british bulldog first period and breeding

Question
Hi im just wondering if you could give me abit of help about my British bulldog bitch, first of all im wondering when my dogs first period will be she is nearly 1 year old and do you recommend the nappies you can buy, also my partner wants to breed her but im unsure as if it could risk her health its a deffinat no as she is a much loved family pet, i have heard that it is good for a bitch to have 1 litter but then i have also heard that they have many problems during pregnancy and labour, also if i was to decide against her having a litter ho old do they need to be to be spayed? thanks for your time. Lisa

Answer
Hi Lisa

Your female should come into heat the first time between 6 and 9 months old.  If she's older than that, I would have her thyroid check out to ensure it's working properly.  She needs to keep herself clean, but in the house, it's advisable to use the disposable diapers for dogs.

It's a myth that having a litter is "good" for a female.  In fact, a female can become more dominant and aggressive after whelping and raising a litter.  

Bulldogs, most especially the British variety, are susceptible to c-sections.  The cost of the surgery and the risk to both her and her pups should be taken into consideration.

Females can be spayed as early as 8 weeks by laser but typically 6 months is safe to do so.  When your vet is doing the surgery, make sure you request a I.V. line inserted as English Bulldogs have a high risk of being lost on the operating table.

Good luck