That means a dog's entire pregnancy typically unfolds over roughly two months.
The adorable belly seen in Khloe's photographs therefore represented a relatively brief stage in her life — another reason Snyman's decision to photograph it created such a memorable keepsake.
A maternity portrait freezes that temporary moment.
Soon the round belly would be gone and four tiny puppies would take its place.
Behind the Cuteness: Pregnancy Is Serious for Dogs
Khloe's pictures are lighthearted, but canine pregnancy itself requires responsible care.
Veterinary sources emphasize that reproduction can involve genuine medical risks for both the mother and her puppies.
Cornell University's reproductive medicine specialists recommend appropriate health screening for dogs used for breeding and note that pregnancy may be inappropriate when carrying a litter could place an animal's health at risk. Cornell's veterinary reproductive service deals with breeding management, obstetrics, neonatal care and pregnancy-related complications.
Delivery can also become complicated.
Veterinarians use the term “dystocia” for a difficult birth or a situation in which the mother cannot deliver a puppy normally without assistance.
The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that dystocia may result from maternal factors or problems involving the fetus. Uterine inertia — when the uterus does not contract effectively enough — is identified as an important cause in dogs. Other complications may involve fetal size, position or obstruction.
That does not mean every pregnant dog is likely to experience an emergency.
It does mean that cute maternity photographs should never replace proper veterinary attention.
Owners caring for a pregnant dog need to understand the expected timeline, prepare an appropriate environment for delivery and know when veterinary assistance may be necessary.
Merck also recommends that dogs give birth in a familiar, quiet location where unnecessary disturbance is minimized, particularly for mothers experiencing their first litter.
So while flowers and pink blankets made Khloe's photographs memorable, the most important preparation for any expectant dog remains appropriate health care.
A Little Dog With a Big Personality
Khloe's ability to look so confident in the photographs also fits the energetic image commonly associated with Russell-type terriers.
The American Kennel Club describes the Russell Terrier as lively, inquisitive, friendly and energetic, noting that these compact dogs were historically developed as working terriers. The breed is known for packing considerable personality into a small body.
Of course, breed descriptions cannot tell us exactly what an individual dog is thinking.
But anyone looking through Khloe's photographs can understand why viewers interpreted her poses as confident.
There is something amusing about seeing such a small dog treated like the star of an elaborate editorial photoshoot.
The flowers are carefully positioned.
The blankets look luxurious.
The lighting is soft.
The decorations coordinate.
And in the middle of everything sits Khloe, apparently accepting the attention as though this is exactly how every Jack Russell should celebrate pregnancy.
Why People Treat Pets Like Family
There is also a broader reason photographs like Khloe's resonate with so many people.
For many owners, pets are woven into everyday family life.
People celebrate their dogs' birthdays. They take them on vacations. They buy holiday presents for them. They include them in engagement photographs and wedding ceremonies. They commission professional portraits and keep framed photographs of them around their homes.
Against that background, a dog maternity photoshoot does not seem quite as strange as it might initially sound.
Snyman was using her own profession — photography — to celebrate an important moment involving an animal she loved.
The decorations may have been intentionally over-the-top, but the motivation behind them was simple.
She wanted a memory.