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French Bullhuahua (French Bulldog & Chihuahua Mix): Info, Care Guide & Pics

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By Nicole Cosgrove

French Bullhuahua

Height: 6–12 inches tall
Weight: 10–30 pounds
Lifespan: 11–14 years
Colors: Black, brown, cream, white
Suitable for: Companion dogs, family dogs
Temperament: Intelligent, affectionate, protective, stubborn, excitable

“Designer” dogs can come in every shape and size typical of a dog. If you are looking for a small, easily maintainable breed to adopt that’s also smart but affectionate, you may want to look into the French Bullhuahua. These dogs are the hybrid of a French Bulldog and a Chihuahua, making the French Bullhuahua an intercontinental dog!

French Bullhuahuas may have eventually come about by themselves. However, they were bred as designer dogs, so their popularity quickly grew. Since both of its parents can have extended, high-status pedigrees, you can get a detailed ancestry done from breeders of the French Bullhuahua.

People are not only interested in their history, though. These are smart dogs with typically quirky personalities. They can be very affectionate to their owners and generally wary around strangers and other animals, especially if they haven’t been socialized. They might inherit their parents’ stubborn streak while simultaneously being adorably excitable.

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French Bullhuahua Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

As with many cross-bred pups, part of the price of French Bullhuahua puppies will be determined by the pedigree of the parents, albeit being considerably less than purebred puppies would be. One essential factor to keep in mind before purchasing one of these puppies is the extra cost of medical fees. Expect to pay just as much, if not more, to get the shots, papers, and other specialized medical treatments typical to the health of the French Bullhuahua. They are prone to inherit the common health issues of the parent breeds.

French Bullhuahuas are a great choice for families who are looking to spend a lot of time with a playful and loving dog. They do have a stubborn side to their personality which can make training a bit complex. Take the time to learn what training methods work with these dogs and you’ll have a loyal companion for many years.

3 Little-Known Facts About the French Bullhuahua

1. The mix was originally intended to minimize breathing problems.

French Bulldogs have brachycephalic faces, meaning they are shorter and smushed. Although they were bred to have this cosmetic trait, it can cause abnormal health problems due to restricted breathing. Breeders began to mix these two breeds to keep the cute, small traits that many dog lovers adored while mitigating respiratory problems.

The Chihuahua has a typical dog face, and breeding the two helped elongate the snout of the Bulldogs. Then, people started to fall in love with the specific crossbred, and the demand for the French Bullhuahua increased, and became a designer breed.

2. Christopher Columbus found the Chihuahua when he landed in the Americas.

We know that both of these dog breeds have long histories. However, the Chihuahua’s is especially interesting. Many of the dog breeds common today originated in Europe and early America. Chihuahuas were found by Christopher Columbus when he landed in the Americas, initially believing that they were almost hairless, mute dogs. Hernan Cortes wrote about the dogs, noting that the Aztecs would raise them and proceed to sell the pups as food.

They grew to be prized ratters in Mexico over the years and have currently become a dog associated with the rich in Western culture.

3. Both of the parental breeds have become common dogs for celebrities to own.

French Bulldogs and Chihuahuas have become typical pets owned by celebrities. Chihuahuas have been owned by Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Demi Moore, and even Madonna. French Bulldogs may be an even more prolific Hollywood pet. David and Victoria Beckham owned a few, as did Hugh Jackman, Lady Gaga, Dwayne Johnson, and Reese Witherspoon. These are dogs who know how to be spoiled!

The parent breeds of the French Bullhuahua
Photo Credit: Left – Hasan Gulec, Pexels | Right – Daniel Kondrashin, Pexels

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Temperament and Intelligence of the French Bulldog Chihuahua Mix 🧠

Both the parents of the French Bullhuahua are well-known for their relatively obstinate natures, having a stubborn streak with a short temper. A French Bullhuahua puppy may have these traits bred into them, so it shouldn’t be a surprise. Rather, an owner should be ready to work on these traits when they begin to train their pups.

