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When Things Go Wrong
If you think it can't happen, it will.
If you KNOW it can't happen, it will.
If it is absolutely impossible for it to happen,
it will most DEFINATELY."
It's hard to deny the cuteness of a Pug or Frenchie puppy - or that of any other breed. Those soft coats, those limpid eyes and that puppy breath! One glance at a litter of healthy puppies is enough to make any owner of a pure bred dog consider breeding their own. After all, it looks like so much fun, and you might even make a little bit of extra money. However, before rushing into breeding there are some very specific things you need to consider. Cost, for one. Breeding, whelping and raising Pugs or French Bulldogs is exorbitantly expensive - more so than you could probably imagine. The vast majority of them can neither breed, conceive or whelp naturally, and these costs can add up into the thousands in a very short period of time.
Quality French Bulldog or Pug Litters - the Caviar of Dog Breeding (In Expenses Alone!)
Here's an aproximate example work sheet of a one litter .
Unless otherwise indicated:
| Procedure |
Cost |
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Timing Testing of Bitch - progesterone & LH testing to determine optimum breeding dates |
Aprox. $500.00 |
|
Stud Fee (can vary from $1000 - $2500, sometimes with 2-nd pick from litter required in addition to or instead of fee) |
$1500.00 |
|
Shipping Costs for Bitch to Stud Dog=delivery of semen, if AI |
$200-250.00 |
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Boarding Costs for Bitch while at Stud Dog |
$100.00 |
|
Ultrasound to determine pregnancy |
$200.00 |
|
Supplements, Vitamins, Premium Food |
aprox. $200.00 |
|
Reverse Progesterone to determine whelp date |
$150-200.00 |
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C Section, if it's needed |
aprox.$500.00 |
|
Follow Up Visit for Mom and Pups |
$150.00 |
|
Shots, Worming, Microchips (per pup) |
$185.00 |
|
Litter and Puppy Registration |
aprox $200.00 |
|
Total Cost |
aprox.$3985.00 |
It was the calculation for three puppies, which were born in this (fortunately) problem free litter.
Bearing in mind that we have left out the costs of advertising, health testing, feeding and all other expenses associated with this bitch reaching a stage where she is suitable to be bred,
we are still looking at net costs of $1328 per puppy produced. But not all litters are trouble free. Some end in stress for the breeder, the bitch and the puppies, and some end up much, much worse.
Puppies Always Come in the Middle of the Night or Weekend...
Our true story, what happened in far away 1992...
Anita-Blondie was white\pied French Bulldog bitch with an amazing future. She finished her show career with numerous group placements, culminating with a Best of Opposite Win at a Regional Breed Specialty. She was the top French Bulldog Bitch at that time. When the time came for us to breed Anita, we carefully chose a gorgeous male with qualities that matched and enhanced hers.
At 9.30Pm on a Saturday, several days before we expected her to start, Anita went into labor. She gave birth herself to 2 puppies, and third one stuck in her pelvic...We hardly tried ourselves to take him out, she was pushing hard...Finally, trying to pull out the puppy, we pull out his paw...But could not get him...Time went...She had contractions, but alredy dead pup stucked inside...We could not to do ANYTHING!!!!! Our regular vet, a canine reproduction specialist, was not open during weekend...And nights too...In the Sunday morning we called to everybody, who somehow could help us...Finally, we found a Vet, and, to our relief, she was indeed already in and willing to do Anita's c-section. But problem is, that she could not get to her sergical instruments, which were at work, and vet ofice was closed...She offered to do c-section at her home, on a kitchen table...We were lucky, that she does had some anastesia...But no scalpels at all...To this time, Anita barely could breathe...Her belly was swollen, because dead puppy and intocsication, it blocked her urine channel and she could not pee...After anastesia was done, and she fell asleep, vet, not having needed medical scalpel, shaved her belly and made a cut with regular dangerous shaving rasor...After belly was turn to her uteris. It was a fontain of stinky liquid, and after, one after another on a towel were layed 6 dead puppies...Luckily, we saved Anita's life - very luckily, and very barely. Unluckily, she developed a medical condition shortly after this, and was never bred from again. The litter we lost was her only chance at reproduction.
Mother nature works to ensure that the minute a dog breeder assumes that all is going well, something will go wrong. If you are prepared to make the choice to be a dog breeder, you need to be aware of the risks associated with, and the incredibly hard work and agonizing situations which it entails. Dead bitches, dead puppies, dead litters, sleepless nights, devastating vet bills, and round the clock work are all the prices we must be prepared to pay for the rewards of snuggling those cute little faces which survive. Until you have held in your hands a cold, dead puppy -- one you've
watched since birth, one you've waited for so eagerly -- you cannot know what loss is. Until your bitch has died from complications of a breeding that you decided and planned, you cannot know what regret is. Serious breeders are aware of all of this, and reluctantly accepting of the possible outcomes which can happen.
