{"id":9306,"date":"2022-03-16T12:39:43","date_gmt":"2022-03-16T12:39:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/?p=9306"},"modified":"2023-08-22T12:55:18","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T12:55:18","slug":"how-long-do-french-bulldogs-stay-in-heat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/how-long-do-french-bulldogs-stay-in-heat\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Do French Bulldogs Stay in Heat? Cycle, Tips &#038; Signs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-14101bc2\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/How-Long-Do-French-Bulldogs-Stay-in-Heat-featured-image.webp\" alt=\"French bulldog looking\" class=\"wp-image-9319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/How-Long-Do-French-Bulldogs-Stay-in-Heat-featured-image.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/How-Long-Do-French-Bulldogs-Stay-in-Heat-featured-image-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/How-Long-Do-French-Bulldogs-Stay-in-Heat-featured-image-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/How-Long-Do-French-Bulldogs-Stay-in-Heat-featured-image-705x397.webp 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<nav aria-label=\"breadcrumbs\" class=\"rank-math-breadcrumb\"><p><span class=\"last\">Home<\/span><\/p><\/nav>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading post_title_h1\" id=\"sc-post-title\">How Long Do French Bulldogs Stay in Heat? Cycle, Tips &#038; Signs<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post_info\"><strong><a   class=\"post-author-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/author\/alex\/\">Alex Vicente<\/a><\/strong> \u2022 Updated on August 22, 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"disclaimers\">\n<li><span class=\"av-icon-char\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-av_icon=\"\ue822\" data-av_iconfont=\"entypo-fontello\"><\/span> This review contains affiliate links. Read more <a href=\"\/affiliate-disclosure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5263\">here<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span class=\"av-icon-char\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-av_icon=\"\uf0fa\" data-av_iconfont=\"fontello\"><\/span> Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re a first-time owner of a female Frenchie, you\u2019re probably wondering how long French Bulldogs stay in heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article will help you know more about French bulldog mating patterns, and whether there are any preparations you ought to be making, all for your Frenchie to be safe and comfortable during her heat season.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li ><a href=\"#when-do-french-bulldogs-reach-puberty-and-how-long-do-they-stay-in-heat\">When Do French Bulldogs Reach Puberty? And How Long Do They Stay in Heat?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#how-do-i-know-if-my-frenchie-is-in-heat\">How Do I Know If My Frenchie Is in Heat?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#what-are-the-stages-of-a-french-bulldogs-heat-cycle\">What Are the Stages of a French Bulldog\u2019s Heat Cycle?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#how-do-i-prepare-for-a-frenchie-in-heat\">How Do I Prepare for a Frenchie in Heat?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#should-you-breed-or-spay-your-french-bulldog\">Should You Breed or Spay Your French Bulldog?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when-do-french-bulldogs-reach-puberty-and-how-long-do-they-stay-in-heat\">When Do French Bulldogs Reach Puberty? And How Long Do They Stay in Heat?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/female-french-bulldog-on-the-park-looking.webp\" alt=\"female French bulldog on the park looking\" class=\"wp-image-9322\" title=\"female French bulldog on the park looking\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/female-french-bulldog-on-the-park-looking.webp 780w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/female-french-bulldog-on-the-park-looking-300x185.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/female-french-bulldog-on-the-park-looking-768x473.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/female-french-bulldog-on-the-park-looking-705x434.webp 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>An average female Frenchie will get her first heat cycle between 6\u20138 months of age. Afterward, she\u2019ll get her cycle roughly every six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the first two years or so, her cycle might be irregular until she matures completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Female French Bulldogs stay in heat for about three weeks, though some will only be in heat for two weeks and some for four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also changes according to the dog\u2019s age and health condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-do-i-know-if-my-frenchie-is-in-heat\">How Do I Know If My Frenchie Is in Heat?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-sleeping.webp\" alt=\"French bulldog sleeping\" class=\"wp-image-9318\" title=\"French bulldog sleeping\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-sleeping.webp 780w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-sleeping-300x185.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-sleeping-768x473.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-sleeping-705x434.webp 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The most obvious signs of a female dog in heat are a swollen vulva and bloody discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note, however, that some dogs experience what\u2019s known as \u201csilent heat,\u201d where they get their normal heat cycle without the physical changes or very minimal symptoms appearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should also look for behavioral changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your French bulldog suddenly becomes more affectionate, looking for pats and cuddles, or if she becomes grumpier, more aggressive, and demands to be left alone, she\u2019s probably in heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we\u2019ll discuss below, their behavior changes between phases of the same cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-are-the-stages-of-a-french-bulldogs-heat-cycle\">What Are the Stages of a French Bulldog\u2019s Heat Cycle?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-on-the-lap-of-the-owner-looking.webp\" alt=\"French bulldog on the lap of the owner looking\" class=\"wp-image-9317\" title=\"French bulldog on the lap of the owner looking\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-on-the-lap-of-the-owner-looking.webp 780w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-on-the-lap-of-the-owner-looking-300x185.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-on-the-lap-of-the-owner-looking-768x473.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-on-the-lap-of-the-owner-looking-705x434.webp 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A heat cycle isn\u2019t just a few days when your Frenchie bleeds from her vulva; they\u2019re usually divided into four stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. The Proestrus Stage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the first stage of a heat cycle when you notice the swollen vulva and bloody discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this period, you\u2019ll notice some behavioral changes like your Frenchie being more reserved and moody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She might start getting attention from male dogs at this point, but she\u2019ll just ignore it or try to protect herself by tucking her tail or by sitting down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The proestrus stage usually lasts 4\u201320 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. The Estrus Stage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Afterward, the female Frenchie enters her fertile window, called the estrus stage, where she\u2019s more receptive to male attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She could start displaying that by \u201cflagging\u201d her tail upwards or moving it to one side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She\u2019ll also urinate more frequently because her urine contains pheromones that attract male dogs and let them know she\u2019s ready for mating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The