French Bullhuahua Basics
Spunky and compact, the French Bullhuahua is a relatively new designer dog breed that is becoming increasingly popular, especially with singles, apartment dwellers, and active seniors. As the slightly unusual name suggests, the French Bullhuahua is a mix between two purebred dogs, a French Bulldog and a Chihuahua. The result of this cross is a dog that’s small in stature but has a big attitude – and a lot of love to give!
Despite being small, these dogs tend to have a lot of energy – they are not too high maintenance, but they still love going on walks and need lots of playtime, both to burn off energy and to keep their keen minds sharp.
Thanks to their big personality and tendency to prefer being in the spotlight, these pooches do best as only pets in the household, but they can be socialized to get along with other four-legged roommates (as long as they can remain the star of the show!). While endlessly cute, this designer dog breed is not the best choice for families with small children, both because of their fragility and a bossy attitude.
French Bullhuahua has plenty of attitude and loves being in the center of attention – and having in mind their antics and huge personality, they often are
Origin
When it comes to designer dog breeds, their past is often a mystery. Not many crossbreeds can boast of having a detailed history that documents their origin, and the French Bullhuahua is no exception. However, what we do know is that this is a fairly recent designer dog breed, which probably means that the first intentionally bred French Bullhuahuas in the United States came to be in the 1990s. Of course, they were probably rare then, as they are still fairly rare today – but the breed has seen a significant increase in popularity in the last couple of years.
Pedigree
A French Bullhuahua is a mix between two purebred dogs: a French Bulldog and a Chihuahua. This is a so-called F1 or first-generation designer dog, which means the puppies are always a result of crossbreeding two purebreds. While this can produce inconsistent results – you can never know with certainty how a litter will turn out and which parent will they favor – some think that F1 designer dogs are healthier than crossbreeds that are second or third-generation mixes. This is because the more they are crossbred, the higher the chance is for hereditary health issues from original parental breeds to appear in puppies.
As for an official pedigree, French Bullhuahuas won’t have any. This designer dog breed, not unlike all other crossbreeds, is not recognized by AKC so it doesn’t have an official set of breed standards and pedigree like its purebred parents do.
Food / Diet
To stay happy, healthy, and fit, your little French Bullhuahua will need a complete and balanced diet tailored to their unique needs. As a small breed dog, this pooch doesn’t need a lot of kibble to stay full, but it has to be high-quality and nutrient-rich to meet their dietary needs. Most pet owners opt for dry food, which is perfectly fine for a French Bullhuahua, but be sure to go for premium brands, formulas that are made from wholesome, natural ingredients, and tailored to suit your pet’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). French Bullhuahuas need kibble formulated for small breeds that are moderately active.
Due to their petite stature, French Bullhuahuas are prone to obesity – without plenty of exercise and with one too many treats, that extra fluff will stick right to their body. Needless to say, obesity can become a serious issue that triggers a range of health problems for your pet, so be sure to stick to the recommended dosage of food and don’t go overboard with yummy snacks in between meals.
Despite being small, these dogs tend to have a lot of energy – they are not too high maintenance, but they still love going on walks and need lots of playtime.
Training
With French Bulldog and Chihuahua being their mom and dad, it doesn’t come as a huge surprise that these designer dogs can have a bit of a stubborn streak, making them a bit difficult to train. Your best bet is starting early on and using positive reinforcement methods – a few treats and some praise can go a long way. While you should never be harsh to your pet, especially not when you’re training them, if you want to make progress with your French Bullhuahua, you will have to be assertive and firm. They will sniff out a softie and try to get their way whenever possible so stick to your guns if you want to be successful in training.
In addition to basic training, you should also make sure to socialize your French Bullhuahua puppy in their early days. This breed can be a bit bossy and they don’t tend to get along well with other dogs or small kids, but if you make some gentle introductions while they are still young, you can make them friendlier and more relaxed around other pets and strangers.
Weight
Both the Chihuahua and the French Bulldog are small breed dogs, so their offspring fit the same category, too. However, the weight and size of this crossbreed can vary depending on which parent they favor – anything between 10 and 30 pounds can be expected for this designer dog.
Temperament / Behavior
With two feisty small breed parents, it goes without saying that this crossbreed dog is one sassy little pooch! French Bullhuahua has plenty of attitude and loves being in the center of attention – and having in mind their antics and huge personality, they often are. French Bullhuahua are smart but stubborn, so you might have your hands full if you are a first-time owner that doesn’t have experience with training. And you will have to train and socialize a French Bullhuahua from the get-go: it’s what makes the difference between a cute and sassy dog and a pet with a small dog syndrome that’s yappy and nippy.
