Gestation Period: Havanese

The gestation period for dogs is typically between 58 to 68 days from the day of ovulation, with most pregnant bitches giving birth on or around the 63rd day.

If you listen to Myra Savant, it is ALWAYS on day 63 from the date of ovulation.

Many breeders use the day of the first witnessed “knot” to determine when they can expect puppies. This is typically a good “rule of thumb”, however, a bitch may not ovulate on the first day she stands for a male, causing the puppies to arrive later than the date calculated.



If she ties throughout the heat, it may make for a tricky calculation on due dates.



Remember, a dog’s sperm is able to survive for up to seven day in the bitch’s oviduct. The only accurate way of predicting the due date of a litter is to use progesterone testing to determine the exact time of ovulation and adding 63 days to that date.

Did we do progesterone testing? NO. We usually do not do it unless we are using a dog far away. But this time around, it was over the holiday and a tad difficult.

An ultrasound may be used to confirm pregnancy as early as 25 days (it is at this point in the pregnancy when the embryonic heart is detectable). However, it is difficult, if not impossible, to accurately count the number of puppies using this method. On or about the 45th day, the skeletal system of the unborn puppies will begin to be developed enough to be visible by radiograph (x-ray).

Our x-ray is scheduled for late this month. Pups coming early March.