Last Updated on September 24, 2021 by Marco C.
Are you feeling tempted to breed from your English Bulldog? Maybe you are not sure if your English Bulldog is old enough to breed? Let’s find out everything we need to know about the English Bulldog breeding age to get you started!
Dog breeding can be a difficult and complicated process. This is why many Bulldogs are bred by recognized dog breeders.
But you might be tempted to breed some puppies of your own. If so, you need to know all about breeding Bulldogs before you start!
Should I Breed From My English Bulldog?
OK, so we know that you love your English Bulldog and think she would have gorgeous babies. The idea of some cute puppies from your English Bulldog bitch really does sound tempting! And when you see that English Bulldog puppies fetch prices of $1500 to $4000, it might sound like a great plan!
However, put that temptation aside for one minute and think about what the right thing is to do. Firstly, you need to take a critical look at your English Bulldog. Yes, she is adorable, but does she meet the breed standard?
Unfortunately, due to poor breeding, the English Bulldog suffers from many health problems. The only way to eliminate these is by breeding only from the very best examples of the breed. This means that only dogs who are fit, healthy, and clear of any hereditary problems should be bred from.
Sadly, breeding English Bulldogs is not an easy or natural process. Whereas most breeds of dogs can mate and give birth naturally, when it comes to English Bulldogs it is a whole different matter. Breeding from your English Bulldog bitch could cause her unnecessary pain and suffering, and potentially put her life at risk.
The other thing to consider is whether the world really needs more dogs right now? Pedigree breeds are more popular than ever, but there is a huge overpopulation crisis when it comes to dogs. This means that more and more dogs end up in rescue shelters, and sometimes even end up being euthanized
This is why many animal charities are now urging new pet owners to ‘adopt, don’t shop’, to reduce the number of dogs in animal shelters. Unless you have potential homes ready and waiting for your new puppies, it is not sensible to add more dogs to the population.
Is Breeding English Bulldogs Easy?
Breeding English Bulldogs is not easy and the price tag of English Bulldog puppies is not artificially high. Unfortunately, English Bulldogs cost a huge amount of money to breed. So, you need to be prepared to make a significant financial commitment and realize that you may not even get a puppy at the end of the process.
Your English Bulldog bitch will need health tests before breeding, which costs a lot of money. This is essential to make sure that she does not carry any hereditary diseases which could be passed onto her puppies. Without this screening, your puppies could suffer from painful life-long disorders.
Learn more about: Life Expectancy Of Bulldogs Compared
English Bulldogs are very difficult to breed from. Four out of every five English Bulldogs will be unable to mate in the normal way, so artificial insemination is required. This means you will need to pay a stud fee to the owner of the dog, and veterinary fees for the insemination process.
And when it comes to the birth itself, things are no less complicated. A staggering 86% of English Bulldog pregnancies end in a cesarian section. This is painful and debilitating for the bitch, as well as costing a huge amount of money.
So, you’ve got your English Bulldog this far – how many puppies should you expect to get? The normal litter size for an English Bulldog is 3 to 4 puppies, which is lower than the average dog litter size of 5 to 6 puppies. The whole process could cost up to $7000 to get this far, you can see why these puppies are so expensive!
What Is The Best English Bulldog Breeding Age?
If you want to breed from your English Bulldog, you must do it at the right age.
English Bulldogs reach sexual maturity at 6 to 9 months of age – this is when you will first see your bitch in heat. However, she is not yet ready to breed at this stage. She should be allowed to go through a few heat cycles before she becomes pregnant.
The best English Bulldog breeding age for a first litter is around two years of age. By this stage your bitch should have had several heat cycles. She will be physically mature enough to cope with a pregnancy.
As with any type of Bulldog, it is only safe to breed two or three litters over the lifetime of an English Bulldog bitch. This is because the breeding process is very debilitating for her, especially the cesarian section.
She will also need plenty of time to recover between each litter. Rearing the puppies after a cesarian section will put a huge amount of strain on your dog. In fact, she may be so exhausted that you will need to help her feed the puppies for the first few weeks!
To find more English Bulldog breeding info, the best place to start is with a reputable breeder. You can also ask your veterinarian for advice, or look through the English Bulldog breed society literature.
Summary
So, as we have learned, the best English Bulldog breeding age for a first litter is when the bitch is two years old. This is after she has had several heat cycles. An English Bulldog bitch should not have more than three litters in her lifetime. As she will likely need a cesarian section, she must be given enough time between litters to fully recover.
We would love to hear about your experiences with English Bulldogs – have you ever bred a litter from your English Bulldog? Perhaps you are thinking of breeding from your English Bulldog but have a few questions you’d like us to answer? Add a comment below this post and we’ll get back to you!
