It’s always exciting for future dog owners on a waiting list to find out the dog they want to adopt is pregnant. If you’re waiting to adopt a Frenchie, you may have come here because you’re asking “how long are French Bulldogs pregnant for?“
On average, a French Bulldog will be pregnant for 9 weeks. When a French Bulldog conceives, it will typically give birth 58 to 68 days later. The average length of time that a dog is pregnant is 63 days, and French Bulldogs are right on that mark.
Are you interested in learning more about what to expect when a French Bulldog is pregnant? You’ve come to the right page. Today, we’re going to discuss how long Frenchies are pregnant and what dog owners should expect during the different stages of pregnancy. Keep reading for more information.
How Long Are French Bulldogs Pregnant For?
When you find out that a French Bulldog is pregnant, you can expect to see puppies in a little over 2 months’ time. There are a few different factors that will determine how long the dog is pregnant, which is why the average length of a Frenchie’s pregnancy is between 58 and 68 days.
The average date to plan for is 63 days after the conceiving date. However, there may be a factor that causes your dog to give birth a few days sooner or a few days later. To get an accurate birth date, always have a vet examine your pregnant French Bulldog. Similar to humans, Frenchies will also have three trimesters. Their trimesters typically last for 3 weeks each.
How To Tell If a French Bulldog is Pregnant
Your French Bulldog will generally begin to show symptoms of pregnancy within 1 to 2 weeks after conceiving. If you are waiting to find out if your Frenchie is pregnant or not, look out for the following signs:
Noticeable Change in Appetite
A sign of pregnancy in French Bulldogs is a noticeable change in the dog’s appetite. This is caused by the rapidly changing hormones during pregnancy.
In the early stages of pregnancy, you may notice that your dog is eating significantly less than usual. This is normal for the first trimester. However, as the pregnancy goes on, you’ll notice your Frenchie’s appetite increases and it will need to eat bigger portions or require more frequent feedings.
Different Moods
French Bulldogs often have a big change in their mood once they become pregnant. Yet, each dog’s mood is different from the next. Some Frenchie owners notice that their dog became very affectionate when it was pregnant. The French Bulldog would want to be around its owner 24/7 and was always eager to receive attention.
Other dog owners have different experiences. Their once-friendly Frenchie became very grumpy and irritable once it became pregnant. The dog no longer wanted to be cuddled and acted more independent.
Throwing Up
Vomiting is a sign of pregnancy in French Bulldogs, but it’s not an early sign. You will likely notice the change in mood and appetite before the dog begins throwing up. A pregnant Frenchie will typically begin feeling nausea around 3 weeks after conceiving, which causes it to throw up.
Luckily, this only happens for a short period during the pregnancy.
Doesn’t Want To Play
French Bulldogs love to play with their owners, but when a dog becomes pregnant it won’t be as eager to romp around. Around 2 weeks after getting pregnant, the dog will notice changes in its body. This will cause it to be more tired, so it won’t seem excited when you suggest a walk or playtime.
Don’t worry, this won’t last long. Once your Frenchie gets used to the changes in its body while pregnant, it will become more active again.
Nipple Changes
Nipple and breast sizes will increase when the dog is pregnant. This will usually happen around 2 weeks into the pregnancy because the milk glands are beginning to develop. When this happens, you may even notice that the French Bulldog’s nipples appear redder, which is caused by an increase in blood flow.
What to Expect When Your French Bulldog is Expecting
Is your French Bulldog pregnant? It’s important that you know what to expect so you can help your dog along with its pregnancy. Let’s take a look at what to expect during the different trimesters of pregnancy.
1st Trimester
During the 1st trimester, you won’t notice signs of pregnancy until at least the second week. Everything will seem normal during the first week, so you should carry on as you normally would with your Frenchie. During this time, the only clue you may notice that your dog is pregnant is a slight pink discharge.
The 2nd week of the pregnancy is when you will begin to notice more signs because the cells are growing and the embryos will then move to the uterus. Even though you may notice some changes, you should still feed your Frenchie the same amount and continue to take it for walks and playtime.
It won’t be until the 3rd week of pregnancy that the puppy fetuses begin to develop. Each puppy will only be 1 cm in size, but there will be some changes to the body. While the dog may have eaten less in the past 2 weeks, at 3 weeks it’s may begin to need more food.
2nd Trimester
At around the 4-week mark in the dog’s pregnancy, the puppy fetuses will be developed enough for a vet to detect them with their hand. The puppies go through a lot of important stages of their development at the beginning of the 2nd trimester. This is why it’s important to be very careful when handling your dog.
Make sure any activity the dog has at this point is light. During this point in the pregnancy, you will notice signs such as swollen nipples and clear discharge. This is also the point when the fetuses develop faces and spines. However, they will still be very tiny, only 1.5 cm in size.
During the 5th week, your pregnant Frenchie will be gaining a noticeable amount of weight. Make sure you are increasing the dog’s food to keep up with the rate the puppies are growing at. The fetuses will begin to develop more features that make it look like a puppy, such as whiskers, paws, and claws.
Near the end of the second trimester, the dog will be noticeably pregnant. Its nipples will be much darker than regular and it will have a never-ending appetite.
3rd Trimester
At the beginning of the 3rd trimester, you will notice your pregnant French Bulldog is shedding a lot. Don’t be alarmed, as the dog’s body is preparing for birth. The puppies will be developed to a point where they are noticeably French Bulldogs.
During the middle of the 3rd trimester, the dog will begin nesting. When it begins nesting, you will notice the Frenchie become more reclusive. It will also do things like attempt to shred bedding or rip up paper to create a nest. The dog will typically use any material it has access to when making a nest for its young.
Always be prepared for an early arrival unless your vet has stated that your Frenchie will have a longer pregnancy. It’s common for French Bulldogs to have early births, sometimes at the 8-week mark. Until your dog gives birth, try to keep it relaxed. Too much activity could cause the dog to go into early labor.
Once the 9-week mark arrives, your Frenchie will be ready for birth. During this time, your dog likely won’t eat as much. It will also remain quiet and to itself, giving off the impression that it’s depressed. Don’t be worried, as this is completely normal for pregnant Frenchies.
How Many Puppies Will a French Bulldog Have?
Typically a litter of French Bulldogs will consist of 2 to 4 dogs. While the average litter size is 3 puppies, the largest litter of French Bulldogs to this date has been 7 puppies. However, don’t get too excited over the idea of having 7 Frenchie puppies. It’s very rare for this breed to have litters with more than 5 dogs.
Final Thoughts
How long are French Bulldogs pregnant for? Frenchies are usually pregnant for an average of 9 weeks. The pregnancy will usually last between 58 to 68 days, with an average pregnancy length being 63 days. During this time, you will need to make sure that the dog is relaxed and well-fed. Frenchies typically have smaller litters, with between 2 to 4 puppies.
If your Frenchie has an increased appetite, it’s recommended to feed the dog high-quality puppy food. This is because there is an increase in the number of nutrients that can help the developing fetuses during pregnancy. When your dog first conceives, it may have a decrease in appetite. However, as the pregnancy goes on, the dog will need more food.