Hi

I am not new to breeding only breed if i intend to keep a pup or 2 back for myself and have experience in another breed and plenty of mentors in that breed however all breeds are different and

I bought a french bulldog from a breeder 2 and half years ago who told me once i bred with her she would help me if she came into whelp as she knew i was keen to self whelp.

Unfortunatly the lady has not been true to her word and had no intention of giving me any advice other than to have a c section at 60 days. My vet that specialises in both my breeds has also said its best for my bitch and puppies to have a c section when she goes into labour as he pointed out that even is she does have a few naturally that 9 times out of ten i will run into trouble and possibly lose all the pups if i just have my head set on a natural birth. Also that its much better of my girl to just have a c section as it would sad her having some natural if she can and then on top of that a c section .

I wouldn't ever have an elective c section i want to know the puppies are ready and at least give my bitch a chance, my trouble is that she is due this weekend which means it will be emergency vets, the specialist vet in this breed is an hour and 3/4 drive away which has given me his mobile number so as soon as she goes into labour he is on stand by but still says i should ring when labour starts and drive straight down and have a c section.

The other vet in an out of for vets thats an hour drive away and not great with breeders so don't want to use them.

I really just want to know if anyone on here has any experience with french bulldogs and that have let them self whelp, if they ran into problems etc and what you would recommend.

I was told when i bought her she came from a self whelping mum only to find out when i told the breeder mine was in whelp that she has never let any of her frenchies go into labour and has always had a c section done at 60 days for them.....sigh

My other breed is a high c section rate and have always let them go into labour most of them have indeed gone into labour at 60 days but even so a dogs gestation is 63 days so would never just book a c section at 60 days and i don't know why some vets would even do this unless it was really called for.

I have read a lot about my breed and researched to see that some can intact self whelp just be nice to hear from someone that has a frenchie with some advice please

No personal experience but just a thought -can you look up breed clubs online and find phone numbers for committee members? OR phone the breed note writers in the dog papers! As a breed note writer myself I often get phonecalls from people wanting all sorts of breed specific advice, which I don't mind at all. Either way you should get hold of people experienced in the breed this way.

Who is your bitch from and what dog did you use at stud? I have your breed but not bred a litter, id be extremely cautious if i did and make sure i have everything in place and a pot o gold for mr vet. Luckily i have a frenchie vet not too far from me who i will use to do the health tests on her and the pug. Where do you live? My Boy was from a self whelped litter of 7 and his breeder experienced in the breed and i could pass your details on to her. I wouldnt do an elective even though id make myself grey with worry, frenchies as with bulldogs are special care and if she didnt actually conceieve until a few days later you could be operating on too young a puppies and a mother with no milk! and with the 2 c sections clause id want to at least try for a natural birth.

Didn't think to ring any committee members thanks.

Spoken to the stud owner who says they have never had any problems with any of there frenchies self whelping and they have both my breeds, just got off the phone to my vet again that said let he go into labour and try if thats what i really want to do and said even though its nearly a two hour drive away it would still be ok as he will be on stand by incase things go wrong but i may lose a few pups, he said if it was his bitch he would go for a c section as soon as she goes into labour ( very strange for a vet to say this i know) but he is a vet that knows my breeds.

Would never just book an elective i like to know my bitch is ready and that milk will be there for the pups.

I have frenchies , and have never needed to have a c section with them , they are from self whelping lines , although you never can tell. Any dog can get into trouble when whelping. You will need to help out a lot as they can't bend round to reach their pups . If you are at all concerned though call your vets .
I had to have my other breed which usually whelp no problems , have an emergency section after spotting inertia.
Are you staying with her all of the time ? , I have had mine whelp a week early and they need you there.

Also if you give your area maybe someone on here can help mentor you. If you were local to me I would help you with the whelping.

as u say there may only be one puppy this increases the risk of c sections needed

Oh thats reassuring as i really want to give her a go at self whelping, yes with her all the time haven't been out the house having said that i have been sleeping upstairs but am doing temp checks on her 3 times a day.

I will be sleeping downstairs from when the temp drops or she shows any signs what so ever that are not normal for her. but as she is near now will be on the couch with her in her whelping box from tomorrow.

she is having a lot of pups i can feel at least 5 so hopefully as they are quite a few in there they won't be too big, i have been asked by the vet and another breeder is she has a big back end which she does not.

Its my other bitch that is having one pup due around the same time