French Bulldog & Pitbull Mix: Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

The French Bulldog Pitbull Mix, (also known as the American French Bull Terrier or the French Pitbull) is a hybrid breed, a cross between the legendary American Pitbull and the adorable French Bulldog. Both these breeds are well-built, stocky, and strong dogs, and their hybrid is much the same. They will often have the upright ears of the French Bulldog, with the stout muzzle like the Pitbull Terrier. They can vary fairly widely in size, but no matter their size, they are powerful and regal in appearance. One thing that you can be sure of with these dogs is their gentle and patient nature, but a brief look at the parent breeds will help us gain a deeper understanding of this unique hybrid.

The American Pitbull Terrier is an American icon and has a firmly cemented place in American culture. They were originally bred to “bait” bulls, and later, they became tough and hardy all-around farm dogs. These dogs are largely misunderstood and have a bad reputation due to the proficient use of the breed in dog fighting. In fact, they are gentle, intelligent, and loving animals that make excellent family dogs.

The French Bulldog Terrier has a long history as a faithful companion dog, and once served as a highly capable ratter. They are most recognizable by their upright “bat ears” and their loving and gentle nature. They have a small but stocky and powerful body, an easy-to-groom coat, and a relaxed and calm demeanor that makes them an ideal companion animal.

If the French Bulldog Pitbull Mix sounds like it may be the breed for you, read on below for a more detailed look at this friendly hybrid breed.

French Bulldog Pit Bull Mix Puppies

The American French Bull Terrier (not to be confused with the French Bull Terrier) is not aggressive, is great with kids, and is an ideal dog for a first-time dog owner. These dogs are eager to please and love nothing more than engaging in activities with their owners, including lazing on the sofa. If you are on the lookout for an active dog that can be left outside for long periods, this breed is not for you. These dogs thrive on human contact and will mostly be content by your side.

These dogs are relatively easy to train, provided that the training is gentle and entertaining, and will swiftly learn basic commands. They may look somewhat intimidating from the outside but are actually sensitive animals that love to be in your good books. They may have a stubborn streak due to their French Bulldog heritage, which can be a hurdle in training, but early socialization and good training will usually prevent this.

American French Bull Terriers are intelligent pooches that have a keen sense of hearing and are more alert than many other breeds. This makes them ideal watchdogs, and they are loyal to a fault—they will lay down their lives to protect their owners.

 

3 Little-Known Facts About the American French Bull Terrier

1. French Bulldogs have trouble reproducing

Due to their small size and unusual proportions, French Bulldog males have a hard time reaching the females and will often exhaust themselves in the attempt. Most females are thus artificially inseminated in order to reproduce. This makes these dogs extremely expensive, but the process has the benefit of stringent health checks and thus, more control of breeding lines.

If that’s not enough, females can rarely give birth naturally, also due to their unusual proportions. Most females will have to undergo a Caesarian section to have their puppies, driving the price of these dogs up even further.

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2. They are tied to the biggest and smallest dogs in the world

An American Pitbull Terrier named “Hulk” is the biggest Pitbull on record. The dog weighs in at an incredible 174 pounds, with the average Pitbull only weighing around 60 pounds. The French Bulldog is the smallest breed of Bulldog, but there exists another version of the breed, known as the “teacup” or “micro” French Bulldog. While most French Bulldogs weigh around 25 pounds, these tiny versions can get as small as 5–8 pounds! They are exceedingly rare, though, and are not recognized by the AKC. There are some doubts about whether these dogs can be ethically raised, as Frenchies are already difficult to breed.

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3. The term “Pitbull” is a generalization

The term “Pitbull” is applied to several different breeds of similar appearance, including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Bulldogs. This generalization of the term has added fuel to the fire of the mischaracterization of the breed, as it can be used as a blanket term for several different breeds.

Temperament & Intelligence of the American French Bull Terrier 🧠

American French Bull Terriers are highly intelligent animals, making them a breeze to train. They are social dogs that love to be around people, both running and playing outdoors and chilling indoors on the sofa. These dogs are gentle, despite the Pitbull’s infamous reputation, and are rarely aggressive—unless they feel threatened. They are protective, though, and their keen senses make them alert and aware and thus, excellent watchdogs.

These dogs are loving and affectionate, despite the stigma attached to the Pitbull from dogfighting circles, and they are also athletic, despite the French Bulldogs’ reputation as a designer lapdog. They are agile and adept at learning tricks with an intelligence that far surpasses both the parent breeds’ reputations. They are usually small yet courageous and cute yet assertive and can get highly attached to their owners. Both the parent breeds are independent in character, so you can expect stubbornness from time to time.

Loyalty and a strong desire to protect and be around their owners are hallmarks of this breed, so while their small size may not make them as tough guard dogs as their Pitbull heritage, you can be sure that they will do everything in their power to protect their owners.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

American French Bull Terriers are friendly, sociable, and eager to please, making them great family pets. They are generally gentle with children and keen for hours of fetch in the backyard. These dogs become highly attached to their owners and do not enjoy being alone for extended periods. If you are away from home frequently, they may not be the best choice of breed. They are wary of strangers and may be aloof when they come into contact with new faces.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The American French Bull Terrier will get along with other family pets, provided that they are socialized early. They are not typically aggressive, but dogs of the same sex may be an issue if they are not spayed or neutered. The Pitbull has a strong prey drive, which may pose a problem for cats and other small pets, but good training and socialization will usually mitigate this problem.

