Thinking about breeding???
Before thinking about breeding a Bulldog for the first time make sure to do your research and find
yourself a mentor.
Spaying a female before her first heat puts the risk of mammary tumors later in life at almost zero.
Pyometra a potentially fatal bacterial infection of the uterus can be completely eliminated by
spaying. Having puppies is a major physical and potentially life-threatening event for a Bulldog
female, as her litters are delivered by cesarean and require an anesthetic. Walrus or water puppies
can result so it is mandatory to have the bitch undergo a cesarean section. If the bitch is carrying
one of these puppies and is free whelped it can easily get stuck and cause loss of the puppies
and/or bitch. Bulldog puppies are not raised the same as other breeds. They require much more
time, energy, and money to successfully raise a litter.
The first two or three weeks of a Bulldog puppy's life often require around-the-clock care and
sleepless nights. This can entail every 2 hours a 45 minute feed and clean around the clock.
Before deciding to breed a female much effort should go into knowledge of the Bulldog Standard,
the background of the female and the male (pedigree, temperament, and health). Also, not all dogs
should be reproduced! AKC registration is only a pedigree registry. They do not guarantee health,
temperament, or conformation.
Some want to show their children the experience of birth. (What about the experience of death?)
Bulldogs have a very high rate of mortality.
yourself a mentor.
Spaying a female before her first heat puts the risk of mammary tumors later in life at almost zero.
Pyometra a potentially fatal bacterial infection of the uterus can be completely eliminated by
spaying. Having puppies is a major physical and potentially life-threatening event for a Bulldog
female, as her litters are delivered by cesarean and require an anesthetic. Walrus or water puppies
can result so it is mandatory to have the bitch undergo a cesarean section. If the bitch is carrying
one of these puppies and is free whelped it can easily get stuck and cause loss of the puppies
and/or bitch. Bulldog puppies are not raised the same as other breeds. They require much more
time, energy, and money to successfully raise a litter.
The first two or three weeks of a Bulldog puppy's life often require around-the-clock care and
sleepless nights. This can entail every 2 hours a 45 minute feed and clean around the clock.
Before deciding to breed a female much effort should go into knowledge of the Bulldog Standard,
the background of the female and the male (pedigree, temperament, and health). Also, not all dogs
should be reproduced! AKC registration is only a pedigree registry. They do not guarantee health,
temperament, or conformation.
Some want to show their children the experience of birth. (What about the experience of death?)
Bulldogs have a very high rate of mortality.
Progesterone tests are required to
determine the date of ovulation. .
One or more of these may have to be
done over several days or weeks....
determine the date of ovulation. .
One or more of these may have to be
done over several days or weeks....
Vaginal swabs "assist" in determining
ovulation and conception dates.
ovulation and conception dates.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Bottle feeding or tube feeding may be required and can be very difficult and time consuming.
Artificial insemination
Cleaning bottoms to encourage elimination may need to be assisted by us when Moms can't or won't.
I use Cotton balls with warm water rubbing very gently.
I use Cotton balls with warm water rubbing very gently.
Pregnancy can be very physically challenging on Moms.
The following photos are from actual Bulldog cesarean sections.
They may be disturbing to some viewers.
They may be disturbing to some viewers.
They are prepped for surgery.
The area shaved and
cleaned thoroughly.
The area shaved and
cleaned thoroughly.
The initial cut is made
The uterus is carefully removed.
Once completely removed a small incision is made to start removing puppies.
Fluids may be needed under the skin to
hydrate puppies.
hydrate puppies.
We immediately remove any fluids still in the
puppy's system. Being careful not to create a
complete suction seal.
puppy's system. Being careful not to create a
complete suction seal.
This puppies eyes started to open on day 10
This is an example of a box used when shipping semen.
Pups are kept in an incubator to help regulate body temps.
The first two weeks are the most critical. If puppies are
allowed to get cold their systems will not digest their foods.
