Breeding Bulldogs Guidelines

Breeding Bulldogs Guidelines

Age and Health of Bulldog Bitch

Bulldog can come into their first season anytime between 6 to 12 months of age. A bulldog up to 12 months old is still considered as a puppy because she is in a growing phase and not fully matured yet. Therefore the Kennel Union of SA does not allow registration of litters from a dam younger than 12 months old on the birth date of the litter. The recommended age for mating a Bulldog bitch for the first time is at the age of 12 to 18 month.The bitch must never be too fat - it is well-known that overweight Bulldog bitches will very seldom conceive. Any bitch about to be mated should be healthy, fully vaccinated and properly dewormed.

Correct Time of Mating Bulldog

The exact time during the heat cycle when a bitch should be mated is of the utmost importance for conception. Depending on the specific situation of the breeder, he has the following means to decide when to mate: 

Breeders who do not readily have access to a veterinarian, could use the natural signs of the bitch on heat to show them when she is ready for mating. This method is not infallible but should give a reasonable success rate over a period of time. From about 5 to 6 days after the first signs of heat, a mature male is put with the bitch at least two times a day. If the bitch is not ready, she will keep the male at a distance and even growl or bite at him. When the bitch is ready to be mated, she will stand still, allow the male to sniff and lick her, lift up the vulva and sometimes the tail as well and eventually allow the male to mount her. After the first mating, extra matings should be repeated every second day until the bitch does not want to stand for the male anymore. The whelping date can be calculated by counting 63 days from the day of the first mating.

Currently the most reliable and successful method to determine the correct time for mating is a combination of the natural signs of the bitch, vaginal smears and vaginoscopy. In the latter instance, a speculum is used to examine the appearance and consistency of the vaginal mucous membrane, which is a reliable indicator of the correct time for mating. Serious breeders of Bulldogs will be well advised to consult with their vets on this method. The whelping date is also calculated with the use of vaginal smears as before.

Method of Bulldog Mating

Bulldogs in general are not able to mate naturally by themselves and it is common practice among Bulldog breeders to provide assistance to the bitch and the stud during matings by means of various methods and innovations. Novice breeders who want to do assisted matings with their own Bulldogs are advised to first get some practical experience with the help of an established breeder before trying it on their own. When doing assisted matings with Bulldogs, never do it on the heat the day and never after the dogs have eaten. It is also important to allow contact between the dog and the bitch (at least 10 minute) before and after matings.

Sign of pregnancy

During pregnancy, which can be from 58 to 63 days, bitches can show a combination of habitual signs, which can vary from very obvious to very subtle. This includes changes in temperament, increased or decreased appetite, morning sickness (vomiting) and increased dormancy. In the last few days before the actual whelping, they can also show signs of nesting, uneasiness, difficult breathing, panting and refusing of food. Physical signs include enlargement of the milk glands which can be felt from about the 4^th to the 5^th  week of pregnancy and distention of the abdomen which can be seen anytime from the 4^th to the 7^th week, depending on the size of the bitch and the number of puppies she carries.In a small percentage of cases, bitches can have a false pregnancy, showing normal signs of pregnancy which may sometimes continue for several weeks beyond the normal gestation period.

A definite pregnancy diagnosis can be made by scanning the bitch with an ultrasound monitor anytime from 21 days after conception. The size and the viability of fetuses can also be evaluated with this method, but it is not accurate in counting the number of puppies. Towards the end of pregnancy (± the last 10 days), when the skeleton of a fetus starts to calcify, X-rays can also be used to make a definite pregnancy diagnosis and to count the number of puppies.

Care of pregnant Bulldog Bitch

A pregnant bitch needs to be fed well and kept quiet and warm. A bit of daily exercise is recommendable but she must not be allowed to exhaust herself, to get excited or to jump up. Use a well-balance dog food and avoid any salt in the food. A calcium supplement is recommended but should be given strictly according to manufacturer’s instruction as excessive calcium can cause serious health problems in puppies. The bitch should be dewormed 2 weeks before the whelping date with a broad spectrum anti-helmintic.

Good Time for a Caesarian

As the whelping date gets closer, the behaviour of the bitch should be watched very carefully. Take notice of the amount of food and water she takes in, her mental status (depressed or not), if she is restless, if she starts nesting (preparing for a place to whelp) and whether her breathing is normal. If the bitch is very big, it is better for her during the last week of pregnancy, to get small amounts of food more often instead of one big meal per day.
Normally milk should be present from about 3 to 7 days before whelping. In a young bitch that is pregnant for the first time, it is sometimes necessary to stimulate her milk production by treating her from 3 to 4 days before whelping with Eglonyl tablets twice daily.

