French Bulldog Mix

The French bulldog became a trendy breed in the late 90s, and their popularity has soared ever since. These dogs are gentle, intelligent, well-built canines who are devoted to their loved ones and make excellent family companions. Therefore, French bulldog mixes share some of these characteristics, and if crossbred with a well-trained breed, they can be good with kids, strangers, and other family pets.

French bulldog mixes are lively and active. Additionally, they need daily walks and plenty of exercise. Furthermore, as long as they get enough physical and mental stimulation, these mixes make excellent apartment dogs but do just as well in large family settings. This article will concentrate on a French bulldog mix called the Frug, a cross between a French bulldog and a pug. But, before delving into this interesting hybrid, here are some other popular Frenchie mixes.

Types of French Bulldog Mixes

While the French bulldog is absolutely gorgeous, crossing it with other breeds can create something even more adorable.

Frenchton ( French Bulldog  and Boston Terrier Mix)

The Frenchton is a French bulldog mixed with a Boston terrier. These extroverted pups are total charmers, and they will have you eating out of their paws. They are the perfect choice for families who want to travel with their canine companions. Additionally, this mix is sweet-natured and gets along with children of any age.

Their small size makes them suitable for apartment living. However, they will need a lot of outdoor time and attention to keep them stimulated. In addition, Frenchtons tend to develop separation anxiety if left alone for long intervals, so they are best suited for owners who work from home or can spend a lot of time with them.

Frenchie Labrador (French Bulldog and Labrador Mix)

Crossbreeding a French bulldog and a Labrador retriever creates a hybrid with a unique temperament. This is due to its parent breeds, which are so different. For example, French Bulldogs are incredibly loyal and sometimes protective of their owners, while Labrador retrievers are friendlier and more social. Of course, it’s a gamble which traits they will inherit, but this French bulldog mix is generally cheerful and loving.

Froodle (French Bulldog and Poodle Mix)

Froodles make incredible family pets thanks to their happy-go-lucky temperament, intelligence, and positive attitude. If socialized from a young age, these hybrids integrate well with other pets like dogs, cats, birds, or rabbits. Additionally, they are patient and even-tempered, making them great for families with young children. Furthermore, Froodles are the perfect breed for seniors and singles, as they need a lot of love and attention. 

Frengle (French Bulldog and Beagle Mix)

Frengles are adorable little dogs and make great pets for families. They are loyal to a fault, and their watchdog skills are top-notch. However, training Frengles is not easy because of their stubborn streak, but with patience and repetition, it’s not impossible.

Pros and Cons of Owning a Frenchie Mix

The Best Dog Food for a Frenchie Mix

Frugs need at least 1 to 1.5 cups of food daily, depending on how much energy they have. Additionally, if your French bulldog mix suffers from sensitive skin, a grain-free diet specifically formulated for pugs or small dogs is the best choice.

Frugs are natural-born scavengers, so hide all the food and treats in places they can’t reach. Unfortunately, these hybrids tend to put on weight pretty quickly; therefore, they are prone to obesity, which can lead to various medical conditions.

Size and Weight

The Frug will generally inherit a perfect mix from both parent breeds. So, for example, they typically have the Frenchie’s bat ears and the pug’s wrinkly face. Additionally, they have wide smiles, round eyes, and short, curly tails. Frugs are a small breed, only weighing between 14 and 28 pounds and growing 10 to 13 inches tall.

Common Health Issues

Although hybrid breeds are generally healthier than their purebred parents, they can still inherit some of their parents’ health conditions. However, reputable breeders will screen their breeding pairs to ensure they have no hereditary diseases. But there are a lot of amateur breeders who only care about money and do not care about the well-being of their pups. Therefore, common health issues can include:

• Allergies: Frugs can suffer from seasonal or food allergies; signs can include licking, scratching, and chewing.
• Atopic Dermatitis: Untreated allergies can result in this chronic skin disease. If your Frug shows signs like licking, rubbing, scratching, or itching around its face, underarms, and paws, it’s best to see your local veterinarian.
• Entropion: occurs when the eyelashes make direct contact with the cornea, caused by trauma or an anatomic defect.
• Patellar luxation: when the dog’s kneecap dislocates from its normal position. Symptoms include abnormal and prolonged movement of one of the hind limbs, skipping, or limping.
• Brachycephalic syndrome: characterized by everted laryngeal saccules, stenotic nares, and elongated soft palates.
• Respiratory problems: caused by their brachycephalic syndrome.
• Glaucoma: due to high-pressure building in the eye, which could impair the optic nerve, resulting in total blindness.
• Cataracts: cause the lens of the eyes to become opaque and dense. Dogs with diabetes are more susceptible to this condition. The most common causes are injury and infection.
• Hip dysplasia: caused by the hip joints not developing properly and dislocating.

