When can you breed a dog?
The female French bulldog is ready for the first mating when the third heat occurs, that is, at the age of approximately 1.5 years . From 9 to 14 days from the beginning of the emptying, the bitch can be mated with a male. By the behavior of the bitch you can determine her readiness (hunting): when stroking her back towards the tail, she raises her tail and squats without touching her butt to the ground.
Important! However, if when you touch the loop, its edges move apart spontaneously, then you cannot hesitate, since tomorrow it may already be too late.
It is not recommended to use male dogs for mating until they reach two years of age and after eight to ten years of age (depending on the state of his health and preservation of functions). Mating is best done in the first half of the day after a good walk and 3 hours after eating.
The second control mating is carried out one or two days after the previous one. Some also conduct a third meeting in order to increase the chances of conception. It is better to record mating dates on a calendar to know the approximate due date.
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Important points
The readiness of the bitch is checked after reaching the age of 1.5 years. For example, 1 year and 8 months is a good option. Estrus occurs every 6 months, so choosing the time and day is not a problem. A female dog comes into heat twice a year and each time it can be noticed by behavior and other signs indicating readiness for mating.
How not to make a mistake in the correctness of your decision?
Everything is very simple, a dog behaves differently on the day of heat - on the street she looks for a partner, sniffs, sniffs the air, marks her territory, leaving a message for her suitors. This, of course, is what she thinks - a French bulldog bitch, but the owner is personally watching the eccentric beauty and will not allow casual relationships!
These days you need to keep the girl on a short leash and not go with the bulldog to common dog-walking areas in order to prevent unforeseen situations.
At home, your dog may also mark, worry, or be overly affectionate. It is known that on the day of ovulation, when you stroke the animal on the back, it squats, but not completely, and moves its tail back. You can also notice how the dog licks its loop; discharge is already coming from it.
By their color you can also determine the best day when mating is necessary. At first they are transparent, then they may be a little bloody, and on the 8th-9th day they become discolored again. Now it’s worth going or going to the dog.
A certain day is taken so that the dog is completely ready to let a male dog approach him, and also so that the mating is not “empty”.
Choosing the right pair
In order to maintain the purity of the breed, when crossing, it is necessary to inquire about the pedigree of the “groom”, the conditions of his detention, the history of his birth and life, any successful fertilizations, and also look at documents about his origin and state of health.
Only healthy individuals should be allowed to breed. Dogs must be healthy both physically and psychologically . It is worth asking the breeder whether he paid due attention to the puppy’s sex education, and whether he limited his social freedom to communicate with other animals. The dog, both male and female, should not be overfed, that is, be physically fit, since obesity negatively affects the ability of male sperm to fertilize, and an obese female will tolerate pregnancy and childbirth worse, which in turn can pose a threat to life and the health of offspring.
This is interesting! It is better if the male is a little larger in size than the female - this will make it easier for him to breed.
The fertility of a bitch is a hereditary factor and does not depend on the male. The ability to bear offspring well and give birth without complications can also be inherited, but is not a guarantee. His behavior during mating will depend on the character of the male dog: some first show signs of attention to the lady and then begin intercourse, while others can immediately begin mating.
It is better if the potential “groom” and “bride” like each other, since the aggressiveness of the bitch can scare away the male and, conversely, a too shy and frightened “Frenchwoman” may be so afraid of her partner that she will have to be practically forcibly held back for mating, which in turn, can affect her attitude towards her offspring and distort maternal instincts.
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Preparing a bulldog for mating
Before mating, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures: worming and taking other preventive measures to control pests, take care of the availability of vaccinations: if the vaccination period falls on mating or presumptive pregnancy, then it can be done a month before mating. Also, a month and a half before the expected date of breeding, the bitch should undergo a blood test to find out her main indicators and the presence of infections in her body.
At the same time, it is necessary to begin adding a complex of microelements and vitamins to the food after prior consultation with a veterinarian. The same measures should be taken for the male dog. It is important that dogs do not experience stressful situations before mating (attacks or skirmishes with other animals, severe punishment from the owner, hunger, thirst, other experiences); they are also contraindicated during mating, and for bitches in the future.
Important! It would be a good idea to invite a breeding instructor or an experienced breeder.
For a better process, the bitch's loop is lubricated with Vaseline. The room for mating should be isolated, impassable, it is better for the curious to leave. The floors should not slip; to be more sure, you can remove toys and food from the room, leaving drink.
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Features of crossing (male/female)
Experienced breeders are inclined to believe that for a successful mating it is necessary to bring the bitch to the male, and not vice versa, since in his territory the male will be more confident in himself, which will increase the chances of fertilization. Most often, 2 types of knitting are used: freestyle and hand. In free-breeding, dogs are kept in the same room to perform copulation. This type of mating can be used if the bitch shows interest in the male, and the male is experienced in such intercourse.
