Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s a super dog!
People usually underestimate how awesome mixed breeds are. Let’s face it: they’re a combination of two or more incredible dogs. The French Bulldog Pitbull mix is a part of that world.
Being a fairly new pup on the block, the French Bulldog Pitbull mix is already on the bandwagon of popular pups.
Sadly, we don’t have much info about this cool pooch, but we do have a feeling that might change after reading this guide.
Speak: how much did you know about the French Pittie before?
How The Story Of The French Bulldog Pitbull Mix Started
There aren’t many mixed breed dogs whose characteristics resemble a purebred dog. The French Bulldog Pitbull mix is lucky enough to be one of them.
The unusual combinations of a French Bulldog and the American Staffordshire Terrier, aka the Pitbull, is today’s topic.
First and foremost, we have to look at what the studies have found on the parents.
The French Bulldog, surprisingly, doesn’t originate from France. It’s an old chap from England, bred to be a toy version of the Olde English Bulldog.
The purpose for breeding the new and improved version was rather bloody.
English Bulldogs were bred in the first place for their use in the bull-baiting sport. Fortunately, the so-called sport was banned in 1835.
The bulldog got its re-brand and was bred into today’s French Bulldog – a faithful companion.
Not many people know that Pitbulls are also descendants of the same English Bulldog as the Frenchies.
That Bulldog was crossed with a terrier to get a faster and more agile dog for dogfighting and ratting. Thus, the Pit Bull Terrier was born.
When immigrants moved over to the United States after the Civil War ended, the Pit Bull became the American Pit Bull Terrier.
As you can see, both dog breeds are fairly old and recognized by all-important organizations, including the AKC.
Their offspring are part of the designer dog trend. This new trend of breeding dogs became popular in the States during the 1990s.
Unfortunately, we don’t have any information about when the first French Pitbull mix was bred. However, it was certainly because breeders wanted to create a puppy that will make the Pit Bull less intimidating.
The final result, a doggy named the French Pitbull, was a pleasant sight to the eyes and an excellent mix up of two temperamentally different breeds.
Looking Good, Doggie! The Appearance Of The French Pitbull
Same as other mixed-breed dogs, the Frenchie Pitbull can have numerous appearance variations.
The first thing you’ll notice about this dog breed is their stocky body and the large bat ears. Yup, these bad boys can hear a bag of treats opening from a mile away, much like their cousins, the Frugs (Frenchie and Pug mix).
The overall body shape, structure, and size are similar to the Pitbull parent, although the crossbreed is somewhat smaller than an average Pit Bull. One look at their cute, smushy face, and you’ll recognize a Frenchie!
When the pup takes after the French side of the family, he will have a somewhat smaller body than usual, but, surprise, surprise, the physical appearance of a Pitbull!
Having a mixed breed pup is like opening Pandora’s box: you never know what’s inside.
Sometimes pups can have a small body with excessively large ears and a wonderful appearance only a Pitbull can have. The coat would be short, no doubt there, as both parents have a short coat.
The general look of your French Pit Bull may vary significantly. After all, this dog is a crossbreed of two dog breeds. Your new puppy could look more like a Frenchie, or a Pitbull, or even an equal mix of both parents.
This is exactly why the breeder can’t tell you how big your puppy will get. Just take a good look at the parents!
Usually, French Pit Bulls weigh around thirty to forty pounds for males, while females are smaller by about ten pounds.
These are medium-built dogs, so their size corresponds to their weight. An average male grows up to fifteen to eighteen inches, while the females grow to between fourteen and sixteen inches.
Does A French Pit Bull Come In Teacup Size?
The teacup frenzy is getting out of hand.
Everybody wants a dog that can fit in their tote and sit quietly at brunch. We blame Hollywood for promoting such pups and the dog breeders for being unethical.
To answer your question, YES, the French Pitbull does come in teacup size, but with an assortment of health problems.
Just ask yourself: Would you prefer a bigger, healthier dog or a teensy tiny teddy bear with more health issues than you could imagine?
We do understand these tiny dogs are adorable. But a regular French Pittie is adorable too! Just look at that smushy face and silly bat ears! They’re quite the goofballs, aren’t they?
Put On A Fancy Outfit: What Coat Colors Are Reserved For The French Pit Bull?
The French Pit Bull comes in lots of coat colors. Wow, that’s a rainbow of colors!
No, the French Pitbull mix doesn’t come in purple or green, but it does come in:
• black
• grey
• white
• brown
• brindle
• tan
These are the standard coat colors, but these pups can also come in some rare variations like the ones with blue eyes, nose, or coat color.
The coat color depends on the dog’s parents. It’s simple genetics: you can’t expect to get a white puppy if both parents are black or any other solid color.
What you can do is search to exclusively breed the colors you want. It might be a laborious quest to take on.
Who’s A Good Boy? The Temperament & Personality
Bad publicity. That’s the worst thing that’s happened to Pit Bulls ever since the dogfighting of the 1800s! With the growth of the designer dog era, their offspring, the French Pit Bulls, are doing their best to paint a different picture.