Owners need to be extremely disciplined with this breed’s health. They must ensure they do not overfeed them and limit their exercise, as they can easily overheat and become short of breath. Additionally, these hybrids can’t swim, so owners need to have pool covers so that no tragic accidents occur. Furthermore, they are sensitive to the sun’s hot rays, so limit the amount of time they spend outdoors and apply lots of sunscreen.

Life Expectancy

Frugs have a relatively long lifespan if they are cared for properly. These adorable French bulldog mixes can live between 10 and 15 years.

Temperament

The Frug loves being the center of attention, but its friendly and goofy personality is guaranteed to keep your family in stitches. However, while they are entertaining, they need constant companionship and may suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for long periods. This condition can cause Frugs to act out in destructive ways. Therefore, if your home is empty most of the day, this hybrid breed is not for you.

Frugs are incredibly loyal and are generally very protective of their owners. However, they are not shy to use their voice and do tend to bark a lot, making them excellent watchdogs but not the best choice if you have grumpy neighbors.

Their energy levels will vary depending on which parent they take after. However, they are usually more energetic than the French bulldog but less boisterous than a pug, which means they need a good run in the backyard but are happy to laze on the furniture afterward.

Due to their brachycephalic faces, the Frug will snore and snuffle; while some people find this cute, others might find it annoying. So, if you form part of the latter, this is not the hybrid for you.

How to Take Care of a Frug

While the Frug’s grooming needs are minimal, they do require some care. Ensuring your French bulldog mix is healthy and happy is essential to owning one of these adorable canines.

Grooming

Grooming the Frug is probably the easiest thing about owning one. They only need a good brush once or twice a week to minimize shedding and keep their coat healthy. Additionally, they only need to bathe every three months. However, they do have other grooming requirements, like cleaning between their facial wrinkles to avoid infection and ensuring their large ears are cleaned regularly. Furthermore, as with all breeds, their oral health is important. Therefore, their teeth need cleaning at least three times a week, and remember to use dog-friendly toothpaste. Lastly, their nails will need trimming every three months, or once they start touching the ground.

Training

Training the Frug is a challenging task as they are incredibly stubborn, so this French bulldog mix might not be the best choice for a novice dog owner. However, if successfully socialized and trained from a young age, these pups grow into well-mannered and friendly dogs that get along with children of all ages and other pets. But, if you are unsuccessful, it might be best to enroll your Frug into an obedience class and let a professional do their thing. Additionally, it is best to crate-train this hybrid as they do have anxious natures.

Exercise

The Frug is the perfect hybrid for apartment living or bigger family settings due to its size and exercise requirements. The only thing they don’t do well with is being left alone for long periods. However, if they have plenty of brain games to keep them stimulated throughout the day, they might not notice you are gone.

Frugs have a lot of energy and love playing, so they need around 20 to 40 minutes of physical stimulation daily. This means they will even make a good pet for seniors willing to take them on a 20-minute walk or two 10-minute walks a day. However, for those active dog owners, do not overexert your Frug as they are prone to breathing difficulties and could overheat if pushed or in scorching weather.

Puppies

Female Frugs generally have litters of two to four pups. The puppies are mischievous and energetic, and will need a patient owner to train them. However, their adorable factor outweighs their naughty behavior! Frug pups are one of the more expensive hybrids, especially if the mother is a French bulldog. Frenchies require artificial insemination because of their physiology, which is costly, and only experienced breeders take on this task.

Cost

Frug puppies generally cost between $2,000 and $4,000. Their high price is due to their popularity and all the work that goes into getting the female pregnant, as mentioned above.

Finding a breeder might be tricky, so your best bet is to approach breeders who focus on the pug or French bulldog.

French Bulldog Mix and Children

While the Frug is classified as a toy breed, they are amazing with children. This may be due to their heavier stature, as they can handle the roughhousing of kids without getting defensive. Therefore, this hybrid is an excellent option for families with young children looking for a canine companion.