How wrong are those who consider mating animals to be a simple matter? A huge number of nuances of this process can either bring the expected positive result or lead to failure. Owners of French bulldogs would do well to apply some knowledge to such a delicate matter to achieve the desired goals in breeding these funny friends of man.

When can you mate a dog?

The female French bulldog is ready for the first mating at the onset of the 3rd heat, that is, at the age of about 1.5 years. From the 9th to 14th day from the start of the heat, the bitch can be mated with a male. The bitch’s behavior can be used to determine her readiness (heat): when stroked on the back towards the tail, she raises her tail and squats, without touching the ground with her rear.

Important! However, if when you touch the loop, its edges move apart spontaneously, then you cannot delay, because tomorrow it may be too late.

It is not recommended to use males for mating before they reach two years of age and after eight to ten years of age (depending on their health and the preservation of their 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 people also carry out a third meeting in order to increase the chances of conception. It is better to enter the mating dates in the calendar in order to know the approximate dates of delivery.

Choosing the right pair

In order to maintain the purity of the breed, when crossing, it is imperative to inquire about the pedigree of the “groom”, the conditions of his maintenance, the history of his birth and life, the successful fertilizations he has had, and also to review documents on his origin and health status.

Only healthy individuals can be allowed to mate. Dogs must be healthy both physically and psychologically . It is worth asking the breeder: did he pay due attention to the puppy’s sexual education, did he limit its social freedom in communicating 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 the male’s sperm to fertilize, and an obese female will tolerate pregnancy and childbirth worse, which in turn can pose a threat to the life and health of the offspring.

The fertility of a female 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. The behavior of the male during mating will depend on the character of the male: some first show signs of attention to the lady and then begin intercourse, while others can immediately begin to mount.

It is better if the potential “groom” and “bride” like each other, since the aggressiveness of the bitch can scare off the male and vice versa, an overly shy and frightened “Frenchwoman” can be so afraid of her partner that you will have to almost forcibly hold her for mating, which in turn can affect her attitude towards the offspring and distort maternal instincts.

Preparing a French Bulldog for mating

Before mating, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures: deworm and carry out other preventive measures to combat pests, take care of the availability of vaccinations : if the vaccination period falls on mating or a presumed pregnancy, then it can be carried out a month before mating. Also, a month and a half before the expected date of the bitch’s estrus, a blood test should be taken to find out its main indicators and the presence of infections in its body.

At the same time, it is necessary to start 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 clashes with other animals, severe punishments from the owner, hunger, thirst, other experiences), they are also contraindicated during mating, and for females – and later.

For better process flow, the bitch’s loop is lubricated with Vaseline. The room for mating should be isolated, impassable, it is better for curious people to leave. The floors should not slip, for greater confidence, toys and food can be removed from the room, leaving drinks.

Peculiarities of crossing (male/female)

Experienced breeders are inclined to believe that for a successful mating it is necessary to bring the female to the male, and not vice versa, since the male will be more confident in himself on his territory, which will increase the chances of fertilization. Most often, 2 types of mating are used: free and hand. During free mating, the dogs are in the same room to perform copulation. This type of mating can be used if the female shows interest in the male, and the male is experienced in such intercourse.

Hand mating requires the help of breeders who will hold the bitch in the required position and guide the male, who has no experience or for some reason does not show active interest in copulation. Hand mating is also used when mating a young bitch or a bitch that shows anxiety and some aggressiveness, for which it is better to put a muzzle on her.

With one hand, hold her by the collar, and with the other, support her belly, while calming her with gentle words and stroking . It is important to remember that the male dog’s penis must not be touched, otherwise he may simply refuse to continue the process or ejaculate prematurely. When the male dog’s penis enters the female’s genital tract, she may jerk from surprise or from incomprehensible sensations. It is necessary to hold her for a few minutes until the penis enters the vagina and the dog begins to instinctively erect, after which the female’s sphincter contracts, a clamping (lock) occurs, and she stands calmly.

French Bulldog for mating

If the dogs are in the lock for a period of time from 5 minutes to 25 minutes, or more, and at the end they separate voluntarily, then the mating is considered successful. Until the complete end of sexual intercourse, the dogs must not be forcibly separated. If, despite all efforts, the lock does not work, then this procedure must be repeated in a day, although if the sperm got into the female’s genital tract, fertilization may occur after this attempt.

Common mistakes of breeders

To achieve success in breeding 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 sexual education, ensuring the socialization of animals, but not showing excessiveness 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 bitch and the male, which allows avoiding many problems.

In order to avoid mistakes and miscalculations during the first mating, it is of course better to ensure the presence of an experienced breeder with a lot of positive experience . The advice of such a specialist will help owners in the future, especially with manual mating. Even with free mating, dogs should not be left alone, as the bitch may twitch during entry or coupling, which will result in injury to the male’s penis, if she had previously been favorable to his courtship.

The nervousness of the owners when their dogs try unsuccessfully can be transmitted to their pets and ruin all the efforts of the participants in the process. An inexperienced male dog that does not move from courtship to mounting needs encouragement, and he can also be given a rest for 10-15 minutes, for which the bitch is taken to another room. An experienced male dog that 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 postponing the lady’s visit to another, more suitable day.

If the male dog’s penis is in the loop, but the lock does not form, this does not mean that fertilization will not occur. In this case, it is necessary to help the dogs and hold both in this position, simulating the lock, for about 15 minutes. At the end, without allowing sudden movements, let the male get off the bitch’s back. If the lock did not work during all mating attempts, you need to seek help from a veterinarian – perhaps there is something wrong with the girl’s reproductive system.

Young males may ejaculate before entering the loop if they are overexcited and inexperienced. In this case, the penis most likely swells and can no longer physically enter the bitch’s vagina. You should not repeat the attempts immediately, it is better to postpone the meeting or give the dogs the opportunity to rest separately for 2-3 hours.

A more serious study of the structure of the female reproductive system will show that this procedure is useless for a successful pregnancy, but such manipulations can cause harm to the mental and physical condition of the female.