A Fluffy Frenchie or the long-haired French Bulldog embodies cuteness with their squishy faces, sunny personalities, and the fluff to go with it. These small dogs will capture your heart the moment you lay your eyes on them, but are they the right dog for you?
Before welcoming a canine friend into your family, ensure you know everything about them to offer them the best home. This article does exactly that, and by the end of it, you’ll learn all you need to buy or adopt these fluffy angels.
History of the Fluffy Frenchie
Despite being named French Bulldog, Frenchies actually originated in England. Here, miniature versions of the English Bulldog became companions instead of fighting and were bred with Terriers and Pugs for their bat ears.
They found their way to France when lace workers from England came looking for work in France and carried their bulldogs along with them. The dogs became irresistible and a center of attention in northern France, where the lace makers settled.
These would later lead to the Parisian craving to own a Frenchie. Business people who owned them attracted more clients. It is believed that even escorts were dying to get their hands on them to attract more clients.
French Bulldogs would later be fancied by famous people like Henri de Toulouse- Lautrec, a popular painter in France then. The American Kennel Club would later recognize the Frenchie in 1898 after they agreed to have the Frenchie’s ears batted as the trademark.
The French Bulldog and New Breeds
The French Bulldog is used in a variety of new and emerging breeds today. It is possible that French Bull dogs mixed with Pitbulls like the black XXL Pitbull helped create the Pocket American Bulldog, as well as the popular French Bulldog Pitbull mix. Mixed with other bulldogs, it was also used to create the Exotic Bulldog.
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What Are the Physical Features of a Fluffy Frenchie?
- Length: 38 cm
- Height: 11-13 inches
- Weight: 16-28 pounds
- Lifespan: 10-14 years
- Color: Black, fawn, bridle, tan, blue, cream, and merle
- Nose: Black
- Eye: Blueish to Brown
Long-haired Frenchies are small with a well-proportioned muscular body and a large and square head. Their masculine body resembles that of a bulldog but in a mini version. The adorable bat ears are the breed’s signature look, along with heavy wrinkles above the incredibly short nose.
This tiny but muscular dog is undeniably charming. Another breed feature is a flat skull between the ears, giving these dogs a unique look.
Fluffy Frenchies come in a bewildering variety of colors and share every trait with the normal Frenchie except coat length. These dogs have medium-length fluffy coats contrasted with the short and smooth typical Frenchie coats. Perhaps the prettiest colors are the merle dogs, a common color you may find in the merle pitbull or the blue merle corgi.
But beware, because merle coloring is linked to a variety of health issues. Other French Bulldog colors include:
- Black & tan
- Blue
- Brindle
- Red pied
- Merle
- Red fawn
- Fawn (black mask)
- Cream
- Lilac
- Pied fawn
- Fawn
- Reverse brindle
- White
- Blue pied
- Brindle pied.
Genetics of the Fluff: Where does the longer hair come from?
Fluffy Frenchies differ from traditional Frenchies in coat length due to genetics. Fluffy Frenchies occur when both parents carry the autosomal recessive long hair gene (LH) or the Fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF).
A single array test determines if a Frenchie has visual long hair (LH) or a visual short hair (SH), or a carrier of the two. A Frenchie with two Sh/Sh copies will have visually short hair. Frenchies with Sh/Lh will have short hair but will be a carrier of the long hair gene. They’ll pass short hair to half the offspring and long to the other half.
General Care of a Long-Haired Frenchie
Overview of long-haired French Bulldog traits
- Hypoallergenic: Not hypoallergenic because they shed
- Shedding: Considered moderate daily shedders
- Exercise: A minimum of one 30-minute walk and playtime every day
- Housing: They do well in apartments as long as you meet their exercise needs
- Temperament: Affectionate, sociable, playful, adaptable, loyal, don’t bark a lot, and charming. Known for very strong personalities. They can get overprotective and bite when intimidated.
- Trainability: They are docile and easy to train but become harder when you are not consistent.
Energy
Fluffy Frenchies have low to moderate energy levels. They don’t require much to tire them before they seek a place to lie and relax. However, they still need a walk and some daily play time to prevent energy buildups.
Exercise
Frenchies only require moderate exercise due to their low energy level. One 30-minute walk and some additional playtime is enough to keep their mental and physical health intact. They are prone to overheating due to their short snouts, so keep exercise segments short and sweet.
Mental exercises in the form of snuffle mats, sturdy chews, and puzzles keep these dogs engaged. Ample exercise prevents unwanted behaviors like chewing your couch and barking.
Housing
Fluffy Frenchies are exceptional in small spaces due to their low energy levels and great temperament. A 20 to 30-minute walk and playing catch will tire them out fast and knock them right out. They also do not bark a lot, making them the ideal dog in urban areas and apartments.
