French Bulldogs are a unique type of Bulldog that is known for their friendly, loving nature. Despite their name, “French” bulldogs do not come from France. They are actually descended from British bulldogs. They were, however, bred in France and appeared in the mid 19th century, which is where they got their name.
Lots of people love these dogs. They have become increasingly popular over the years, which has led to more and more breeding. However, breeding these dogs is not as easy as you might expect. This is due to the fact that purebred dogs have been bred in a way that has altered many original traits.
If you aren’t sure if your French Bulldog can mate and breed naturally, just stick around and find out everything you need to know.
About French Bulldogs
The French Bulldog has long been recognized by its distinctive appearance, which includes a short body with legs longer than those of other breeds. It also has a large head and ears, a flat nose, and a small mouth. Because of these features, it has become a favorite breed in many parts of the world. Not to mention a very expensive one.
The French Bulldog is not only cute, but it is also very intelligent. One thing that makes them different from most other dogs is that they have a lot of energy.
This means that they love to play, run around, jump up on people and be active all day long. But it doesn’t stop there; they also make wonderful pets!
Their Appearance
As we mentioned, the French bulldog has a distinctive appearance, and you would probably recognize it anywhere. They have short bodies with legs that are much longer than many other dogs. Their heads are large and wide, and they have prominent cheeks. The ears are set high on their heads and are triangular shaped.
Their coat colors can vary from black, fawn, white, cream, brindled, and the rare blue merle. Often, these dogs will have patches of white on their throats, chests, or faces.
However, you could find white patches on other parts of the body too. Their eyes are typically brown, but there are French bulldogs with blue or green eyes, too. It is very rare for these dogs to have any eye color other than brown, so if your Frenchie has blue eyes, you hit the jackpot!
Their Personality
The French bulldog’s personality is also very special. These dogs are incredibly smart and affectionate. They are extremely loyal, and they love being near people. They are also very playful, energetic, and lively. When they get excited, they often shake like crazy.
But despite their sometimes hyperactive nature, they are very calm when they’re asleep. They enjoy sleeping under the covers, and they’ll curl up next to you at night. They also enjoy playing fetch, especially with tennis balls. And they absolutely love to go on walks, even if it’s just around the block.
Because of this, they are great companions for children and older adults alike. They are very protective of their owners, and they are very gentle with younger kids. As a result, they’re perfect for families who want an obedient pet that loves attention.
If you’ve ever seen a French bulldog, then you already know how adorable they are. They are known for their funny expressions, their big personalities, and their fun-loving natures. Is there anything else you could ever ask for in a dog?
Their History
The history of French bulldogs is an interesting one. They are descended from English bulldogs, and were bred to be toy-size. Over the years, this dog breed has changed dramatically. Even 40 years ago, they looked incredibly different, with far fewer wrinkles and distinctively different ears.
French bulldogs come from England and were taken to France, and they were first developed in the 1800s. Since then, they’ve spread to Canada and the United States, and the rest of the world. Today, they are one of the most popular dog breeds around. In fact, more than half a million puppies are born every year in North America alone.
Breeding French Bulldogs
Breeding Frenchies is not done how you might expect. In fact, because of all the selective breeding that has happened over the years, these dogs can very rarely breed or mate naturally.
Their physical characteristics, such as short legs and very narrow hips, mean that they have trouble in that area of life. The male (called a stud) is unable to properly mount the female (called a bitch) in order to mate. Because of this, it is extremely rare for Frenchies to be conceived naturally. It isn’t unheard of, but it’s rare.
Not only is mating difficult for these adorable dogs, but so is birthing. No matter how the bitch gets pregnant, she will eventually need to give birth. Because of the selective breeding which has caused narrow hips, this is also a very difficult thing.
When a Frenchie is pregnant, she will need human intervention when her gestation period is up. If you’re curious, the average gestation period for a French Bulldog is 65 days!
Birthing can be very troublesome for Frenchies. Not only that, but a natural birth can also cause harm to the puppies because of the narrow birth canals.
Overall, natural mating and breeding is something that is not recommended because of all the difficulties it can bring. The trouble that the bitch and puppies go through is not something to be taken lightly.
So Can You Breed Frenchies?
Now, you’re probably thinking about the fact that French bulldogs do, in fact, exist. Adults exist, and so do puppies, which means they are bred. Yes, French bulldogs can be bred (obviously) but it isn’t done how it usually is. You can’t simply leave two mature Frenchies in a room to do their thing.
Yes, these dogs (usually) have all the working parts needed to reproduce, but it isn’t that simple. The act of mating itself is where things are challenging. The males can’t regulate their body temperatures properly, which results in this problem and dangers.
Many vets will discourage owners from trying to breed their French bulldogs because of the risks it involves, even for the males. When Frenchies are bred, it is typically through artificial insemination.
For the females, vets still strongly discourage breeding to happen. The fact that these dogs have narrow hips and wide heads is not a good combination.
Any female who gets pregnant and has to give birth is in a very risky situation. It isn’t impossible for them, but it is not recommended for their own wellbeing and safety. Both the mother and puppies can be put in harm’s way during this process.
It doesn’t stop there, though. French bulldogs aren’t exactly known for their maternal instincts. Their puppies may be neglected or treated in a way that doesn’t typically happen with dogs.
Unfortunately, this is likely to be because of the birthing process. Since females shouldn’t give birth naturally, they have Caesarion sections, or c-sections.
Performing a c-section on a bitch is a way to get around the birthing process. As you may imagine, having a dog undergo a c-section is not something to be taken lightly. In life outside these breeds, c-sections are only done in emergencies.