Things to Know When Owning an American French Bull Terrier

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

American French Bull Terriers are not that much different than other breeds when it comes to diet, but ideally, they should be on a primarily meat-based diet. They are prone to overeating, though, and should not be freely fed, or they may quickly become overweight. They need a diet that is full of lean animal proteins, is easy to digest, and is rich in nutrients. Healthy fats like omegas-3 and -6 are essential for your pooch’s coat and energy levels and are best had from fish sources.

Around 1 or 2 cups of dry kibble a day should be sufficient, depending on your dog’s size and activity levels, and should ideally be occasionally supplemented with lean meats. That said, we recommend the best-quality dry food you can find, as French Bulldogs are prone to allergies, and can have reactions to the filler products used in some commercial dry foods. Ingredients like wheat, corn, and soy should be avoided whenever possible, as they can cause digestion issues, skin irritation, and rashes.

Exercise 🐕

American French Bull Terriers require regular, daily exercise, but not as much as their Pitbull parent. Around an hour a day in the form of a brisk walk should be sufficient, but these dogs can vary widely in temperament and energy, and some may need more than this. These dogs love to play, and they will thoroughly enjoy agility exercises and ball games in the yard.

French Bulldogs may have trouble breathing when they overexert, and if your dog inherits the flat snout of the Frenchie, they may have similar issues. Keep a close eye on them during exercise to make sure they are breathing correctly, as these dogs and other small breeds like Pugs are often what’s called brachycephalic. They can quickly get overheated and short of breath, requiring surgery in extreme cases.

On the other hand, American French Bull Terrier often inherit the snouts of their Pitbull parents, in which case, this will not be an issue.

Training 🦮

Due to the American French Bull Terrier’s Pitbull heritage, they will need a firm hand in training. They are easy to train, though, and their high intellect makes them pick up basic commands quickly and easily. It is worth mentioning that both the parent breeds have a well-known independent and stubborn streak at times, which can be a challenge in training.

To overcome this, we recommend making training as fun and interactive as possible. Keep training sessions short, 20 minutes at most, as this will lessen the chance of them becoming bored or distracted. Training can, and should, be incorporated into their daily routine to quicken the process and cement commands. This begins on the day you bring them home. An example is sitting: Make them sit before their meals each day, sit before a walk, and sit before leaving the house, followed by a reward.

Socialization is also an often-overlooked essential part of training. These dogs have a background as powerful hunting and farm animals and should be introduced to family animals as early as possible. This goes for other dogs too and walks in the park where they are exposed to some other dogs and animals will get them socialized quickly and prevent any potential issues in the future.

Grooming ✂️

The American French Bull Terrier has a short and coarse coat that is a breeze to maintain, and other than the occasional brush to remove dead hair, they are low-maintenance animals. A rinse with clean water when they get muddy may be required, but try and steer clear of shampoos or soap, as this can cause harm to their coat and skin. Make sure their nails are kept short to prevent pain and infection and give their teeth regular brushing, and they are good to go!

Health and Conditions ❤️

While Pitbull Terriers are a healthy and robust breed and American French Bull Terriers benefit from the hybrid vigor of crossbreeding, French Bulldogs are a classic designer breed and have several genetic health issues. A few of these issues can easily cross over to your American French Bull Terrier, so it’s a good idea to be aware of them.

Other minor issues include allergies, cherry eye, heat stress, and cataracts.

Male vs. Female

You’ve decided that the American French Bull Terrier is the breed for you, so the final question to consider is whether to get a male or female. The main point to consider is that all dogs are individuals, and their personalities and characters are more dictated by their upbringing and environment than their gender. Spaying your female French Bulldog & Pitbull Mix and neutering your male will further mitigate any differences and provide a host of health benefits. Still, there are a few small differences between the female and male French Bulldog & Pitbull Mix to be aware of.

Male American French Bull Terriers are generally bigger, taller, and stronger than females but only by a small amount. The males may be more aggressive and possessive, while female American French Bull Terriers are often more independent in nature and may be prone to mood swings. Males mature slower than females and thus, may be more of a challenge to train.

Final Thoughts

American French Bull Terriers are an amazing and unique breed, one that will surely catch the attention of all who come into contact with them. They are difficult dogs to find, so count yourself lucky if you find one to bring home. They are friendly dogs that are great with children, and their high intellect makes them easy to train. Although they may be prone to health issues, with a healthy diet and consistent exercise regime, they can live long and happy lives. American French Bull Terriers have an abundance of love to give and adore being in the presence of their owners, so they are not an ideal choice if you are away for extended periods.

The American French Bull Terrier is the ideal companion dog that doesn’t require a great deal of exercise or maintenance and is a breed that will quickly capture your heart.

Related Reads:

• Havashire (Havanese & Yorkshire Terrier Mix)
• Boxapoint (Boxer & German Shorthaired Pointer)
• Doodleman Pinscher (Doberman Pinscher & Poodle Mix)

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Featured Image Credit | American Pitbull: Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0 Generic / French Bulldog : Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0 Generic