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Frenchie Pug (French Bulldog & Pug Mix): Info, Pictures, Facts, Traits

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By Nicole Cosgrove

frenchie pug

Height: 10-12 inches
Weight: 10-20 pounds
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Colors: White, off-white, black, fawn, brown
Suitable for: Lower-energy owners, retirees, attentive and loving families, apartment dwellers
Temperament: Spunky, vivacious, affectionate, emotionally needy

The Frenchie Pug is a designer breed and is a mix between a French Bulldog and a Pug. Small and alert, these dogs are great for owners who have low energy or spend a lot of time at home. Although they don’t require a lot of exercise, you’ll find that they are energetic and playful most of the time.

This breed is very affectionate and will require a lot of attention, much like their parent breeds. Some dogs require physical or mental stimulation to keep their energy from turning destructive, but Frenchie Pugs really require emotional stimulation more than anything else.

Although this breed is susceptible to some health issues, these dogs generally will provide many years of happiness. Given the level of attentiveness and love French Bulldog Pug mixes give their owners, those years will be full of adoration and companionship. We’ll go over everything you need to know about the French Bulldog Pug mix to make the best of those years below.Divider 1

Frenchie Pug Puppies

frenchie pug
Image Credit: Bokehboo Studios, Shutterstock
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Frenchie Pug puppies are small, have that adorable wrinkly face look, and they’re often very affordable. If you don’t want to end up bringing two or three home, bring someone along when you pick yours up who is willing to stop you! These pups are irresistible, especially at a young age, but before you head to the breeder, you should know what to expect from your Frenchie Pug puppy.

First and most importantly, know that Frenchie Pug puppies are not easy to train. This breed can be stubborn and a bit strong-willed, so be prepared to dedicate some time to teaching them the basics. This includes commands like sit, stay, and come, but it also includes housebreaking. These things often take more time with Frenchie Pugs than they do with other breeds, so you must have patience and be consistent with training.

You should also know that since Frenchie Pugs inherit traits from both French Bulldogs and Pugs, their appearance can vary quite a bit based on which parent they resemble more. While looks aren’t everything, you may desire a certain appearance for your dog, so it’s important to note that your dog’s physical traits may differ from that of other Frenchie Pugs.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Frenchie Pug

1. Frenchie Pugs Come From Royal Ancestors

You know that Frenchie Pugs are the offspring of a French Bulldog and a Pug, but what you may not know is that their Pug ancestors were believed to be the preferred companion dog of Chinese royalty. The Pug’s ancestry has been traced back to around 200 A.D., and they were bred as companion dogs for the high-class families of the time. They’re believed to have been popular canine companions for wealthy and upper-class families in England as well.

They’re not all snooty and wealthy, though. These dogs’ other parent breed, the French Bulldog, is believed to have become popularized in France during the Industrial Revolution, and they were a common choice of breed for middle-class families at that time.

2. Frenchie Pugs Don’t Vary Much in Temperament

Frenchie Pugs are most often first-generation offspring of a purebred French Bulldog and a purebred Pug. Unlike most mixed breeds that can inherit personality traits and behavioral tendencies from one or both parent breeds and ultimately vary quite a bit, the Frenchie Pug comes from two pretty similar parent breeds. This means that your pup’s personality is likely to be similar to that of most other Frenchie Pugs.

What this means for you is that you can rest assured that the dog you welcome into your family will be loving, affectionate, playful, energetic, and needy. Knowing what to expect in terms of the temperament of your dog is very important to some people, so this is definitely a positive feature of this crossbreed.

3. Frenchie Pugs Are Good for Apartment Living

Finding a dog that is suitable to live with you in an apartment can be challenging for many reasons, but one of the biggest is barking. If you do live in an apartment where noise is a big issue, the Frenchie Pug may be perfect for you. This breed is generally very quiet and barks very rarely.

Frenchie Pugs are also very small and don’t require much exercise each day, both of which make this breed great for apartment life.

The parent breeds of Frenchie Pug
The parent breeds of Frenchie Pug: Left – Pug (Erin Minuskin, Unsplash) | Right – French Bulldog (Hasan Gulec, Pexels)

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Frenchie Pug 🧠

Frenchie Pugs have a wonderfully friendly and loving temperament and is pretty smart to boot. This is a very affectionate and emotionally needy breed that doesn’t fare well with isolation. If your routine will leave your Frenchie Pug at home alone for long stretches, this may not be the best type of dog for you. The more human interaction and attention your Frenchie Pug gets, the happier they will be.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Frenchie Pugs make excellent family pets! They love interacting with their human owners, and they’ll gladly spend time with any family member around. In fact, while some breeds are simply good for families and children, Frenchie Pugs thrive in a family environment.

While you should always supervise very young children at all times with any dog, Frenchie Pugs are also excellent with kids, so you shouldn’t have to worry too much about introducing your puppy to your children.

As with all dogs, it’s important to socialize them with people and other dogs early and often, but you should have no issues integrating your Frenchie Pug with any member of your family, immediate or extended!

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Frenchie Pugs are very sociable animals, and this goes for other dogs and cats just as much as it does for humans. You’ll find that this breed is happy to meet and interact with just about any other pet you have.