When manually mating, the help of breeders is required, who will support the bitch in the required position and guide the male who has no experience or for some reason does not show an active interest in copulation. Hand mating is also used when mating a young bitch or a bitch that shows restlessness and some aggressiveness, for which it is better to put a muzzle on her.
With one hand they hold her by the collar, and with the other they support her stomach, while it is necessary to calm her down with gentle words and strokes . It is important to remember that a male dog’s penis should not be touched, otherwise he may simply refuse to continue the process or ejaculate prematurely. When the male's penis enters the female's genital tract, she may jerk in surprise or from incomprehensible sensations. It is necessary to hold it for several minutes until the penis enters the vagina and the dog begins to instinctively erect, after which the bitch’s sphincter contracts, a gluing occurs (lock) and she stands calmly.
Important! After mating, dogs need a short walk and rest.
If the dogs are in the castle for a period of time from 5 minutes to 25 minutes, or more, and at the end they are separated randomly, then the mating is considered to be a success. Dogs should not be forcibly separated until the sexual intercourse is complete. If, despite all efforts, the lock does not work, then this procedure must be repeated every other day, although if the sperm gets into the bitch’s genital tract, fertilization can occur after this attempt.
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Knitting process
Mating usually takes place 9-14 days after the start of estrus. Pets must be completely healthy and be examined by a veterinarian. There are two ways to breed French Bulldogs - freestyle or hand-breeding.
Freestyle mating
In this way, dogs that are already familiar and have a clear interest in each other should be bred. It is highly desirable that the male already has experience. The process is extremely simple - the pets just need to be left together in the same room for a certain time.
Hand knitting
In this case, bulldogs receive human assistance. This method is used to breed young bitches who have no experience and behave aggressively and restlessly towards the male.
If the bitch is too aggressive, use a muzzle. During mating, the female must be held by the collar and belly.
The best time for successful sexual intercourse is morning. Bulldogs do not need to be fed and should be given a good walk before mating. Animals must not be separated until sexual intercourse is completed. The second time, for control, mating is carried out after 1-2 days to guarantee fertilization.
Common mistakes made by breeders
To achieve success in the breeding of French bulldogs, it is necessary to follow the rules of keeping and raising animals, starting from the very first days, giving proper nutrition, household and sex education, ensuring the socialization of animals, but without being excessive in these matters. An important role is played by the owners' awareness of the characteristics of the breed, as well as the structure and function of the reproductive system of the female and male, which helps to avoid many problems.
To avoid mistakes and miscalculations during the first mating, it is of course better to ensure the presence of an experienced breeder with extensive positive experience . The advice of such a specialist will help owners in the future, especially when knitting by hand. Even with free mating, the dogs should not be left alone, since the bitch may jerk during entry or mating, which will result in injury to the male’s penis, if she previously favorably accepted his advances.
The nervousness of the owners when the dogs’ efforts are unsuccessful can be transmitted to the pets and nullify all the efforts of the participants in the process. An inexperienced male who does not move from courtship to cages needs encouragement; he can also be allowed to rest for 10-15 minutes, for which the bitch is taken to another room. An experienced male who refuses to mount sometimes makes it clear that the bitch is not yet ready for mating, so instead of forcing him to fulfill his “duties,” it is worth rescheduling the lady’s visit to another, more suitable day.
If a male member is in a loop, but a lock is not formed, this does not mean at all that fertilization will not take place; in this case, it is necessary to help the dogs and hold both of them in this state, simulating a lock, for about 15 minutes. In the end, without allowing sudden movements, let the male get off the bitch's back. If the lock does not work during all mating attempts, you need to seek help from a veterinarian - perhaps not everything is normal with the girl’s reproductive system. Young male dogs may ejaculate before entering the loop if he is overexcited and inexperienced. In this case, the penis most likely swells and can no longer physically enter the bitch’s vagina. There is no point in repeating attempts right away; it is better to reschedule the meeting or give the dogs the opportunity to rest separately for 2-3 hours.
This is interesting! Another serious mistake owners make, which leads to stress for the bitch and, accordingly, to a decrease in the chances of her fertilization, is holding her upside down by her hind legs after intercourse.
With a more serious study of the structure of the female reproductive system, one will be convinced of the uselessness of this procedure for a successful pregnancy, but such manipulations can be harmful to the mental and physical state of the female.
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Frequent errors and problems
Quite often, breeders are faced with the fact that females behave aggressively towards the male. Don’t be afraid of this; for them, this behavior is considered normal. Usually the growling does not last longer than a few minutes. A muzzle can help avoid problems. You can also limit the dog's movement by holding it between your knees.
The male dog also needs help. If he is unable to find the loop, he can be placed on the female's croup. If this does not help and the male begins to get nervous, the female needs to be taken out of the room for a while. After the “bride” is again in the same room with him, he will begin to act more actively.
Even if the dog’s penis is in the loop, but there is still no lock (hitch), you should not interfere with the process. Fertilization can occur even in this case. If there is no lock during further mating attempts, there may be something wrong with the girl’s health.