It should always be the aim of both the breeder and the vet to perform a caesarian on a Bulldog bitch as close to the natural time of birth as possible. To be able to do this, an accurate whelping date is essential (see “The right time to mate a bitch”). Remember, however, that bitches with large litters tend to whelp a day or two before their anticipated whelping date and bitches with only one or two puppies can sometimes overrun their whelping date by a day or two. The body temperature of the bitch is one of the most useful and reliable signs to determine the optimum time for a caesarian. Normal body temperature in a healthy Bulldog bitch can range from 38,0 – 38,9 ˚C. Approximately 10 to 12 hours before actually going into whelp, the body temperature of the bitch will drop significantly from normal to a level of  37,2 to 37,3 ˚C for a short time (a few hours) and then rise again to normal. The 10-hour time period after the drop in temperature is the ideal time to perform a caesarian on the bitch. The taking of the bitch’s temperature should start at least 4 days before the anticipated whelping date and it is important to take the temperature at least 3 times daily (every 8 hours) so as not to miss the drop in temperature.  Once the temperature has dropped, all food and water must be taken away from the bitch immediately, in anticipation of the operation.
The golden rule for a caesarian in a Bulldog bitch is always to operate rather too early than too late.

French Bulldog

The French Bulldog is a small breed of domestic dog. "Frenchies" were the result in the 1800s of a cross between bulldog ancestors imported from England and local ratters in Paris (France).

In 2014 they were the fourth most popular registered dog in the United Kingdom and in the U.S. the ninth most popular AKC registered dog breed.

History

The origin of the modern French Bulldog breed descends directly from the dogs of the Molossians, an ancient Greektribe. The dogs were spread throughout the ancient world by Phoenician traders. British Molossian dogs were developed into the Mastiff. A sub-family of the Mastiff were the Bullenbeisser, a type of dog used for bull-baiting.

Blood sports such as bull-baiting were outlawed in England in 1835, leaving these "Bulldogs" unemployed. However, they had been bred for non-sporting reasons since at least 1800, and so their use changed from a sporting breed to a companion breed. To reduce their size, some Bulldogs were crossed with terriers, while others were crossed with pugs. By 1850 the Toy Bulldog had become common in England, and appeared in conformation shows when they began around 1860.These dogs weighed around 16–25 pounds (7.3–11.3 kg), although classes were also available at dog shows for those that weighed under 12 pounds (5.4 kg).

At the same time, lace workers from Nottingham, displaced by the Industrial Revolution, began to settle in Normandy, France. They brought a variety of dogs with them, including miniature Bulldogs. The dogs became popular in France and a trade in imported small Bulldogs was created, with breeders in England sending over Bulldogs that they considered to be too small, or with faults such as ears that stood up. By 1860, there were few miniature Bulldogs left in England, such was their popularity in France and due to the exploits of specialist dog exporters.

Description

The New Complete Dog Book: Official Breed Standards and All-New Profiles for 200 Breeds, 21st Edition, is an official publication of the American Kennel Club and sets forth the Official Breed Standard for all breeds recognized by the AKC, including the French Bulldog. The French Bulldog should have the appearance of an active, muscular dog, of heavy bone, smooth coat, compactly built, and of medium or small structure. The points should be well distributed and bear good relation one to the other, no feature being in such prominence from either excess or lack of quality that the animal appears deformed or poorly proportioned. In comparison to specimens of different gender, due allowance should be made in favor of the female dogs, which do not bear the characteristics of the breed to the same marked degree as do the male dogs.

Breed clubs and modern recognition

Bulldogs were very popular in the past, especially in Western Europe. One of its ancestors was the English bulldog. Americans had been importing French Bulldogs for a while, but it was not until 1885 when they were brought over in order to set up an American-based breeding program. They were mostly owned by society ladies, who first displayed them at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1896. They arrived again in the following year with even more entries, where the judging of the breed would go on to have future ramifications. The judge in question at the dog show, a Mr. Sven Feltstein, only chose winners with "rose ears" – ears that folded at the tip, as with the standard for English Bulldogs. The ladies formed the French Bull Dog Club of America and created the breed standard which stated for the first time that the "erect bat ear" was the correct type. In the early 20th century they remained in vogue for high society, with dogs changing hands for up to $3,000 and being owned by members of influential families such as the Rockefellers and the J. P. Morgans. The American Kennel Club recognised the breed quickly after the breed club was formed, and by 1906 the French Bulldog was the fifth most popular dog breed in America. In 2013, the American Kennel Club (AKC) ranked the French Bulldog as the 11th most popular breed in the United States, enjoying a sharp rise in popularity from 54th place a decade before, in 2003. By 2014, they had moved up to become the ninth most popular AKC registered dog breed in the USA.

