We’ve had our Boston Terrier for five years, and I remember the day we got her. The breeder was excellent and introduced us to her parents. This answered the question of how old should a Boston Terrier be to breed.
Boston Terriers should be at least two years old before they are used for breeding purposes. While they can physically perform the act of breeding at much younger ages, they are not mentally prepared to handle the process.
You should continue to read if you are curious about the proper age for your Boston Terrier to breed and the standards for her to be a breeding dog. I will also discuss the signs to look for when your Boston Terrier is pregnant, in labor, and in need of medical intervention.
What Age Does Your Boston Terrier Need to Be to Breed?
Ideally, your Boston Terrier should be at least two years old before you decide to breed. This rule applies to both males and females. You must wait until they have reached the mental and physical maturity level to handle the mating process.
The typical male Boston Terrier is physically capable of breeding at seven months old, but often, he is not mentally capable of handling the process. To be a responsible breeder, you must wait until your dogs are at the appropriate age to handle breeding.
What Are Breed Standards?
If you’re interested in breeding your Boston Terrier, you must first ensure she is up to breed standards, or the AKC will not recognize her puppies. These features include:
- Square-shaped flat head with no wrinkles
- Wideset large round eyes
- Small erect ears on the corners of the skull
- Short, wide, square, deep muzzle
- Laid back shoulders
- Moderately spaced front legs
- Round, compact feet
- Strong, well-muscled thighs
- Well-defined hock joint
- Short, smooth coat with fine texture
- Seal, black with white markings, or brindle coloring
Signs Your Boston Terrier Is Pregnant
You’ve gone through the breeding process, and now you’re wondering if your Boston Terrier is pregnant. You can be on the lookout for several indicators to let you know when she is. These include the following:
- Enlarged nipples
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Increased appetite
- Nesting
- Weight gain
- Enlarged belly
- Lethargy
- Irritability
- Fatigue
However, you may also observe signs of a false pregnancy. To rule this out, you will need an appointment with your veterinarian.
Does Your Boston Terrier Need a Special Diet When Pregnant?
During the first month of her pregnancy, you will not need to do anything special with your Boston Terrier’s diet. She can remain on her regular food.
However, if she takes calcium supplements, you will need to stop these as they can prevent her from extracting needed calcium from her bones following the delivery of her puppies. Hypocalcemia can result from this and cause weakness and seizures.
When she reaches month two of her pregnancy, switch her diet to high-quality puppy food. This food is high in calories and doesn’t include extra supplements that can cause her harm.
Can Boston Terriers Have Natural Births?
The size of the male you breed your female with will affect whether or not she can have a natural birth. If he is smaller than her, you will typically have no problems with the delivery. If he is the same size or larger, you may have issues with the babies being too large.
In the latter situation, your Boston Terrier may need veterinary assistance or a cesarian to give birth to her litter. Your vet will be able to determine if this is the case before it’s time to have the babies.
How Can You Tell Your Boston Terrier Is about to Give Birth?
The number one method of knowing when your Boston Terrier is going to have babies is to watch the calendar. The average gestation period is 64 days.
After the 55-day mark, she will also start producing milk from her mammary glands. Typically it’s closer to 3 to 5 days before she goes into labor. You’ll want to keep an eye out for this key indicator.
Another sign to watch out for is a temperature drop – 12 hours before labor starts, you’ll notice a one degree temperature drop. To catch this, you can take her temperature twice a day starting a couple of days before you expect labor to begin.
Your Boston Terrier may also begin exhibiting odd behaviors. You may find her hiding in strange spots or pacing the length of the house. These are surefire signs that she’s getting ready to deliver.
Signs Your Boston Terrier Needs a Medical Intervention During Birth
Dystocia is when your dog is having trouble during labor. If you observe any of the following signs, stop what you are doing and take your Boston Terrier to the vet immediately:
- A puppy stuck halfway out
- Contractions are occurring but no puppies are coming
- Your dog is weak and cannot stand
- The time since the last puppy was born is 30 minutes to one hour
Your vet will most likely decide to perform a cesarean to help your Boston Terrier give birth to her puppies. This decision will be the best to help her along.
What’s the Average Litter Size for a Boston Terrier?
Boston Terriers typically have litters with three to five puppies. There have been occasions where some have had litters of seven but more than this is extremely rare. Younger dogs will generally have smaller litters than older dogs, especially for their first litter.
Your veterinarian will be able to tell you exactly how many puppies to expect through various means. They use radiography, ultrasounds, and palpations to determine how many fetuses are growing.
During this examination, your veterinarian will also determine whether your Boston Terrier will need a cesarean to safey deliver her puppies. Of course, a situation could arise during the delivery that could require an emergency trip.
Final Thoughts
Breeding a Boston Terrier can be an exciting experience, but not without its struggles. You’ll need to ensure that you provide the proper care for your dog, including stepping in if she’s having trouble during delivery and providing the correct diet during pregnancy.
Boston Terriers should not be bred before they are two years old. While they have the physical ability to procreate long before this time, they do not have the mental and physical maturity to breed. While waiting can be hard, it will produce the best results.
On average, you can expect your dog to have a litter of between three and five puppies. Younger dogs will have smaller litters than older dogs. In some cases, litters of seven puppies have been seen, but more than this is rare.