They can be quite lovable dogs, typically picking one person to whom they feel attached and shower with love. Although people often think of smaller dogs as excessive barkers, these dogs usually only bark when there are new people around or if they are in a playful mood. That said, they don’t generally take well to strangers and do bark when they encounter anything suspicious.

They are generally delighted dogs, which makes them suitable as companions for singles who are only moderately active or for older people. They have even been known to work with patients suffering from depression and anxiety, helping relieve the symptoms with their perky attitudes. They can be overprotective of their families.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

These dogs are appropriate for families with older kids. They tend to have short tempers, and although they are not aggressive, they are easily irritated by poking and prodding. If you do choose to adopt one of these dogs into a family with young children, the children should be coached not to irk the dog.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

French Bullhuahuas inherit the traits of independence and overprotectiveness from both of their parents. These dogs should be socialized consistently with dogs of all sizes and ages from an early age. Doing this may still not be enough to keep the dog from getting excited around other strange animals, but it often helps quite a bit, especially if the other dog or cat lives in the home.

French Bullhuahua
Image Credit: Ger Pouwels, Shutterstock

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Things to Know When Owning a French Bullhuahua

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

These dogs are quite small and only need a minimal amount of food to keep them going. They don’t have high amounts of energy that keep them highly active during the day. They only need 1.5 to 2 cups of food each day. Don’t free-feed them. Instead, set the food out twice, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Exercise 🐕

The exercise regimen for the French Bullhuahua is much less demanding than for other pups. They only need to be walked about 5 miles each week, though the intervals of exercise should last for at least 30 minutes each time.

Since these are intelligent dogs, they should be exercised physically and mentally. Give them chew toys or small puzzles with food rewards, or play interactive games with them. This takes care of their activity requirements and keeps them from being bored.

To help socialize the pups and give them an exercise outlet, take them to a dog park. Just make sure that they will not be aggressive with other dogs beforehand. Doing this frequently keeps them accustomed to being around other animals and behaving well.

Training 🦮

Due to the strong, stubborn streak shown by this breed, training needs to be taken seriously to raise an obedient, well-behaved pup. The potential difficulty while training is why they are not a great fit for first-time dog owners. Anyone training these dogs will need a firm hand, consistency, and a great deal of patience. Any sort of aggression or irritation displayed during training sessions backfires with the French Bullhuahua, potentially causing it to become aggressive or uninterested.

French Bullhuahua
Image Credit: Josepouwels, Shutterstock

Grooming ✂️

Although this breed is not considered hypoallergenic, it has short hair that doesn’t typically shed much. Maintaining their coat only takes a minimal amount of effort. It can quickly be done with a slicker brush that functions to glide over the coat, taking out any loose fur and dirt. You don’t need to worry about bathing your French Bullhuahua. If they are dirty, use pet-safe wet wipes to clean them.

As with all dogs, general maintenance is important. Brush your French Bullhuahua’s teeth daily for prolonged dental health. Your pup may struggle with dental issues because of the shorter faces of the French Bulldog, which causes their teeth to crowd. Keep the nails clipped down as well, generally doing this every several weeks.

Health Conditions ❤️

As with all mixed breeds, the French Bullhuahua is prone to inheriting all the conditions common to either parent. They are still generally healthy dogs, but it is worth it to keep regular veterinary appointments. These should help you keep a close eye out for more severe conditions that may develop in this breed.

Minor Conditions
  • Cataracts
  • Patellar luxation
  • Retinal dysplasia
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hypothyroidism
Serious Conditions
  • Pulmonic stenosis
  • Intervertebral disc degeneration
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Breathing issues

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Male vs Female

There are no noticeable differences, even in the physical traits, between male and female French Bullhuahuas.

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Final Thoughts

The French Bullhuahua comes from an exciting mix of histories, from the European continent to North America. If you are looking for a dog that has a fun personality and intelligence in one adorable package, this may be a consideration for you.

Although they are excellent companion dogs, they need a reliable trainer and shouldn’t necessarily be dogs for a first-time owner.


Featured Image Credit: Josepouwels, Shutterstock

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