discharge from her vulva will change colors from bright red to a fainter pinkish or brownish clear color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The estrus stage lasts anywhere between 5\u201313 days and your dog might get pregnant then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. The Diestrus Stage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Then comes the diestrus stage, which would be 63 days if the Frenchie was pregnant. If not, it lasts between 60\u201390 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Look out for signs of false pregnancy in this stage, where the dog acts pregnant, though there are no puppies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019ll come in the form of a loss of appetite as well as swollen mammary glands and nipples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The dog might also try moving her bed around or cuddling with a toy as if she\u2019s nursing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. The Anestrus Stage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After the stages of active heat comes the anestrus stage, which lasts about 60\u201390 days as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is when the dog is completely \u201cnormal\u201d and her body prepares for another heat cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-do-i-prepare-for-a-frenchie-in-heat\">How Do I Prepare for a Frenchie in Heat?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/female-french-bulldog-wearing-dog-nappies-.webp\" alt=\"female French bulldog wearing dog nappies\" class=\"wp-image-9323\" title=\"female French bulldog wearing dog nappies\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/female-french-bulldog-wearing-dog-nappies-.webp 780w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/female-french-bulldog-wearing-dog-nappies--300x185.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/female-french-bulldog-wearing-dog-nappies--768x473.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/female-french-bulldog-wearing-dog-nappies--705x434.webp 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As a pet parent, there are some things to take into consideration when your Frenchie first goes into heat to protect her and keep her surroundings clean and safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First of all, even if your Frenchie cleans herself from the discharge, you still might find bloody spots around the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B01KWLFZ0Q?tag=pawsinsider-20\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"lasso-urls\" data-id=\"17716\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"17613\" data-lasso-name=\"Pet Parents Premium Washable Dog Diapers &amp; Extendrs\">doggy diapers<\/a>\u00a0as an option to keep your dog and your house clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then comes the crucial part of never letting her go anywhere unsupervised. A dog in heat will seek out a mate, and even if she\u2019s the most well-behaved dog, she might try to escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that whenever you\u2019re on a walk with her, she\u2019s on a leash. And if you have a doggy door, keep it closed during the duration of her active heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have intact male dogs around the house, separate them from your female Frenchie as she\u2019s going through her proestrus and estrus stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Male dogs can smell female pheromones and will try to mate with her or even fight to get to her. If you don\u2019t want to completely isolate her, try a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=baby+gate&#038;crid=XCG7HPVIKD95&#038;sprefix=baby+gate%2Caps%2C169&#038;linkCode=ll2&#038;tag=pawsinsider-20&#038;linkId=5c80cb307678db42b807b34f02ad4a5d&#038;language=en_US&#038;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5265\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-name=\"baby gate\">safety or baby gate<\/a>&nbsp;to make it less lonely for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last but not least, keep her in a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Dog+Collars&#038;linkCode=ll2&#038;tag=pawsinsider-20&#038;linkId=06a6fdb6f34f25ead9c74c87fd548c44&#038;language=en_US&#038;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5266\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-name=\"Dog Collars\">collar<\/a>&nbsp;with updated information just in case she runs away. If she\u2019s microchipped, go to your vet and make sure her info is updated as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"should-you-breed-or-spay-your-french-bulldog\">Should You Breed or Spay Your French Bulldog?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-looking.webp\" alt=\"French bulldog looking\" class=\"wp-image-9324\" title=\"French bulldog looking\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-looking.webp 780w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-looking-300x185.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-looking-768x473.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-looking-705x434.webp 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Breeding or spaying? This is a loaded question that makes for a long discussion. However, there are some things to think about when you\u2019re making this decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you intend on breeding your Frenchie, you should check with your veterinarian whether she\u2019s healthy enough and has good genetic material to pass on to the pups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>French bulldogs are a dwarf breed that is also brachycephalic (flat-nosed), and this presents many health risks when it comes to breeding them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from the breathing problems your female Frenchie might have, she could very well overheat while going into labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The female usually has narrow hips and the puppies have large heads, which makes natural birth difficult and almost life-threatening, so a cesarean section is almost always required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That, alongside the need for artificial insemination to get her pregnant to avoid injuries while copulating, could make the bills add up real quick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the flip side, spaying a young Frenchie could have some health risks as well. Along with the risks that come with anesthesia, some could have stunted growth if they\u2019re spayed before their growth plates fuse, so they never reach their adult size. Some also develop hypothyroidism and urinary incontinence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always check with your vet to make sure you\u2019re making the best decision for your Frenchie pup to give her the healthiest, happiest life possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-resting-on-owner.webp\" alt=\"French bulldog resting on owner\" class=\"wp-image-9325\" title=\"French bulldog resting on owner\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-resting-on-owner.webp 780w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-resting-on-owner-300x185.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-resting-on-owner-768x473.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/french-bulldog-resting-on-owner-705x434.webp 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Female Frenchies get their first heat cycle when they\u2019re about 6-8 months of age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From there, a female Frenchie will get her cycle every six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At first, a Frenchie\u2019s cycle will be irregular, especially during the first two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, when she fully matures, her cycle will start happening on a regular basis.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wondering how long french bulldogs stay in heat for? Find out the heat cyle stages and learn some tips and signs to watch for.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9319,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[145],"tags":[130],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9306"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9306"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17983,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9306\/revisions\/17983"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}