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American Bulldog

American Bulldog

The American Bulldog is a breed of working dog. The names associated with the Bully and Standard types are those of the breeders who were influential in developing them, John D. Johnson (Bully) and Alan Scott (Standard).

History

The Old English Bulldog was preserved by working class immigrants who brought their working dogs with them to the American South. Small farmers and ranchers used this all-around working dog for many tasks including farm guardians, stock dogs and catch dog. These dogs were not an actual breed as considered by today's standards but were a generic bulldog type. There were no recorded pedigrees or records and breeding decisions were dependent on the best working farm dogs despite breed or background. Several separate strains of the "bulldog" type dogs were kept by ranchers as utilitarian working dogs.

Perhaps the most important role of the bulldog and the reason for its survival, and in fact why it thrived throughout the South, was because of the presence of feral pigs, introduced to the New World and without predators. The bulldogs were the settlers' only means of sufficiently dealing with the vermin. By World War II, the breed was near extinction until John D. Johnson and his father scoured the back roads of the South looking for the best specimens to revive the breed. During this time a young Alan Scott grew an interest in Johnson's dogs and began to work with him on the revitalization process. At some point, Alan Scott began infusing non-Johnson catch bulldogs from working Southern farms with John D. Johnson's line, creating the now Standard American Bulldog. At another point, Johnson began crossing his line with an atavistic English bulldog from the North that had maintained its genetic athletic vigor.

Appearance

The American bulldog is a stocky, well built, strong-looking dog, with a large head and a muscular build. Its coat is short and generally smooth. The breed is a light to moderate shedder; however, they should be brushed on regular basis. Colors, while historically predominantly white with patches of red, black, or brindle, have grown in recent years to include many color patterns including black, red, brown, fawn, and all shades of brindle. The color conformation is quite varied, but solid black or any degree of merle is considered a cosmetic fault, and a blue color is a disqualification by the NKC Breed Standard. Black pigmentation on the nose and eye rims is preferred, with only some pink allowed. Eye color is usually brown, butheterochromia also occurs, although considered a cosmetic fault. American Bulldogs can be droolers; this varies and is more prevalent in the Bully type, which is generally a larger, heavier dog with a shorter muzzle. Standard or Performance types are generally more athletic with longer muzzles and a more square head. It is important to note that many modern American Bulldogs are a combination of the two types usually termed "hybrid." In general, American Bulldogs weigh between 27 to 54 kg (60 to 120 lb) and are 52 to 70 cm (20 to 28 in) at the withers, but have been known to greatly exceed these dimensions, especially in the "out of standard," nonworking stock.

Temprament

American Bulldogs are typically confident, social, and active dogs that are at ease with their families. It is not uncommon for an American Bulldog to require a high level of attention due to their highly emotional personality. They bond strongly with their owners. They are capable of jumping in excess of 3 feet (0.91 m) vertical due to the dense muscle build of the breed. Young American Bulldogs may be slightly aloof with strangers, but as they mature the breed's normal confidence should assert itself. This breed tolerates children and can do very well with them, provided they are socialized early and understand their limits. The more exposure to good training practices, other dogs, and people, the more likely the success at being controlled both inside and outside of their environment. Early training and socialization both in the home and outside of the home is essential for this breed.

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Leavitt Bulldog

Leavitt Bulldog

The Leavitt Bulldog is a late 20th-century re-creation of the now extinct Old English Bulldog, the original bulldog breed which existed around the 19th century Regancy era, about 1820. In contrast to English bulldogs of modern times, depictions of the breed from nearly two centuries earlier showed healthier, more agile dogs, with working ability. Unlike the 19th century breed however, the Leavitt Bulldog has a placid temperament. It is one of several breeds developed in order to overcome the genetic problems in the English Bulldog breed.

History

Portions of the Olde English Bulldogge (OEB) breed renamed their dogs in 2005 in order to dissociate themselves from the OEB name, now commonly being used by some breeders to refer to their unrelated (and non-purebred, aka Designer Dogs) dogs using a different standard and heritage.^[3]

"A big reason for my wanting to change the Breed name is that there are far more Alternative Bulldog OEB’s than true ones, and most of these dogs don’t have the appearance of the old working Bulldog. I admit it’s my pride that has driven me to want to make clear these heavy dogs aren’t my creation. I couldn’t force them to change and the logical answer was to change a name that really wasn’t correct for the period we are trying to recreate anyway." - David Leavitt

Portions of the breed which decided against changing the OEB name have since gained UKC recognition as such as of 1 January 2014. The registries of both the clubs have since been granted recognition by the United Kennel Club, so LBA members can register their dogs with the UKC as Olde English Bulldogges contingent upon review by the breeds Parent Club.

