles in a scrotum. Does the dog cock his leg to urinate, as this is something female dogs don't do. Where is the location of the orifice from which he passes urine? For a boy (even a neutered male) this is the penis which is located underneath on his belly, whilst for the girls it is between the back legs.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- Running a finger along the puppy's belly is a good way to feel for the prepuce. If the puppy's belly has two "bumps," one right below the other, the puppy is male. If the puppy's belly has only one "bump" (the belly button), the puppy is female.Thanks
- You may find it easier to examine the puppy if someone else holds it. Make sure the puppy's body is fully supported.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Over handling a puppy in its first few weeks can cause its mother to reject the puppy. Do not handle a young puppy more than absolutely necessary.Thanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.petmd.com/general-health/dog/caring-newborn-puppies
- ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/whelping-and-caring-for-newborn-puppies/
- ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/whelping-and-caring-for-newborn-puppies/
- ↑ https://www.dogster.com/puppies/how-to-tell-if-a-puppy-is-a-boy-or-a-girl
- ↑ https://www.dogster.com/puppies/how-to-tell-if-a-puppy-is-a-boy-or-a-girl
- ↑ https://www.dogster.com/category/dog-food
- ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/puppy-information/first-day-new-puppy/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To determine the sex of your puppies, wait until they’re about 3-4 weeks old, then gently pick them up and lay them on their back in your cupped hands. Find the belly button, where the umbilical cord was attached, then look about an inch below it to check for a raised button of flesh. This is the prepuce of the puppy’s penis, and if you see one, the puppy is male. A smooth belly, on the other hand, means the puppy is female. For some tips on what to do if the puppy’s mother is getting nervous while you’re handling her puppies, scroll down!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 871,600 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I have referred to this article quite a few times, and it has been very helpful. I am happy to say we now have three beautiful pug puppies, and I am still referring to this article, as it has answered all my queries. Thank you." ..." more
Advertisement
80%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"I have referred to this article quite a few times, and it has been very helpful. I am happy to say we now have three beautiful pug puppies, and I am still referring to this article, as it has answered all my queries. Thank you."
..."
more
"This article is very helpful to me because this is the very first time I had a dog which gave birth to so many puppies. I think I now have a better understanding of handling puppies."
..."
more
"My puppy just had a litter of puppies and I didn't know how to tell the sex. And then I found this article and it helped me so much."
..."
more
"The article helped me a lot since I am an amateur, just 16 years old. I got the basic information about dog breeding."
..."
more
"Helped calm me down, having very quickly become the happy owner of a dog for the first time."