Anita-Blondie
What you need to ask yourself is-
Are you prepared and willing to risk all of this?
Why do Bulldogs cost so much?
There is a great deal of time, effort and expense involved in raising a French Bulldog litter. Without going into too much detail, it can cost $1500-$3000 to breed, deliver and raise a litter, without consideration for the time invested. The average litter size is 4. Getting the female ready for breeding requires pre-breeding testing, ovulation testing, etc. - approximately 3 trips to the vet.
Then the female is usually artificially inseminated, another 3 trips to the vet, not to mention the expense for the semen/stud service which is $500 and up. Then you wait 4 weeks for an ultrasound and/or x-rays. (It is important to be sure the female is pregnant). Special diets and constant monitoring for the next 5 weeks, plus getting the nursery getting with heating pads, bottles, blankets, medical supplies, milk replacer, puppy scale, and the list goes on and on. Then
comes the C-section which can cost upwards of $500 assuming she went into labor DURING regular office hours and all went well. Females produce only 2 -3 litters. This is a special breed which requires the help of humans to bring a litter to 8 weeks of age. In spite of their appearance the Bulldog, as a newborn puppy is extremely fragile. It requires constant monitoring of the puppies (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). French Bulldogs don't make the best mothers because
they may lay on a puppy on accident and not even realize it. The puppies are normally checked by the vet at least 4 times during their first 8 weeks, including dewormings and puppy shots. It is a breed that requires MAXIMUM effort on the part of the breeder to make sure that all the puppies turn out healthy. The whole procedure is VERY costly.You will find that most breeders range their pet bullys around the $1800.mark. Beware of "great deals" and "cheap puppies", they may cost you alot more in the end - not just money, but heartache too!
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Here's a partial list of breeds that OFTEN require medical and surgical assistance with whelping. Always have close communication with your veterinarian long before and during the whelping process; veterinary assistance may very well be required! |
Pugs |
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Bulldogs-Engish/French |
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Chihuahuas |
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Boston Terriers |
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Pekingese |
Gestation Period
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Day 1 - Artificially inseminate
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Day 1 - The sperm migrate up through the cervix.
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Day 1 - Sperm travel searching for a mature ripened eggs.
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Day 2-3 - Sperm reach the eggs in the oviducts.
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Day 2 -3 - Fertilization occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus.
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Day 4-6 - Fertilized eggs migrate down the oviducts and into the uterine horns.
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The migration continue to enable even spacing of the embryos.
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During this migration the eggs will grow into a blastocysts.
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Day 11-13 - The blastocysts implant in the wall of the uterus.
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Day 18-25 - This is the best time to have an ultrasound to determine if the dam is pregnant. Anything beyond 28 days loses accuracy.
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Day 20-22 - The blastocysts will grow into an embryos.
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Day 20-22 - During the next two weeks the important organs will develop.
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Day 14-20 - Dams nipples begin to pink and enlarge.
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The fur on the dams belly and around the nipples may become thinner.
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Day 21-27 - Morning sickness might occur due to hormonal changes or stretching and distension of the uterus. Dam may appear a bit apathetic. She may not eat as regular and may vomit from time to time.
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Feeding the dam several meals spaced throughout the day might help.
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Your veterinarian may want to prescribe a drug to relax the uterus.
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Day 26 - 30 - An experienced person (a breeder or a veterinarian) can tell by careful palpation whether the dam is pregnant.
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Now the best time to do this because the embryos are walnut-sized now and easy to count.
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Day 28 - Start to increase the dams food intake.
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Don't overfeed, excessive weight gain should be avoided.
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The fetuses are now and are fully developed miniature dogs.
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Day 34 - The Dams abdomen starts to get larger.
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Day 44 - It's very easy now to feel the puppies, counting them might be a bit more difficult.
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Dam begins to spend a lot more time in self-grooming.
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Her breasts become even more swollen.
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Day 47-55 - She may become a bit restlessness and begin to search for a suitable place to have her puppies.
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Day 49 - You must wait until after 49 days to have x-ray to determine if dam is pregnant.
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Day 50 - The dam might lose her appetite during this period. Her abdomen can be crowded with puppies.
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Day 50-64 - Dam has difficulty grooming herself.
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It is better to feed several smaller meals spaced throughout the day.
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You can easily detect abdominal movement now.
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Nipples and vulva should be gently cleaned with warm water, you might want to trim the hairs surrounding the nipples, to allow easier access for the puppies to suck.
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Day 59-62 - Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples.
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Day 61 - You might want to start taking the dams rectal temperature each morning and evening.
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Day 63 - Twelve to 24 hours before she is due to deliver, the dams rectal temperature may drop from 101 to 98 degrees.
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Clear discharge from the vulva might occur.
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Day 64 - Expected date of whelp. Of course this is just an average. Whelping may take place from the 59th to the 65th day. Puppies born before the 58th day will probably be too young to survive.
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