They also are more susceptible to the Canine Herpes Virus.
The first two weeks are the most critical. If puppies are
allowed to get cold their systems will not digest their foods.
They also are more susceptible to the Canine Herpes Virus.
Good to plan ahead if you lose electricity.... hot water
having to run the vehicle to keep puppies warm or cool
depending on where you live....
having to run the vehicle to keep puppies warm or cool
depending on where you live....
One days bottle feedings....for 5 pups
Puppy getting oxygen after birth
| This is a bloody vaginal discharge after having puppies that can last several weeks to months. |
This is what the cesarean incision looks like. It needs to be cleaned daily and stitches come out around day 10-13.
If pups are having a hard time breathing they may need to be put on
a nebulizer. This pup we found later had an allergic reaction to the
Clavamox we had her on... We put her on Clavamox because the
Mom had an infection in her milk. This pup started sounding a little
congested so we kept her on it not knowing she was having a
reaction where she was having some swelling in the head and neck
from it. Once we pulled her off the meds she was fine within a day....
a nebulizer. This pup we found later had an allergic reaction to the
Clavamox we had her on... We put her on Clavamox because the
Mom had an infection in her milk. This pup started sounding a little
congested so we kept her on it not knowing she was having a
reaction where she was having some swelling in the head and neck
from it. Once we pulled her off the meds she was fine within a day....
The pups at
this age can
go in and out
of kennels as
they please.
They have the
majority of the
puppy area.
this age can
go in and out
of kennels as
they please.
They have the
majority of the
puppy area.
We gradually
give the
pups more
room as they
grow. If we
give them
too much
space too
quickly they
stop using
the potty
pads.
give the
pups more
room as they
grow. If we
give them
too much
space too
quickly they
stop using
the potty
pads.
I would like to Thank Dr. Dave
Kalinowski and his staff for all the
spectacular work with my dogs.
A good vet that listens and shares
knowledge is so very important
when dealing with Bulldogs.
Thank you Dave for taking the
time to teach me and for allowing
me to take and share photos with
those that visit my site.
Kalinowski and his staff for all the
spectacular work with my dogs.
A good vet that listens and shares
knowledge is so very important
when dealing with Bulldogs.
Thank you Dave for taking the
time to teach me and for allowing
me to take and share photos with
those that visit my site.
For moreinformation about raising actual litters see
the Breeding Blog page.
the Breeding Blog page.
Ultra sounds can be done after day 24 of ovulation. This is used to determine pregnancy and a
"general" puppy count.
"general" puppy count.
We start the potty training process at 3 weeks of age using potty pads. Sleep, Play, and Potty areas need to
be kept seperate for them to learn to use the potty pads and learning to be clean. I highly suggest to anyone
purchasing a puppy to buy an X-pen. If you need to be gone for any length of time this is an area for them to
play safely and have a spot to "go" is helpful and can make things easier on everyone including the dog.
be kept seperate for them to learn to use the potty pads and learning to be clean. I highly suggest to anyone
purchasing a puppy to buy an X-pen. If you need to be gone for any length of time this is an area for them to
play safely and have a spot to "go" is helpful and can make things easier on everyone including the dog.
Puppies ears and eyes do not open for the first week or
so. This is why pups do not leave until they are at least 8
weeks old. Puppies learn their social skills from their litter
mates and Mom. Puppies that do not receive proper
socialization can have long term affects.
so. This is why pups do not leave until they are at least 8
weeks old. Puppies learn their social skills from their litter
mates and Mom. Puppies that do not receive proper
socialization can have long term affects.
Socializing puppies to well
mannered children is very
beneficial. I have the help of my
friends daughter Ashlee because I
don't have small children at home.
mannered children is very
beneficial. I have the help of my
friends daughter Ashlee because I
don't have small children at home.
