French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed, so they don’t often give birth to larger litters. But, what does that mean actually? How many puppies do French Bulldogs have?
In this article, we’re going to answer that question and learn which other breeds of dogs are brachycephalic. We’re also going to learn more about a French Bulldog’s pregnancy, and how you can make that period a little bit easier for your beloved dog.
With that being said, we’d like to remind you that we have several articles on the French Bulldog where you can find out more about them:
Besides this, we also have some tips for you on how to choose the right puppy for yourself from a litter:
How many puppies do French Bulldogs have in a litter?
As explained above French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed. Brachycephalic short-skulled dog breeds have usually very small litters. Generally speaking, French bulldogs will have on average around two or three puppies at a time. The instances where a French Bulldog had more than 5 puppies are very, very unusual.
How little this is you’ll understand when we tell you that large breeds, a Golden retriever for example, usually have eight puppies in a litter.
Now we know how many puppies a French Bulldog can have in a litter. But, how many litters does a Frenchie have in its lifetime? If your guess was seven or maybe eight litters, you’d be wrong.
French Bulldogs can have on average around four litters in their life! That is right, only four litters. This is because any more litters than that would mean you’re putting the mother at serious risk for her health.
Are there other brachycephalic dog breeds?
The French Bulldog is not the only brachycephalic breed of dog out there. To put it simply, a brachycephalic breed is every breed that has a shortened head, short nose, and flat face.
This means that breeds such as the French Bulldogs, Pugs, Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas, Chow Chows, Pekingese, Lhasa Apso, Bull Mastiffs, and English Toy Spaniels are all brachycephalic breeds. All of these breeds are quite smaller in size, meaning they don’t even have the capacity to have large litters.
French Bulldog pregnancy
A pregnant can be very difficult for a French Bulldog, that’s why they will need your full support during this time.
Just like with a pregnant woman it’s very important that your dog isn’t exposed to stress during this time. This also includes calm, non-strenuous exercise. Walks and only light playtime are allowed.
Besides this, your dog might get a bit needy during this time, so try to give them as much attention as possible. Cuddle with them, talk to them, play with them, or just lay with them.
Pay good attention to the kind of food your dog eats. It should be nutrient-filled, balanced, and healthy. During this time it’s very important that your dog eats high-quality food so that the puppies can grow. Also, keep in mind that your dog might eat a little less, but more often. So have food always available at all times, as well as freshwater.
C-sections
We also need to mention that French Bulldogs almost always need a C-section. Generally speaking, it’s the most way because of the pregnant dog’s narrow hips, and the puppies also usually have very large heads.
Giving birth naturally can be very dangerous for both the pregnant dog and the litter. So be prepared to pay a hefty sum for your dog’s C-section. It can cost anywhere between $500 and $2,000.