Frenchton

The Frenchton is a lovable and loyal small breed designer dog cross-bred from the French bulldog and Boston Terrier. Known for being great family pets, Frenchtons are highly energetic. They make great city pets, just as they also suit apartment dwellers, kids, and the elderly.

Frenchtons were first bred in an attempt to bring positive traits of the Boston terrier and French bulldog together. But they were also bred to eliminate the respiratory problems and other health issues of the French bulldog.

Although no one knows the exact origin, its parent breeds have a clearer background. The Boston terrier was developed in Boston, Massachusetts, in the late 1800s as a new American breed. The French bulldog came from England sometime before 1896. The International Designer Canine Association recognized the Frenchton in 2009 after its alleged origin in America during the 1990s.

Frenchtons are spunky little dogs well-suited to small living spaces and people of all ages. Because the breed does not typically bark much, they will not disturb your neighbors as much as some other breeds. However, they are known for their snoring as much as their loyal and loving cuddles.

The Two Different Types

Because the Frenchton is a crossbreed of the French bulldog and Boston terrier, there is really only one type. But because cross-breeding can lead to very different-looking puppies, it appears there are two. The most common mix is 50% Boston terrier and 50% French bulldog. But the other common type is 75% French bulldog mixed with a 25% French bulldog-Boston terrier mix.

Common names for the Frenchton crossbreed include:

• Boston Bulldog
• Boston Frenchie
• Bulldog Terrier
• Faux Boston Terrier
• Faux French Bulldog
• Frenchbo
• Froston
• Frenchie Terrier

Ownership: 3 Pros and Cons

Size and Weight

The Frenchton is a small dog, typically standing 11 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder and weighing 15 to 25 pounds. They have a stocky appearance with a sturdy bone structure more like the Boston terrier than the French bulldog.

Common Health Issues

Frenchtons are brachycephalic dogs. This means that they have a short snout inherited from their French bulldog bloodline. With this short snout comes breathing problems, snoring, and problems with keeping cool through panting. As a result of the panting issues, they must be closely watched in hot weather for signs of overheating.

Patellar luxation, a knee joint problem, can cause issues with the knees slipping out of joint. If the Frenchton inherits the French bulldog’s skin folds, this also makes them likely to experience Intertrigo. Intertrigo is an itchy skin rash common to the bulldog breed.

Temperament and Behavior

Some of the best traits of Frenchtons are their spunky personality and pleasant demeanor. It is almost impossible to feel blue around these vibrant little fellows. Words commonly used to describe these small crossbreeds are tolerant, loving, loyal, sweet, affectionate, docile, cuddly, and energetic. Their personalities make them great for families with children, the elderly, apartment dwellers, and people living in bustling cities. Along with a pleasant demeanor, the dog’s tendency is to bark only when alarmed.

Like any puppy, a Frenchton can be difficult to potty train. It can take three to six months to master these important skills. These small dogs exhibit both stubborn and intelligent learning traits. They learn more easily when the lessons are taught in the form of playtime activities.

Care

Compared to many other types of dogs, Frenchton dogs are relatively easy to care for, even by new pet owners. The primary concerns with this breed are keeping up with ear cleaning, claw clipping, routine brushing, and other general care. They rarely have health issues and live long, happy, and energetic lives when they are fed a healthy diet and enjoy regular exercise. However, it is important to remember that a veterinarian’s care is required for birthing. A Frenchton’s small hips do not usually enable it to successfully birth puppies without human intervention.

Best Dog Food

A Frenchton needs to eat about 20 to 25 calories for every pound of body weight. It can eat this food as part of one daily meal or in smaller amounts two or three times per day. The owner can individually decide whether to feed the dog dry food, canned “wet” food, or homemade cuisine.

Whatever type of food they eat, these sturdy little dogs just need a good balance of protein, fiber, and fat. They also need plenty of water, like any dog. Besides these essentials, a Frenchton does not have breed-specific dietary needs, though it’s not a bad plan to customize its diet to the breed’s most common health concerns.

Maintenance And Grooming

Thanks to a short, fairly wiry coat, Frenchtons do not shed very much. They experience some seasonal shedding, such as in the spring. But overall, pet owners do not have to worry about excessive hair left all over the house or on furniture. In fact, Frenchtons shed less than their French bulldog bloodline.

The best grooming routine entails weekly brushing, baths four times per year or as needed, and toothbrushing a few times per week.

Training

Training a Frenchton is not difficult because these small dogs are pretty smart. They are widely considered easy to train compared to most dog breeds. But they can be stubborn or willful. This means that training takes some persistence and positive reinforcement. It also helps to make training a game.

Because Frenchtons are house-dwelling dogs, it is also important to socialize them regularly from the puppy stage. Exposing them to other dogs early will ensure they are amicable and not anxious around other breeds.

Exercise

Frenchtons have spunky personalities but average energy levels. They do not require long walks or other excessive exercises, as primarily house-bound pets. But they do enjoy being outside for a period of time each day and running around to stretch their sturdy legs.

It is particularly important to watch for signs of overheating in these little dogs. Their short snouts make being outside or in a car on hot days less inviting. They easily overheat because panting does not effectively cool them as well as longer-nosed breeds.

Puppies

There are plenty of Frenchton breeders, but it is important to find reputable breeders to ensure the puppy is healthy from the start. If possible, consider taking in a rescue puppy instead of working through breeders. A rescue Frenchton will have high-quality veterinary care, up-to-date vaccinations, and other care before adoption. French bulldog rescue agencies often have Frenchtons and Frenchton puppies available for good homes.

The Frenchton crossbreed is new, having been in existence since the 1990s. Any breeder claiming to have mini versions of these small dogs is probably not exercising quality breeding practices. Although mini Frenchtons are not a major presence on the market, mini breeds often appear in puppy market listings. It is important not to work with a breeder who may put the puppy’s health or well-being at risk.

Coat colors are an important part of puppy adoption decision-making. Many prospective owners have color preferences. These dogs offer a variety of coat color options, most commonly brown, white, cream, blue, black, or brindle.

Children

Frenchtons are excellent pets for children of all ages. Because they are small dogs that enjoy playing, the crossbreeds interact well on the child’s level. They are also loyal but not overprotective. Parents do not typically have to worry about their pup biting or barking at a child. At the same time, Frenchtons do not require much space to run around. They stay close to their family when outside, making it easier for parents to safely keep up with both the off-leash pet and their children.

Despite their short hair and minimal need for grooming and maintenance, these French bulldog-Boston terrier mixes are not hypoallergenic. This means that children with dog allergies will likely have sensitivity to the animal and its hair.

Similar Dogs

Of course, the Frenchton is most similar to its breeds of origin, the French bulldog and Boston terrier. But they are also quite similar to the English Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Pekingese.

• English Bulldog: The English bulldog is known for its wrinkly face, short snout, and short, stocky build, much like the Frenchton. Besides these similarities, both of these breeds are calm, friendly, and loyal. Despite being calm, they also both have spunky personalities.
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a sweet, loyal, cuddly companion for its owner. Likewise, the Frenchton prefers to stick by its owner’s side, spending lots of time sweetly cuddling on the couch, for a nap or at bedtime.
• Pekingese: Like the Frenchton, the short-statured Pekingese has a short snout and small, rounded head. Both of these breeds are equally sensitive to heat and require close supervision in hot weather. Each also has a lively, upbeat personality.