Bulldogs tails ARE NOT docked!! The
tails can be as long as the hocks and
still be acceptable in the breed
standard. A nice long straight tail is a
wonderful thing to see!! The ONLY time
I would dock a tail is when they are
having troubles with a tight pocket that
is hard to keep clean/constant infection
or if the tail is turned and digging back
into the dog. Vets that do not deal with
a lot of Bulldogs may not know this.
Dew claws also are not removed!
tails can be as long as the hocks and
still be acceptable in the breed
standard. A nice long straight tail is a
wonderful thing to see!! The ONLY time
I would dock a tail is when they are
having troubles with a tight pocket that
is hard to keep clean/constant infection
or if the tail is turned and digging back
into the dog. Vets that do not deal with
a lot of Bulldogs may not know this.
Dew claws also are not removed!
Vulva swelling
occurs with their
heat cycle. Once
they go through a
first time) their
vulva swells and
does not usually
go back to its
normal small self.
All bitches are
different and the
can be more or
less than what you
see here....
occurs with their
heat cycle. Once
they go through a
first time) their
vulva swells and
does not usually
go back to its
normal small self.
All bitches are
different and the
can be more or
less than what you
see here....
Canine Heat cycle/bleeding
We use doggy diapers with
a womans maxi pad to
contain the bleeding. All
females are different in this
also. Some bleed VERY
heavily changing the pad
every couple hours to
some that have what they
call "silent heat" cycles. If
a person is not VERY in
tuned to their bitches
cycles you could have an
unplanned pregnancy due
to this.
We use doggy diapers with
a womans maxi pad to
contain the bleeding. All
females are different in this
also. Some bleed VERY
heavily changing the pad
every couple hours to
some that have what they
call "silent heat" cycles. If
a person is not VERY in
tuned to their bitches
cycles you could have an
unplanned pregnancy due
to this.
| Some photos may be fairly graphic but I wanted to share as many details as possible for those who are not aware. |
Notice the bottom of our
into and out of our fence
Notice the bottom of our
fence.... A stray dog broke
into and out of our fence
one evening while we had
a bitch in season. Luckily
our dogs live in the house
and when a bitch is in
season we go out with
them on leash with a
baseball bat to fend off
any males that might try to
breed them.
into and out of our fence
Notice the bottom of our
fence.... A stray dog broke
into and out of our fence
one evening while we had
a bitch in season. Luckily
our dogs live in the house
and when a bitch is in
season we go out with
them on leash with a
baseball bat to fend off
any males that might try to
breed them.
We give a bath one week before delivery.
Females after puppies will
tend to blow coat. This
varies in degree. This is the
second litter for this bitch
and she blew coat incredibly
bad this time compared to
last. It is called "postpartum
telogen effluvium".
tend to blow coat. This
varies in degree. This is the
second litter for this bitch
and she blew coat incredibly
bad this time compared to
last. It is called "postpartum
telogen effluvium".
At roughly 3 weeks old we start the puppies on a
gruel. I have mixed my own but now purchase
Eukanuba Weaning Formula which is a ground
puppy food that you just add water to. You
gradually add less and less water as they get
older and then move them onto a puppy food.
gruel. I have mixed my own but now purchase
Eukanuba Weaning Formula which is a ground
puppy food that you just add water to. You
gradually add less and less water as they get
older and then move them onto a puppy food.
We use a car ramp on the steps the last
week or so. This allows them to do the
steps without jarring themselves or hitting
their milk bags on the rough steps.
week or so. This allows them to do the
steps without jarring themselves or hitting
their milk bags on the rough steps.
We only start tying off umbilicals once
the pups are all breathing and their
color is good.
the pups are all breathing and their
color is good.
At the same time we start
teaching them to use the
Lixit bottles. This helps
so they don't spill the
water dishes all over.
teaching them to use the
Lixit bottles. This helps
so they don't spill the
water dishes all over.
We do keep one
water dish in there
all the time though
for those pups that
prefer to use that.
water dish in there
all the time though
for those pups that
prefer to use that.