By the female dog going through a c-section, she is unlikely to react to her puppies in a way that is expected. This is not something that is her fault, since the process is not natural.
The Financial Side Of Frenchies
As you might expect, when so much human interference is needed to breed Frenchies, things can get very expensive. Artificial insemination and c-sections are both extremely expensive processes. Not only that, but this breed of dog is often associated with some medical issues. Any puppies born could inherit genetic issues.
Anyone who is thinking of breeding French bulldogs needs to be aware of the cost implications. Nothing about breeding these dogs is cheap, and if you try to do things cheaply, you could be endangering the life of every animal involved.
Breeders must always have finances set aside, as well as a lot of time. The animal most at risk in the whole process is the mother, and the responsibility should not be taken lightly.
How Do You Know If Your French Bulldog Can Be Bred?
Many French bulldogs have genetic defects as a result of their breeding. These “man-made” dogs wouldn’t exist without human intervention. One of the most common health problems these breeds can experience is linked to their short snouts and flat faces.
These traits make it difficult to breathe, which is why you can often hear them breathing. Additionally, they also frequently suffer from allergies, eye, bone, and joint problems.
Because of these numerous issues, it is critical to test your Frenchie before you try to breed them. Any genetic defects should be avoided inbreeding.
However, even if your dog doesn’t have one of these defects, they could still be a carrier. If they are a carrier, they could pass the genetic defects down onto their puppies, who could then also be carriers or suffer from the defects directly.
Genetic testing has different guidelines depending on the organization, but they all follow the same basic process. If you need to get your French bulldog’s genetics tested, you should:
- Check in with your vet so that your Frenchie can get a general health screening. This will provide any information on whether your dog is dealing with any health issues.
- Make sure your pet undergoes two different DNA tests. Doing this will ensure that the results are accurate, and they can be referenced against each other. A Frenchie with genetic makeup that could be harmful to their descendants should not be bred.
- Get your French bulldog’s vision tested. You will want to make sure that they do not pass down any kinds of visual impairments to their puppies.
If you find a problem at any stage of the testing, you should not breed your dog. Doing so would be very irresponsible, as it is not fair for an animal to live with potentially dangerous genetics and health conditions. Even something that may be minor to you could cause a lot of problems.
While doing all this genetic testing, you should also find out if your pet is the result of two dogs that are closely related being bred. An example of this would be siblings.
If animals that are closely related breed, it increases the chances of their offspring having genetic issues. This threat will also be passed down from your Frenchie to their litter if they were to reproduce.
Should You Get Your Frenchies To Mate?
The answer? No. You should not even try to get your two French bulldogs to mate. Natural mating may seem like the normal thing to do, but for this breed, it is hazardous. Most of the time, even if you wanted your Frenchies to make puppies naturally, it wouldn’t be possible.
As we already mentioned, it is extremely rare for Frenchies to reproduce naturally. This is because of the physical characteristics of the animals. Instead of trying to figure out how to mate your animals, you should consider the whole process.
Before you begin, remember that the entire process is very expensive and time-consuming. If you do not have the funds or the time to see everything through to the best of your ability, do not even attempt it.
If you are certain that you want Frenchie puppies, you should:
- Pick a male and female Frenchie with all the genetics and characteristics you would like their puppies to have. There may be various sites you can visit to find suitable partners, but you should only look at reputable ones. Many people may simply be trying to make a quick buck and could be lying about their dogs.
- Make sure both the male and female Frenchies have no genetic or health conditions. You should make an appointment with your vet to find out everything.
- Find out if the dogs you have chosen are not related to one another. Once again, close breeding will result in more genetic problems and should be avoided at all cost.
- Ensure that you do not have to travel too far. Stress is not good for any animal, especially if you intend to breed them.
- Finally, you will need to time the female’s heat cycle correctly to know when the artificial insemination should happen. If you don’t time it right, you could be wasting a lot of money.
A Few Things To Know About Breeding
Breeding Females
Female Frenchies will go through a lot during the whole process of breeding. It’s vital to know what should and should not be done. One of the most important things for female dogs is to know how often you should breed them.
While most female dogs can get bred up to twice a year, this is not the case with Frenchies. Since they go through c-sections every time they are pregnant, they require a much longer recovery time.
You should never try to breed a Frenchie bitch more than once every year and a half. Waiting between 18-24 months allows her the time to recover. This is a rule that needs to be followed every time she is bred.
Females Frenchies should be at least two years old before being bred. This is because it is considered to be unsafe to breed them if they are younger. Every female Frenchie needs to have gone through a few heat cycles before she should be bred.
You should stop breeding female Frenchies when they reach eight years old. Doing so past this age could be very detrimental to them. They are animals and deserve to live happy lives. By over breeding them, you are not giving them a happy life.
Breeding Males
You can start breeding male Frenchies when they reach 15 months old. At this age, they are considered to be sexually mature. Although they can produce sperm at a much younger age than this, they shouldn’t be bred young.
Final Thoughts
How do you feel about French bulldogs? They are very cute and loving dogs, but you cannot argue that they don’t go through a lot.
However, by reading this article, you should now be able to understand why they need to be bred. Hopefully, you will also be prepared for when you get yours if you decide to breed them.
Please don’t take it lightly, though. Not only do you require a lot of time to be put aside for breeding French bulldogs, but also money.
If you do not have the time or money to set aside to breed these dogs properly, it is best for everyone involved if you do not do it. As animals, they deserve to live happy, long lives, and it’s up to us to give that to them.
We hope this guide has helped you, thanks for reading!