Frenchie Pugs are not known to be aggressive dogs, and they’re typically not territorial, so whether they’re meeting other animals in their own home, on a walk in the neighborhood, or at a dog park, you shouldn’t face any problems. Socialization early on will aid in cultivating this kind of calm and accepting personality, but your Frenchie Pug will likely have these traits naturally.

frenchie pug
Image Credit: Bokehboo Studios, Shutterstock

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Things to Know When Owning a Frenchie Pug:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Frenchie Pugs are small and rather unassuming, and their diet reflects this. They don’t tend to be big eaters and will usually only need a cup or two of food each day.

Like all breeds, Frenchie Pugs should be eating a high-protein diet that includes healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. No specific diet restrictions exist with this breed, so any high-quality commercial dog food will do. It should be noted that high-quality food is key, as low-tier dog foods that contain fillers can lead to health problems for any breed. This is particularly important for dogs like the Frenchie Pug who is genetically predisposed to medical issues already.

Many small dogs are prone to overeating and obesity, and the Frenchie Pug is no exception. Be sure to consult your vet or your dog food provider’s recommendation for small dogs, and also choose a food that is formulated for low-energy breeds.

Exercise 🐕

While Frenchie Pugs are often energetic and willing to play, they don’t need much exercise at all. One 30-45 minute walk each day or a few 15-minute walks on a daily basis will be perfect for this breed and will help minimize weight gain. You’ll find that your pup will still have plenty of energy for play.

To put it simply, Frenchie Pugs are pretty lazy dogs, and as long as they get their recommended walking time in each day, they will happily lie on the couch with you or sit with you while you work or watch TV. Like we mentioned before, they love and crave human interaction, so wherever you go, they’ll likely be lazing very close by.

We should mention that because the French Bulldog Pug mix is low in energy and doesn’t require much exercise, some people don’t take them on walks. It might seem like they don’t need or want the exercise, but lack of daily walking can lead to destructive behavior as it can in other dogs. Routine walking will keep your puppy in tip-top shape.

frenchie pug
Image Credit: Max DeMaere, Shutterstock

Training 🦮

Frenchie Pugs are intelligent, which is usually a trait that lends itself to a breed being easy to train. However, these dogs are also strong-willed and can offer up some serious difficulty for inexperienced dog owners.

Beginning training routines early on is essential to help drill in good habits and behaviors, and with a breed like this you’ll need plenty of patience and determination. Remember, Frenchie Pugs are intelligent and will pick up on commands quickly, but you’ll need to be persistent to get them to stick.

Like we mentioned earlier, the French Bulldog Pug mix normally takes a bit longer to get housebroken, so expect to put in some additional effort to get your pup to this point.

Because of the moderate difficulty in training Frenchie Pugs, it’s recommended that you learn how to train them properly or hire a professional trainer to help with the training process. This will make your job and your life a whole lot easier.

Grooming ✂️

Another great aspect of the Frenchie Pug is how little grooming and upkeep they require. These dogs have short, straight hair, so while weekly brushing is recommended and can help limit shedding in your home, it’s not required.

Shedding is, however, one downside to this breed, as Frenchie Pugs do tend to shed quite a bit. While you may not have to brush your pup too often, you should be prepared to vacuum regularly.

Routine bathing is suggested on a monthly basis to help keep your pup’s skin and coat healthy. Since Frenchie Pugs inherit some of their physical traits from their wrinkly Pug parent breed, your dog may have skin folds that require regular cleaning to prevent infection. This largely depends on how much of that adorable wrinkliness your Frenchie Pug exhibits; physical traits can vary on an individual level.

Lastly, regular grooming practices like teeth and ear cleaning every other week or so will go a long way in preventing tooth and gum issues as well as ear infections.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Unfortunately, while many crossbreeds tend to be pretty healthy, Frenchie Pugs can inherit quite a few medical issues from both parent breeds. French Bulldogs and Pugs are not known for their heartiness, and their common ailments can be seen in this breed as well. Regular vet visits are essential for the French Bulldog Pug Mix, and your pup may require more testing and medical screening than other breeds. This can lead to higher-than-normal vet bills, so be aware of this and the below common conditions found in this breed.

Minor Conditions
  • Skin issues include dermatitis
  • Eyelid issues like entropion and ectropion
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Obesity
Serious Conditions
  • Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)
  • Prolapsed eye gland (cherry eye)
  • Pulmonary stenosis

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Male vs Female

Males may be slightly more energetic, but for the most part, both sexes are about the same in energy level. Frenchie Pugs generally have a pretty even temperament and personality, so whether you get a male or a female you can expect a loving, affectionate, and outgoing pup.

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Conclusion

Frenchie Pugs are wonderful, sweet, happy little dogs. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a dog that will be more loving and affectionate than this breed. These dogs adore, crave, and require human interaction on nearly a constant basis, which makes them perfect for big families and individuals who work from home or are home often. They don’t fare well with being left alone for long hours, which can make them unhappy and destructive.

The French Bulldog Pug mix’s size, low tendency to bark, and low exercise requirements make them very adaptable to apartment life. They are an intelligent breed that picks up commands quickly, but they can also be willful, so starting to train early and maintaining consistency in training routines is critical for this breed.

Frenchie Pugs are adorable pups that pack a lot of love and adoration into a small package. If you’re looking for a best friend who will crave your attention, this may be the breed for you. They make excellent companion dogs and will quickly become a key part of any family.


Featured Image Credit: Bokehboo Studios, Shutterstock

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