Finding a French bulldog stud for your dam is no easy task. From researching potential studs to screening their health — to make sure your puppies are healthy and happy, take the time to do your due diligence.
Since there are several steps in the process, we wanted to feature a short guide on The Bulldog Blog to help Frenchie breeders find the right stud service.
As a breeder, you should understand the full process step by step. And not every dam may be right for breeding. For example, while a Frenchie may go into heat as early as her fourth month, it would be highly irresponsible to breed a dog that young. You also don’t want to breed a dog as early as their second heat.
According to the American Kennel Club, breeders should wait until at least the dam’s third heat, (when they’ve reached 18-24 months old) to begin trying to breed with a Frenchie stud service. Any younger than this, and you risk harming the health of your dam. You also risk increasing the chance that the dam rejects her own puppies.
Of course, you will still want to go through all the necessary health screenings and checkups even once the third heat is reached to ensure that your dam is healthy and well, and that her puppies would be, too.
You should also keep in mind that a Frenchie should really only be bred once every 18 months to 2 years — as any more breeding than this can put the dam’s health at risk. So allow your Frenchies to recover, rest, and enjoy being spoiled!
Once you’ve completed the necessary health screenings for your dam and you’re confident in her health, it’s time to do the same for any potential stud. Look for Frenchies that have prominent lineage, that have won awards, or even studs featured at dog shows.
Additionally, check the stud’s pedigree so you can be 100% certain that the stud has no genetic health disorders. A Frenchie’s pedigree will show you the lineage of their genetic history, as well as highlight any important information about their ancestors.
When choosing between a Frenchie stud service, always ensure that the stud’s owner is willing to provide you with documents about their health and genetics. Without verification of a stud’s DNA or predisposition to certain health issues, you run the risk of pairing recessive health markers such as Hyperuricosuria (HUU) and Juvenile Hereditary Cataract (JHC).
HUU can predispose dogs to kidney or bladder stones that are difficult to treat, while JHC is an inherited form of cataracts that may lead to blindness.
After health and genetic screenings, there are several other things to consider when choosing to breed your dam with a stud.
For example, what color of puppies are you hoping to breed? You can often determine the color of two Frenchies’ offspring through a DNA calculator, like this one from Breedstream. Beyond color, you’ll want to also consider coat patterns, which are also determined by DNA.
Lastly, you should ensure that the stud you choose has the right temperament. An aggressive stud that does not do well with other dogs should be avoided.
If you need help finding the right Frenchie stud service for your dam, feel free to contact us at Royal Empire French Bulldogs. We’re happy to tell you more about our studs and Frenchies, and how you can make sure that your French Bulldog puppies are healthy and happy today, and tomorrow.