Characteristic 

The Leavitt Bulldog has a very stable, friendly and loving temperament, which makes them suitable as family companions, and some have qualified as therapy dogs. They are easy to train and they are useful for various sports. This breed is extremely strong, which means that socialization and obedience training are important. Their disposition should be confident, courageous and alert without being overly protective. They enjoy not just physical games, but also activities that require intellect, such as tracking.

Genetic Background

The Leavitt bulldog was created with only breeds that all have old Bulldog in their background. According to David Leavitt a line breeding scheme developed at Ohio State University was used in the breed's development. The founding stock consisted of 1/2 English Bulldog, 1/6 American Bulldog, 1/6 American Pit Bull Terrier and 1/6 Bullmastiff.

Appearance

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Bulldog

Bulldog

The Bulldog is a medium-sized breed of dog commonly referred to as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog.

The Bulldog is a muscular, hefty dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose. Other Bulldog breeds include the American Bulldog,  Leavitt Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge, and the French Bulldog.

Bulldog History

The term "Bulldog" was first mentioned in literature around 1500, the oldest spelling of the word being Bondogge and Bolddogge. The first reference to the word with the modern spelling is dated 1631 or 1632 in a letter by a man named Preswick Eaton where he writes: "procuer mee two good Bulldogs, and let them be sent by ye first shipp". The designation "bull" was applied because of the dog's use in the sport of bull baiting. This entailed the setting of dogs (after placing wagers on each dog) onto a tethered bull. The dog that grabbed the bull by the nose and pinned it to the ground would be the victor. It was common for a bull to maim or kill several dogs at such an event, either by goring, tossing, or trampling. Over the centuries, dogs used for bull-baiting developed the stocky bodies and massive heads and jaws that typify the breed as well as a ferocious and savage temperament.

Bulldog Appearance

The Bulldog is a breed with characteristically wide head and shoulders along with a pronounced mandibular prognathous. There are generally thick folds of skin on a Bulldog's brow; round, black, wide-set eyes; a short muzzle with characteristic folds called a rope above the nose; hanging skin under the neck; drooping lips and pointed teeth, and an underbite with an upturned jaw. The coat is short, flat, and sleek, with colours of red, fawn, white, brindle, andpiebald.

Bulldogs are one of the few breeds whose tail is naturally short and either straight or screwed and thus is not cut or dockedas with some other breeds. A straight tail is a more desirable tail according to the breed standard set forth by the BCA if it is facing downward, not upwards.

Bulldog Temperament 

Breeders have worked to reduce/remove aggression from these dogs. Most have a friendly, patient nature. Bulldogs are recognized as excellent family pets because of their tendency to form strong bonds with children.Generally, Bulldogs are known for getting along well with children, other dogs, and pets.They can become so attached to home and family, that they will not venture out of the yard without a human companion. They are also more likely to sleep on someone's lap than chase a ball around the yard.

Bulldog Health

Some individuals of this breed are prone to interdigital cysts—cysts that form between the toes. These cause the dog some discomfort, but are treatable either by vet or an experienced owner. They may also suffer from respiratory problems. Other problems can include cherry eye, a protrusion of the inner eyelid (which can be corrected by a veterinarian), allergies, andhip issues in older Bulldogs.

Over 80% of Bulldog litters are delivered by Caesarean section^[18] because their characteristically large heads can become lodged in the mother's birth canal. The folds, or "rope", on a Bulldog's face should be cleaned daily to avoid infections caused by moisture accumulation. Some Bulldogs' naturally curling tails can be so tight to the body as to require regular cleaning and ointment.

Like all dogs, Bulldogs require daily exercise. If not properly exercised it is possible for a Bulldog to become overweight, which could lead to heart and lung problems, as well as stress on the joints.

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Bulldog Recognition

CKC = Continental Kennel Club

FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale

AKC = American Kennel Club

UKC = United Kennel Club

KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain

CKC = Canadian Kennel Club

ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club

NKC = National Kennel Club

NZKC = New Zealand Kennel Club

APRI = American Pet Registry, Inc.

ACR = American Canine Registry

DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.

NAPR = North American Purebred Registry, Inc.

ACA = American Canine Association Inc.