02/20/2026
For our amazing puppy families waiting ever so patiently, please read
From a Breeder that I follow personally.
Late Thursdays Points to Ponder - “An Honest Conversation About Boston Terriers in NZ”
Apologies, but with having just returned from overseas, life is incredibly hectic and I forgot to post my thoughts for the week.
Do feel free to SHARE, COMMENT, LIKE this post and please do FOLLOW us to keep our page relevant and out there. Thank you..
We’ve had a lot of enquiries recently in NZ for Boston Terrier puppies, so we wanted to share an honest update about where things are at.
At the moment, the breed is facing some real challenges locally.
We have some breeders who are choosing not to undertake recommended health testing, despite encouragement from the Breed Club and our governing body, Dogs New Zealand. We also have long-standing breeders who are “aging out” and no longer have the finances, inclination, or ability to continue breeding.
Then there are those of us who are trying to breed responsibly — completing all recommended health testing, carefully planning pedigrees, and working to improve the breed as a priority— but finding it incredibly challenging. Our gene pool is very small. Artificial insemination, importing new bloodlines, health screening, whelping and raising a litter all come at significant financial cost. Most of us also work full-time alongside this commitment as well.
There are so many wonderful people who would love to share their lives with a Boston Terrier — and we would truly love to make that happen more often. But the reality is that with only a small number of reputable breeders, and with each litter representing a huge time, emotional and financial investment, we only breed when we believe it will genuinely improve the breed and produce sound, healthy puppies that conform to the Breed standard, from well-tested, carefully planned pairings.
To those who follow this page because you’re learning and preparing — we see you, and we appreciate you.
We understand that when your dream is to own a Boston, it can be tempting to go to a breeder who has puppies available now, without health testing or long-term breeder support. We don’t begrudge anyone that choice, and we certainly don’t “blacklist” people for it.
What we don’t want is for families to experience the heartbreak of preventable genetic issues — or significant financial strain down the track — when testing and careful breeding could have reduced those risks.
Health testing is not a guarantee either - we are not blinded by that. Boston Terriers are a brachycephalic breed, and with that comes inherent considerations and some accepted risk on the part of the new owner. But responsible testing and planning mean everything possible has been done to stack the odds in favour of a healthy puppy.
Timing is also everything — for both you and the breeder.
From your perspective:
1️⃣ You need to be ready for a puppy.
2️⃣ You need to understand that breeders are working around seasons, fertility timing, and then a minimum of 10–11 weeks where life revolves entirely around whelping and raising puppies. So, if it doesn't, they will wait for the next season.
From our perspective:
We plan months — often years — ahead. If you think a Boston may be in your future in one, two or even three years, put your name down now. Keep in touch. Join your regional breed club. Attend events. Meet breeders and their dogs. Let breeders get to know you. Invite them to see your property if appropriate.
Become a familiar face.
At the end of the day, we live and breathe these puppies. For the first few weeks, we sleep beside them. We are there 24/7. We pour our hearts into raising confident, healthy babies and we love them as if they were staying with us for life.
So yes — we are emotionally invested. We need to feel absolutely confident that our beautiful babies are going to the very best homes.
Litters in NZ are few and far between. Rehomes are extremely rare because we screen carefully and support our puppy families for life.
We aren’t elitist. We aren’t snobby. We aren’t “over the top.”
We are passionate.
We are protective.
And we love this breed deeply.
If a Boston Terrier is truly your dream, plan ahead, be patient, and walk the journey with us and other reputable breeders. It will be worth it. ❤️