Food and Dietary Requirements
What works for one Frenchie may not work for another due to issues like allergies and medical conditions. However, one thing remains constant for all healthy fluffy Frenchies, and that’s a high-protein diet (at least 25%). Proper dog food should also have balanced vitamins, minerals, fiber, and fats.
Frenchies are susceptible to food allergies.. To avoid allergy flare-ups, look for high-quality foods without fillers and animal by-products, and consult your vet if you suspect allergies in your dog.
Grooming
Don’t let their long fluffy hair scare you off from the brush. To keep your Frenchie’s coat clean and healthy, brush it at least twice a week with a pin brush to remove any dead skin and dirt and to avoid matting.
Do not wash them often to avoid striping their oils, which causes skin irritability, so use a soothing aloe dog shampoo. Clip their nails every four weeks to prevent broken and overgrown nails with a proper guillotine clipper. A rule of thumb is to cut them every time you notice a clicking sound when they are walking around the house.
As a Brachycephalic breed, fluffy Frenchies are susceptible to dental problems and need a strict oral hygiene regimen ( brushing daily and using a mouthwash water additive). Cleaning their ears with dog ear wipes will also go a long way because their small ear canals make them prone to issues like Otitis Externa.
Health Concerns of a Fluffy Frenchie
Decades of breeding for extreme features like short snouts and wrinkles subject this dog to several health conditions. The most notable medical struggle most Fluffy Frenchies battle with is breathing problems due to the short muzzle. They also experience several spinal, neck, and back issues, affecting mobility.
In fact, French Bulldogs have a higher probability of over 20 common canine medical conditions than other dogs.
Other health issues include:
Severe Health Issues
- Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Degenerative Myelopathy
- Intervertebral disc disease that’s a common cause of hind-leg paralysis
- Spinal disc issues
- Patellar luxation
- Stenotic nares/ narrow nostrils
- French Bulldogs are also a dog breed prone to many eye problems
Mild to Moderate Health Problems
- Ear infections due to the very large ears but really narrow ear canals
- Conjunctivitis
- Allergies
- Skin issues like skin fold dermatitis
- Diarrhea
- Dental problems
- Heat intolerance
- Obesity
Occasional Health Issues
- Autoimmune skin disorders
- Deafness
Temperament and Trainability of the Fluffy Frenchie
This dog will pull on your heartstrings with their sunny personality, and the fluff only makes them more endearing. Fluffy Frenchies are even-tempered, highly affectionate, friendly but alert, social dogs that don’t bark unless provoked. These irresistible pups don’t just thrive on attention; they demand it.
They are also extremely empathetic and tuned in to their owner. These dogs are pros at reading a person’s mood and responding accordingly.
However, these are not the brightest pups, and there isn’t a single thought behind those cute, bulging eyes plenty of the time. They are 109 out of 138 dogs in intelligence, but their stubbornness contributes significantly to this low intelligence rating.
However, training these pups shouldn’t be too difficult. Give them their favorite treats or praise them every time they obey a command as an incentive. The best time to train them is when they are still young, energetic, and curious. Older Frenchies can still be trained, but it would be a bit harder. Early training and socialization are critical to a well-mannered dog.
Sociability with Children and Other Pets
Fluffy Frenchie is great around children and makes an excellent family dog. This is due to their stable temperaments and willingness to engage with children in play. However, close supervision is necessary during child-dog interactions to avoid danger to either one.
Generally speaking, Frenchies have very little aggression and are overall confident dogs. This means they’re unlikely to pick fights with other dogs unless they feel threatened. Early socialization ensures that a dog knows how to behave around people and animals without getting reactive.
But don’t forget to socialize them. Unsocialized French Bulldogs can become very aggressive toward other dogs and animals.
A Suitable Home for a Fluffy Frenchie
Fluffy Frenchie would do well in:
- In an apartments
- A home with older children
- A home with flexible working hours where someone is home a lot of the time as they are prone to separation anxiety
- In moderate climates as they do not do well in either cold or heat
- Households with non-allergic people
How much to expect to Pay for a Fluffy Frenchie?
A pure breed Fluffy Frenchie ranges anywhere between $2000 to $5000. However, prices differ depending on the color of the coat, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they got to $50,000 for rare Isabella French Bulldogs.
Final Thoughts
Fluffy Frenchie is the dog for companionship and is quite expensive to get and maintain. They meet all the criteria of a companion dog anyone would wish for. Frenchies would surely draw all eyes on you when walking them. Be sure to visit a well-known breeder to avoid backyard breeders who are only after the money.
Meet Your Experts
Author
Tamsin de la Harpe has nearly two decades of experience with dogs in rescue, training, and behavior modification with fearful and aggressive dogs. She has worked closely with veterinarians and various kennels, building up extensive medical knowledge and an understanding of canine health and physiology. She also spent two years in the animal sciences as a canine nutrition researcher, focusing on longevity and holistic healthcare for our four-legged companions. Tamsin currently keeps a busy homestead with an assortment of rescue dogs and three Bullmastiffs.