Overall, French Bullhuahua is sweet, smart, and playful and when socialized on time, can be a great pet for families of all shapes and sizes. Still, this breed will do best in smaller families with no children or older children in their teens – small kids and French Bullhuahuas don’t really mix well.
Common Health Problems
When getting a designer dog, it’s of utmost importance that you get your puppy from a reputable breeder, if you are not adopting. This will eliminate the possibility of illnesses caused by neglect which is often present with backyard breeders, as well as mean that the parents were chosen with care in order to prevent potential hereditary issues from being passed on to their offspring.
Some common health issues for Chihuahuas and Frenchies, which, in turn, can appear in their crossbreed offspring, include hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, hydrocephalus, collapsed trachea, and intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Apart from breed-specific issues, you should be on the lookout for oral health problems and obesity, as all small breed dogs are prone to it. Luckily, this can be prevented with healthy habits. Brush your pet’s teeth regularly, offer dental treats, and make sure they eat a complete and balanced diet. Add regular exercise to the mix and your French Bullhuahua will be fit as a fiddle with a sparkly white smile to boot!
Life Expectancy
An estimated lifespan for this designer dog is between 12 and 18 breeds, which makes it a long-lived breed. However, this is just a guess based on the longevity of its parents as there still isn’t enough data on French Bullhuahuas specifically. To make sure that your pet reaches the higher end of the lifespan spectrum, make sure you get a puppy from a responsible breeder and provide them with the best possible care throughout their life, including a balanced diet, plenty of exercise, and regular vet checkups.
Exercise Requirements
French Bullhuahua isn’t as active as a large breed or a working breed, but these tiny doggos do pack a lot of energy inside their petite bodies. A lot of it stems from their sharp minds, which means that they often get bored and start looking for trouble unless you “tire” them out with playtime and activity. If you are looking for a couch potato pooch, this breed is not the one for you – nor is French Bullhuahua a good fit if you want a hiking buddy. Their energy levels fall into the category of moderate, which includes daily walks (at least for 30 minutes) with spaced-out time during the day for some mentally engaging playtime. Interactive toys and puzzles are a great choice for these dogs as they will entice them and keep them occupied – and away from mischief.
French Bullhuahua are smart but stubborn, so you might have your hands full if you are a first-time owner that doesn’t have experience with training.
Recognized Clubs
Even though French Bullhuahua isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), it is recognized by clubs and organizations run by designer dog breed enthusiasts and owners. American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC), and International Canine Association (ICA) recognize this mix as French Bullhuahua, while International Designer Canine Registry® (IDCR) recognizes the breed under the name Mexican Frenchie. These clubs and organizations could be of help when it comes to finding reputable French Bullhuahua breeders in your area, as well as help you connect with other French Bullhuahua owners and lovers of the breed so you could trade experiences and learn more about these designer dogs.
Coat
As both of the parental breeds sport a short coat, so does the French Bullhuahua. They have short and sleek hair which can appear in any color common for Chihuahua or the Frenchie, which includes cream, tan, golden, white, black, or brown when it comes to solid colors, and in some rarer cases, merle or brindle.
When it comes to grooming, the French Bullhuahua is a low-maintenance dog. With a few brushings throughout the week, their coats will always look their best. Throw in a bath every month or when the nose test tells you it’s time (pooches can get stinky in no time), and that’s everything their coats need to stay smooth and luster.
Although very rare, long-haired French Bullhuahuas exist – when breeders cross a French Bulldog with a long-haired Chihuahua. This type of coat does require a bit more work as those luscious locks need to be brushed every day to prevent matting and tangling, but they are still far away from high-maintenance coats of breeds such as Poodle, Bichon Frise, or Afghan Hounds.
Puppies
Nothing is more adorable than puppies – especially teeny tiny French Bullhuahua puppies. French Bullhuahua litters usually range from 2 to 4 puppies, and all of them could look nothing alike – some could look more like a Chihuahua and others could favor the Frenchie parent more. This is important to have in mind when getting a puppy: surprises are possible but that only means that your designer dog is one of a kind!
In those early days, French Bullhuahua puppies will be very fragile and should be handled with great care, which means no other pets or small children until they grow up a bit. Mishandling could lead to injuries and endanger your pet, so it’s best that you are gentle and careful around them. As soon as your puppy reaches 7 to 8 weeks of age, you can begin with some light training – nothing too complex yet, as they won’t have the attention span for it. It’s best to start basic training and socialization while they are still young so they can grow up to be well-behaved, friendly dogs.
Photo credit: Deep Desert Photography/Shutterstock