A French Pitbull is a true companion dog. These hyper-friendly pups will be the heart of every home. They do have the best traits of their parents.
Take French Bulldogs, for example. The AKC declared these dogs as intelligent, alert, playful, and adaptable. Frenchies are great companions, affectionate, and peaceful.
You might see the other side of the family as a total contrast to Frenchies. Actually, that’s a big preconception.
Despite battling with stereotypes, Pitties are one of the most affectionate, tolerant, and least aggressive dog breeds!
The AKC, together with the American Temperament Test Society, conducted a study on good behavior in which Pitties passed with a high number of 86,4%, a lot more than Corgis, Golden Retrievers, and Beagles!
Unwanted behavior, like aggression, is only the result of poor training. Pitbulls are generally playful, friendly, and utterly loyal.
It’s only natural these two lovely breeds would create a pup like the French Pitbull. Our dog of the day is also loyal, friendly, and loving.
The only thing that might bother you about their temperament is how active they can be. But that’s a matter of training, exercise, and socialization.
Should My Vet Be On Speed Dial? General Health Characteristics
Being a mixed breed dog means there are twice as many health issues, right? Well, we can’t really say that’s true.
The Frenchie Pittie is a new dog breed, and, unfortunately, there are not enough studies about their health problems.
What we can tell for sure is that the pup might inherit health issues both parents face.
The French Bulldog can develop the following health problems, also recognized by the AKC:
• valve malformations and irregularities in heart rhythm
• aortic stenosis
• diabetes
• cataracts
• allergies
• kneecap dislocation
• Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (common with flat-faced dogs)
• cherry eye, juvenile cataracts, entropion
• skin allergies and autoimmune disorders
• bone and joint conditions
• lymphoma
• sensitivity to anesthesia
The problems don’t stop here. A recent study conducted by The Royal Veterinary College in London shows they’re susceptible to a great number of health issues.
Over 72,4% of tested Frenchies had at least one of the listed problems.
Since lots of mixed breeds have similar issues like the parent dogs, let’s see which diseases are most likely to hit the French Bulldog and Pitbull.
Studies show that eye problems, allergies, hip dysplasia, and breathing problems are the two breeds’ biggest health concerns.
Once more, we pick the good old card: is a mix puppy healthier than any other purebred dog?
According to some recent research, mixed breed puppies tend to show a better health status than their parents.
They also don’t suffer from most of the known health issues the parents suffer from. These hybrid dogs can have a longer lifespan all because of their strong genetic diversity.
Great news for French Pitbull lovers! The University of California-Davis conducted a massive study including an astounding number of 27,000 dogs! The result: purebred dogs are at higher risk of at least 10 out of 24 listed genetic disorders.
Now, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take your mix puppy to see the vet regularly. Eye, skin, dental, and oral examinations are a must!
What’s Cookin’, Good Lookin’? Can My French Bulldog Eat Whatever He Wants?
Imagine the perfect scenario: you’ve come home from a long day at work, dinner’s on the table, your favorite food, nothing to bother you than a pair of googly eyes lurking under the table…
Aah, heavenly! Wait, what? A pair of googly eyes lurking under the table?
Nope, you don’t have gremlins, but you do have a hungry French Bulldog who will sit before you and watch you eat, begging you to drop something on the floor.
No, no, and… NO.
Your French Bulldog mustn’t eat off your table.
Before you ensure you’ve got everything you need for your perfect dinner, make sure your dog is fed first. This means giving the pup its daily dose of proteins, carbohydrates, water, fat, minerals, and vitamins.
We don’t mean you should stuff supplements down his throat and expect all problems to be solved. Proper dog food designed for medium-sized dogs should always be on the menu.
However, you can’t just go to the pet store and get any kibble you see first. Bear in mind your dog’s energetic nature and possible health risks.
Yes, some health conditions can be avoided with the use of proper dog food!
The ideal kibble for a French Bulldog should take care of eye health, allergies, bones and joints, and skin and coat conditions.
Giving the right food is still not the end of your doggy culinary adventure. It’s widely known that obese dogs develop joint and hip conditions hence why it’s so important to consume enough calories, according to the dog’s weight.
There are a bunch of calorie calculators online that might come in handy when thinking about how much food your dog needs.
The food should usually be up to around 800 calories, while the treats shouldn’t go over approx. 90 calories.
The total number of calories should be divided during the day in small portions, best 2–3 cups a day.
Keeping in mind French Bulldogs are prone to allergies, especially skin and coat conditions, using supplements could show some magic.
Fish oil is not overhyped without reason. A few drops of it in the food throughout the day can do wonders for your dog’s coat and skin.
Of course, other health problems, such as eye conditions, could be prevented and eased by using the right food supplements or even eye drops.
Whatever you do, don’t do it without your vet’s consent. Too much of something isn’t good either!
Working Out: How To Be The Fittest French Pit Bull In The Dog Park
If your pup knew how to read, he’d definitely be interested in this guide.
The energy levels of a French Pit Bull are moderate to high.
