French Bulldogs make lovable pets due to their kind and friendly personality. If you want to cross them, you need to become a breeder with care and attention. Choose males and females with good health histories and not closely related. Monitor the intersection and watch for signs that a caesarean is needed. Join trusted dog breeder organizations and start building your credibility.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Crossing the Animals
Step 1. Choose dogs with good breeding histories
To breed French bulldogs, you need to choose dogs with good health history and that have the characteristics you would like to pass on to puppies. Think about physical characteristics such as size and color, as well as temperament and personality.
- Check that the male and female are not closely related.
- Do genetic tests on both puppies and check for infectious diseases, such as brucellosis, to see if they are healthy before breeding them.
Step 2. Monitor the bitch's ovulation cycle
Typically, the female will begin to ovulate five days after the cycle begins, when she begins to have light bleeding. You will notice some blood and irritability, which will indicate the beginning of the fertile period.
At this point, you can take her to the vet for tests to confirm that she is ovulating before breeding her to a male
Step 3. Put the dogs together when the bitch is ovulating
Once you have confirmation of the female's ovulation, place her in the same room as the male. Place one hand on the female's collar and the other under her rib to stabilize her as the male mounts. Carefully supervise the crossing to avoid aggressive moves.
- If any of the dogs show signs of aggression, keep both on leashes during breeding. This way, you can separate them and control the interaction better to prevent injuries.
- During intercourse, the male's penis will get bigger while it is inside the female. This causes a situation where the penis is “trapped” inside the bitch and the male turns his body so that it looks like the two dogs are trapped by the butt. This is completely normal and usually lasts for about 20 minutes.
Step 4. Ask your veterinarian for help with artificial insemination instead of physically crossing the dogs
You can ask the professional for assistance in inseminating the bitch instead of crossing the two dogs. This method can be simpler and less aggressive for the female, therefore, it is more chosen by breeders.
- If you are comfortable doing this alone, try collecting the semen from the male's distended penis and dripping it into the dog's vagina with a clean dropper. Keep the female on her back with her hips slightly elevated to ensure conception.
- Do not try to do this alone if you are not trained, as you can injure the dogs or cause an infection.
Part 2 of 4: Caring for the Birth of Puppies
Step 1. Take the dog to the vet for prenatal exams
The provider will do an ultrasound or x-ray to see how many puppies she will have. He or she will also be able to check for any problems with the pregnancy and offer advice on giving birth.
Step 2. Look for signs of labor
When the female is ready to start giving birth, her behavior will be pretty obvious. Common signs of labor include: restlessness, tremor, wheezing, loss of appetite, whining, and vomiting. The bitch can also isolate herself in a place to prepare for the birth.
Puppies usually begin arriving between 12 and 24 hours after the symptoms of labor onset
Step 3. Interfere with delivery only when necessary
Each puppy should come within ten to 30 minutes of each other, and the bitch bites and cuts the umbilical cord, opens the placenta around each puppy and starts licking it vigorously to stimulate its breathing and circulation.. If she is doing all these activities alone, don't interfere so she can connect with the puppies.
If it looks like she doesn't know what to do, take action. First, break the placenta so the puppy can breathe. Then cut the umbilical cord and tie it with a thread. Clean fluid or mucus from the puppy's mouth and nose. Then vigorously massage his tummy to encourage breathing and circulation
Step 4. Prepare for a cesarean if necessary
French Bulldogs have small pelvises and large heads, so they usually cannot deliver normal births. Be aware of this and monitor your dog for symptoms that a caesarean is required when she begins labor.
If she has been in labor for more than an hour, immediately take her to the vet for an emergency cesarean
Part 3 of 4: Taking care of puppies
Step 1. Organize a box for the dog
This will be the space where the mother can rest while she recovers from the birth and care for the puppies. The box needs to be big enough for the mother and all the puppies to lie down comfortably, with high walls to keep them inside - about 80 cm wide, 40 cm deep and 30 cm high.
Check for a nearby heat source, such as a heat lamp, to help keep the puppies warm during the first week of life
Step 2. Make sure the puppies are eating enough
Newborn puppies need to eat every two hours. Watch them and see if they are taking the mother's nipples to feed. If they can't find them, try squeezing a nipple and leading the puppy to the drop of milk that comes out to encourage him to feed.
If he's not sucking or seems to be constantly hungry (crying all the time), he may need to supplement his diet with a high-quality puppy formula, such as Esbilac
Step 3. Monitor puppies to see if they are urinating and defecating
French Bulldogs are born not knowing how to urinate and defecate. They learn these skills by being licked by their mother. This movement encourages the puppy to use the toilet.
If the mother doesn't seem to be licking her babies, you need to interfere. Wet a cotton ball with warm water and gently rub the pups' genitals to stimulate the excrement
Part 4 of 4: Becoming a Certified Breeder
Step 1. Obtain a female with the ability to mate
The most important thing to become a trustworthy breeder is to have a healthy and fertile female. You can always make arrangements with other breeders to use the males they have, so just have one female to start with. She must be healthy and able to carry litters.
- Take the female to the veterinarian for a complete physical examination before starting to breed her.
- The bitch must have all up-to-date vaccinations, must be actively taking the heartworm medication and must not have any parasites.
Step 2. Join French Bulldog crossing clubs
Joining these organizations increases your chances of being approved when you apply to be a certified breeder. It is also beneficial to have contact with other French Bulldog breeders - that way you can find males and females to breed with your own puppies in the future.
Search the internet for breeder clubs in your region
Step 3. Register to be a recognized breeder by various organizations
Include all information about your animals (including names and registration numbers), your personal French Bulldog breeding history and any relevant breeder club affiliations. Sometimes it is necessary to pay a small fee, depending on the organization.