How Many Times Can You Breed a French Bulldog? Breeding Cycle & Other Information
Alex Vicente • Updated on February 7, 2023
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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
If you own a Frenchie, you’re most likely familiar with how valuable they are.
Owing to their unique physical features, they’re considered rare, and breeding them could be quite the challenge.
In this post, you’ll learn about how many times you can breed French Bulldogs and how you can make the process easier for you and your dog, so stick around.
How Many Times Can You Breed a Frenchie?
If you ask any responsible breeder, they’ll tell you it’s best not to breed your Frenchie more than 3–4 times in her lifetime.
Frenchies have traits that make pregnancy and delivery taxing on their health, and it’s best to minimize their effects.
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How Often Can You Breed Your French Bulldog?
On average, Frenchies get their heat cycle twice a year.
Between pregnancies, a Frenchie should rest and restore her physical and mental health, so waiting for 3-4 heat cycles (18–24 months) between litters is a good idea.
In the meantime, try to protect her from unwanted pregnancies by fitting her with a diaper during her heat cycle.
This will ensure she doesn’t mate with any random dog and will protect your place from the bloodstains.
Should You Breed a Frenchie in First Heat?
It’s not recommended that you breed a French Bulldog in their first heat cycle.
Frenchies get their first heat at about 6–9 months old and some of them get it as early as 5 months of age.
This means that the dog won’t be fully grown by then.
Pregnancy takes a lot out of a Frenchie’s health, and if the dog is too young or too small there could be complications.
Her growth might be stunted and she can experience birthing complications such as dystocia.
It’s generally advised that you should wait until the third heat cycle to breed your French Bulldog.
By then, the dog will be more mature and able to care for her puppies.
How Do French Bulldogs Mate?
Frenchies can mate the “old-fashioned” way, but since their hips are narrow, it can be difficult or uncomfortable for both the male and the female.
There’s also the risk of aggression and fighting, this is why most breeders go for artificial insemination.
Artificial Insemination is a procedure where a veterinarian inseminates the dam (female dog) with the sperm of a male dog during the estrus stage of her heat cycle. It’s mostly fool-proof and the pregnancy takes within a week.
What Are the Signs of A Frenchie Pregnancy?
After mating or artificial insemination, you should look for signs of pregnancy in your Frenchie such as an increased appetite, weight gain, and swollen nipples and mammary glands.
However, this doesn’t 100% confirm a pregnancy as some Frenchies get the same symptoms but have a false pregnancy.
To be certain, taking your dam to the vet and getting her checked will let you know what to expect.
How Long Does a Frenchie Pregnancy Last?
A French Bulldog’s gestation period is 63 days, though they might have their puppies as early as 58 days.
Since the mother’s hips are narrow and the puppies have large heads, natural birth is incredibly difficult and almost dangerous to the mother.
There’s also the risk of overheating since Frenchies are brachycephalic (short-muzzled and flat-nosed) and won’t get enough oxygen during a natural delivery.
About 80% of Frenchie pups are delivered via Cesarean Section, it’s the safest way for both mother and puppies.
A Frenchie pregnancy can be riddled with difficulties, so you should monitor it closely with your vet to avoid complications.
They usually use ultrasonic or x-ray imaging to determine the number and condition of the puppies.
Scheduling the C-section is advisable after the 50-day mark.
A C-section, like any other operation, has its risks.
However, if you take care of your Frenchie and follow the vet’s orders when it comes to wound care and medication, she’ll be up and running around pretty soon after birth.
How Many Puppies Can You Expect from Your French Bulldog?
A French Bulldog usually has 2–4 puppies per litter.
It varies depending on her size, overall health, and genetics (like how many puppies her mom and dad had).
Sometimes, there will be a “disappearing” puppy.
If a sonar image showed 4 puppy sacs in the first three weeks, but then your Frenchie delivered 3 puppies, it’s most likely the puppy died and was reabsorbed by the mother’s body.
What’s the Perfect Age to Breed a Frenchie?
Though Frenchies have their heat cycles for life and don’t have menopause, they are their most fertile between 2 and 8 years old.
Younger than that and you might have a worn-out dam before she’s mature enough.
Older than that, the dog will have other health risks that come with aging.
How to Care for Your French Bulldog After Giving Birth?
This is a long topic, but basic hygiene, good nutrition, and keeping an eye on your Frenchie’s physical and mental condition after she gives birth will ensure she lives a long, healthy life.
Unfortunately, some complications like metritis could develop after artificial insemination or giving birth, where the Frenchie’s uterine lining is infected.
Take her to the vet immediately if you notice any swelling in her abdomen or bad-smelling discharge from her vulva.
Should You Spay Your Frenchie After She’s Done Having Puppies?
The simple answer is yes, you should.
Older, intact female dogs who don’t mate or give birth for several heat cycles can develop a condition called pyometra.
It’s when their uterine lining forms cysts that can get infected and compromise the dog’s health.
Spaying is still a surgical operation that comes with risks, but doing it while your Frenchie is healthy is much easier than having to schedule it in an emergency.
Final Thoughts
French Bulldogs are adorable and incredibly valuable, but breeding them can be challenging especially for a first-time breeder.
Just make sure you put your Frenchie’s health and well-being first and don’t fall into the trap of unethical breeding.
Puppies that are born to an exhausted mother will have many health problems and many of them might not make it.
About Alex Vicente
Dog Lover, Founder & Chief Editor at Paws Insider
I’ve been rescuing dogs since a very early age. I got my first dog when I was 9 years old and I remember how he, out of a litter of 6 puppies, started running towards me. He’d just chosen me. Ever since then, my love for dogs only grows stronger and I want what’s best for them. My mission is to let our readers know about the best products in the market for our best friends, as well as providing guides and tips on how we can take better care of them.