Take a good look at your dog’s body. He’s muscular, isn’t he? Those muscles must be kept in shape to stay healthy.
Don’t be scared thinking you must spend half a day, every day, running like wild. Around sixty minutes of walking and playtime should be enough for your pup. Daily exercise is to prevent behavioral and health issues.
Also, any dog who exercises daily is tired around bedtime, making it the perfect reason to devote time to training. Everybody likes to sleep soundly, even dogs!
Make your trips to the dog park more interesting by bringing along a frisbee or tennis balls. These make the coolest agility games, which help with the exercising part, while you two still have fun.
Always remember: overexercising your French Bulldog Pitbull Mix could be potentially harmful since these dogs are prone to breathing issues due to the flat face.
If, by any chance, you begin to notice destructive behavior once you’re out of the house, consider increasing your exercising habits. Dogs become destructive when they’re bored and unchallenged. Boredom leads to aggressive behavior, and that’s a route you wouldn’t like to take.
Exercise doesn’t imply the physical part only. The brain has to be exercised too. There’s no such thing as overexercising your dog’s brain, don’t worry.
They need it. A bunch of amazing puzzle toys can be found online and in pet stores.
Some favorites are those that give out a treat every time a task is performed. This doesn’t only exercise their mind. It helps with the training of your French Pitbull too!
Who’s A Good Boy? A Guide To Training Your French Pitbull
We don’t mean to scare you, but these puppies do have a stubborn streak.
It doesn’t mean training is impossible. What it means is that someone who’s not a natural leader could have pretty slow progress with the training.
Usually, French Pitties are good to train, since they love to please.
Training should begin at an early age. You wouldn’t believe how fast puppies can learn. No surprise there as both parent breeds are quite intelligent and obedient too!
Statistics show the French Bulldog Pitbull mix will obey your command on the first try with a high success rate of 30% or better. Indeed, not as obedient as a Border Collie or a Golden Retriever, but still very good.
The structure for successful training for this puppy should focus on games and positive reinforcement. But, nothing will work if you don’t show consistency.
We know you might not be a natural-born pack leader but act like one. We won’t tell your French Pittie, honestly!
Grooming 101: Is Your French Bulldog Pitbull Mix Having A Bad Hair Day?
Actually, hardly any French Pittie has a bad hair day. Thanks a lot, short coat gene!
But still, keeping that hair fabulous takes time and effort. You can master grooming your French Pitbull in five easy steps:
• brushing
• deshedding
• bathing
• nail and ear cleaning
• oral care
Brushing should be done at least once a week. This is how you keep the coat free of dead hair, clean, and tidy. These pups are moderate shedders, so a quality bristle brush can last you a while.
Deshedding techniques should be used twice a year when the shedding season kicks in during spring and fall.
The only way you’ll save your furniture and clothes from all that hair flying around is by using a deshedding brush regularly.
Unlike many other dog breeds, the French Bulldog Pitbull mix can be bathed once a month or even more – depending on whether they smell. Short-haired dogs tend not to smell and pick up dirt like their long-haired cousins.
Washing doesn’t mean a quick shower or a bubble bath in the kiddy pool in the backyard. Cleaning face folds is a must in every bathing routine to prevent skin infections.
What’s not a must is too much bathing. Seriously, it’s a dog. It’s not potpourri! Overbathing causes skin irritations and can trigger coat or skin allergies.
Close the faucet, buy a sensitive shampoo or even an anti-shedding one. You’ll be thankful.
Full grooming should happen three to four times a year. This includes clipping nails and cleaning ears too.
If you invest in good nail clippers, ear-cleaning solutions, and good brushes, you can do the full grooming all alone at home! Isn’t that wonderful!
Keeps more money in the doggy bank for more toys and treats!
Oral care is often pushed aside. Your French Pitbull doesn’t require their teeth to be brushed daily. Three to four times a week is fine, but throw in some dental treats to keep those teeth shiny and white, okay?
Coming Home: Is The French Pitbull A Good Choice For My Family?
Absolutely!
French Pitties are terrific family dogs, so loving and friendly towards everyone.
These are good-natured dogs that will get along perfectly with the kids. There shouldn’t be any worries about the kids connecting with the dog either. Who wouldn’t like such a sweetheart?!
Of course, prior to bringing home this crossbreed pup, check if you’re a-okay with all the things on this list:
• they’re moderate shedders
• they’re good with small children
• they need lots of exercise and playtime
• they seem to be on guard towards other dogs, despite not being a guard dog breed
• they can have breathing issues brachycephaly dogs have
They’re not quite the lapdog or crazy energetic. These dogs are the perfect middle that will fit into any family faster than you can blink.
For these reasons…
Photo from:@blumgradysignature
… and many others we still need to discover, French Pitbulls make fabulous pets.
Despite having a tough look, their hearts are mellow and soft as cotton candy.
Their attitude is a delight and a big surprise to many dog lovers.
Their destiny?
To become the world’s greatest mixed breed dog. That’s the least they should become.
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