Five years ago, Kayla of made the switch from breeding English bulldogs to French bulldogs. The decision wasn’t made lightly. She had grown up around dogs. Her mother, a respected CKC Rottweiler breeder, had instilled in her a deep respect for bloodlines and responsible breeding. But it was the French bulldog’s spirited, energetic nature that won her over.
"People think there’s no difference between different breeds," Kayla shares with potential puppy families. "But there’s a world of difference between a well-bred Frenchie and a mixed breed from someone who skipped the effort that goes into an intentional breeding program.”
Good breeders run genetic and DNA testing so that they can ensure that both parents of a litter are clear and in good health to produce puppies that will be free of all potential health problems. When you breed mixed dogs without testing, some think that they are getting a healthier dog but that is not always the case. If their parents are not health tested then the breeder can not guarantee that the puppies will be healthier than a purebred French bulldog.
The average dog lover does not know how much work actually goes into breeding French
bulldogs. It is just not putting two dogs together and letting them tie. With French bulldogs it
is completing all health tests such as hips, elbows, eyes, heart and so on.
Kayla explains exactly how her breeding program works. When one of her female French bulldogs comes into heat she first starts with progesterone testing on day 5 and does it every other day until ovulation. During this time, she will reach out to a stud owner to collect the semen for artificial insemination. It’s best to do it a day apart. Most stud fees range from $2500- $4000, depending on the quality of the stud and whether or not the stud is a CKC champion.
On day 35, Kayla will perform an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy. By day 55, she will perform an x-ray for puppy count and to see if the dam is able to whelp naturally or if she will need a c-section. Kayla has some females that are able to whelp naturally with her vet on stand by but some females need c-sections as they have narrower pelvises.
During this time, you need to take special care of the dam’s diet. Kaya uses a high quality dog food, especially from day 1 to 42 along with folic acid. From day 42 to birth, she will switch over to a high quality puppy food. Before a c-section is performed, she will run a reverse progesterone test to make sure it is safe to birth the puppies, ideally, with a progesterone level below 2.
These standards include things like the dog's overall body proportions, coat type and color, ear shape, tail carriage, gait (which refers to how they move), and even how they behave, as temperament is just as important as looks. The goal is to preserve what makes each breed unique and to promote the health and well-being of the dogs by discouraging traits that could lead to genetic issues or poor quality of life.
By breeding to standard, breeders like Kayla help ensure that each generation of future dogs maintains the qualities that define the breed, whether they’re destined for the show ring, a loving home, or both.
For anyone that is interested in getting into breeding or the show world, Kayla strongly encourages them to seek a mentor and attend as many shows as possible. Ask lots of questions and always remember that there is no such thing as a stupid question!
