There has been a growing problem in our society with puppy mills and backyard breeders.
These are people who focus on breeding solely to make money. Unfortunately, this focus means that the health and well-being of the dogs are often sacrificed.
One important step in operating as a responsible breeder is to recognize how many litters your dog can have safely.
How Many Puppies Do French Bulldogs Have in a Single Litter?
French Bulldogs are brachycephalic dogs. This means that they have shorter snouts.
Due to the health challenges of dogs in this category, they often have smaller litters. Even with a smaller litter, most French Bulldogs will need a Caesarean section.
The average litter size for a French Bulldog is around 3 puppies. Litters that are larger than 5 puppies are incredibly uncommon.
To put this in perspective, here are the average litter sizes of some popular dog breeds:
- Beagle: 6 puppies
- German Shepherd Dog: 8 puppies
- Golden Retriever: 8 puppies
- Labrador: 7 puppies
- Poodle: 5 puppies
- Pug: 5 puppies
If a French Bulldog has a larger litter, there could be health challenges for the puppies.
They will often be underweight at birth. The smallest of the puppies may even struggle to eat and thrive.
Large litters often need constant care and attention. Unfortunately, losses aren’t uncommon.
How Many Litters Can a French Bulldog Have Safely?
The number of puppies isn’t the only concern with a French Bulldog’s health concerns.
French Bulldogs have a small body and narrow hips. This makes delivery more complicated.
As we already mentioned, most French Bulldogs will need a Caesarean section. This can put a lot of stress on a dog’s body.
Even carrying the puppies can be challenging with their physical build. This is why it is recommended to wait at least 18 months between litters.
Responsible breeders will never push their French bulldogs to have more than 4 litters.
How Old Should a French Bulldog be to Breed?
Another factor to consider when safely breeding French Bulldogs is the age of the dogs.
Before breeding, your french bulldog will need to reach sexual maturity. It is recommended to wait until the age of 2 for the first litter.
Your dog may go into heat before this time. Female French Bulldogs can reach sexual maturity as young as 5 months old.
But, it can take that long for regular heat patterns to develop. This is necessary to prevent problems.
It’s also important to know when to stop breeding a french bulldog.
Carrying and delivering a litter at an older age can put your French Bulldog at risk for complications.
French Bulldogs should never be bred after the age of 8.
How to Help Your French Bulldog After Giving Birth
In the early days after giving birth, your French bulldog is going to be exhausted. Both from giving birth and from caring for the new puppies.
Make sure that there is food and fresh water readily available.
Feed a high-quality puppy food to your dog until after the puppies have weaned.
Check on your French bulldog and the puppies regularly.
You will also want to ensure that you have scheduled vet appointments to make sure everyone is healthy.
