How Long Are Havanese Pregnant
Havanese dogs are well known for being sweet and cuddly, as well as for their adorable looks. This has made them very popular and in high demand.
It can be tempting to breed your Havanese, but this is something best left to professional breeders. Of course, sometimes our pets do become pregnant by mistake, too.
In this case, you will need to familiarize yourself with dog pregnancies. Read on to learn more about the Havanese breed, and what to expect from your Havanese during pregnancy— especially if this pregnancy is the first one you and your pooch are going through together.
What Is a Havanese?
Havanese dogs are a toy breed and were bred to be companion dogs. This makes them a great choice for you if you want a dog that will always be by your side and will be ready to cuddle!
They are well-loved for being sweet and affectionate. As they are a toy breed, the average Havanese will grow to be just between 8 ½ to 11 ½ inches high at the shoulder, and between 7 and 13 pounds heavy.
Havanese Breed History
The Havanese is Cuba’s national dog and originated here. The ancestor of the Havanese was the Blanquito and was brought over to Cuba by Spanish settlers.
The Blanquito was bred with other dogs from the Bichon family to create the Havanese breed. This breed quickly became popular with the wealthy and aristocratic families of Cuba, since they were bred to be companion dogs.
When the Cuban Revolution began, many of these families fled to the United States. Those who were able to bring their dogs with them. American breeders took notice of the dogs and set up a breeding program with the ones that had been brought over to the US from Cuba.
Also Read – Havanese Breeders
Havanese Heat Cycle
When your Havanese is of an age that she can breed or have puppies, she will go through heat cycles. When your dog is in heat, it can become pregnant.
At about 8 to 10 months of age is when your Havanese can begin going into heat. Heat cycles happen around twice a year. The first stage of the heat cycle is the Proestrus stage, and it lasts about 8 to 10 days. During this stage, your Havanese will not be interested in mating and will not be fertile yet.
The second stage is called the estrus stage when your Havanese is fertile and is willing to mate. This stage lasts about 8 to 10 days as well. Next is the diestrus stage. During this stage, your dog will transition back to normal, unless she was impregnated.
The diestrus stage takes around a week. Your Havanese will then be in the anestrus stage, which is a resting stage until her next heat cycle.
How Many Puppies Do Havanese Have?
As the Havanese is a toy breed, they do not have a very large litter, as some bigger breeds of dog will. The average Havanese litter is 4 puppies, but it can fluctuate and be more or less than this average!
How Long Are Havanese Pregnant?
When it comes to animals, the amount of time that they are pregnant can vary incredibly between species. The typical gestation period for a dog is about 8 to 9 weeks long.
This is true for the Havanese breed as well! When your Havanese is pregnant, you can expect her to be pregnant for about 63 to 65 days. Once your dog has been pregnant for about 7 weeks, then you will need to begin preparing for the birth and for the puppies’ arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many puppies will a Havanese have?
The Havanese is a small breed, so typically has smaller litters of puppies than some medium or large dog breeds might have. While the litter size for a Havanese can range from between 1 to 9 puppies, the average size of a Havanese litter is 4 puppies.
Are dogs pregnant for 8 or 9 weeks?
The gestation periods of animals vary.
For example, we humans are pregnant for about 9 months. When it comes to our dogs, though, they do not carry their puppies for quite as long as we carry our babies. On average, the gestation period for dogs is around 63 to 65 days long.
Of course, this does not always exactly match the date of breeding. When you break this total down into weeks, this makes their gestation period about 9 weeks, meaning that yes, most dogs will carry their puppies for about 8 or 9 weeks before they give birth.
How long is a dog pregnant with the first litter?
If your dog is pregnant and this is something you are unfamiliar with— like in a situation where this is the dog’s first litter of puppies— then you are surely wondering what to expect. It is important to know when to expect your dog to birth her puppies so that you are prepared!
The average gestation period for a dog is about 9 weeks long. Your dog will likely be pregnant with her first litter for about 63 days. Of course, this is still an average, so it could fluctuate slightly and be either a longer or shorter gestation period.
What does a 7-week pregnant dog look like?
Sometimes, you might not realize right away that your dog is pregnant. Knowing what to expect in appearance at each week of the gestation period can help you to determine how far along your dog is.
The gestation period is about 8 to 9 weeks long, so by week 7, your dog is pretty far along.
If your dog is 7 weeks pregnant, you can expect her to have swollen breast tissue and dark, swollen nipples. Another thing that you might notice is colostrum, or “first milk”. This is a cloudy liquid that may leak from your dog’s nipples as her body gets ready to feed her puppies when they are born.