Breeding Question

Question
Hello,

I have an amazing 2 1/2 year old Boston Terrier female. My friend has a Boston Terrier male and we decided to breed them during her mensus this time around. I noticed that she bled for the usual 2 weeks but after they had their "play date" she stopped bleeding for 4 days and begun again. This time around the discharge is a darker color and not as heavy. Could this mean that she is pregnant? I will be taking her to her vet for an ultrasound but I know its still too early and should wait at least another week. Would you be able to provide me with some info based on your experiences?

Thank You so much in advance!
Ingrid

Answer
Hi Ingrid,

On average, a dog's heat cycle lasts 21 days not two weeks. A good rule of thumb is: 7 days coming into heat, 7 days in heat, 7 days going out.

Though conception is most likely during the middle 7 days, dogs haven't read the rule book, and pregnancies do occur outside that time span. If you don't want your dog to get pregnant, it's best to prevent a female dog from being in the company of males for the entire 3 weeks.

Usually, the flow may is fairly heavy the first few days and usually decreases in amount over the next week. The color usually also changes from dark red to salmon color as the heat progresses. However, just like when a woman has her period, the flow may vary with each cycle and be heavier or lighter.

A female will only allow a male to mount her during her the fertile part of her cycle.

I'm sorry, I can't say if your dog got pregnant by this breeding. With any luck, "first time will be the charm".

Best of luck,

Patti