The females come into heat from September to February, and after a gestation period of 63 days she gives birth to 4-10 cubs in a den. The den is usually one that was occupied by another animal, like a porcupine. The females are very social and have been known to share their dens with other breeding females. All members of the pack care for the cubs and carry them food back from a hunt. They will regurgitate food for the cubs.
Some dholes stay at the den to guard the pups while others are out hunting.
The pups will not leave the denning area until they are 10 weeks old. During this time, they will fight to establish a dominance order, even at that young age. They usually stop the dominance-fighting by the time they are old enough to hunt with the pack, at 7 months old. Dholes are mature at one year, and they may or may not leave the pack. It is not known when dispersal takes place.