French Bulldog Pitbull Mix

As the name of the breed suggests, a French Bulldog Pitbull mix is a dog who’s a combination of two popular breeds, namely the French Bulldog and the American Pitbull Terrier. Both breeds of dog are known to be smart, loyal, good-natured, and dedicated companions–this is pretty much the reason they are among the most popular dog breeds.

But what can one expect from a dog that’s a combination of the two breeds? In this article, we’ll give you a rundown of what to expect in this mixed breed that’s seeing a resurgence in popularity.

Appearance

Unsurprisingly, the French Bulldog Pitbull Mix retains the same muscular and stocky build of both a Bulldog and a Pitbull. As for its size, it can be similar to one parent breed or the other, and can even be somewhere at the middle of the two. But generally this mixed-breed will fall into the same category as a medium-sized dog. Often, a French Bulldog Pitbull mix will have the appearance of a small Pitbull, while having more than a few facial features that make it look distinctly like a bulldog.

Another notable feature of the French Bulldog Pitbull mix is its pair of bat-like ears that either stand fully erect or are slightly bent at the tip. This, of course, is one of the features this mixed breed has inherited from the Frenchie side of its bloodline.

In terms of weight, it will vary. A member of this mixed breed can weigh about as much as a typical Frenchie or a pitbull, but will often fall somewhere between 30 to 40 lbs. Its coat, on the other hand, will vary—from tan, white, to a brownish tawny color, to a combination of colors—but will typically be short in length, similar to the coat of both a Frenchie and a Pitbull.

French Bulldog Pitbull Mix History

There isn’t much history to this mixed breed, as they’ve only become popular in the last few decades or so. Indeed, the French Bulldog Pitbull mix can probably be better understood from its parent breeds’ history.

French Bulldog History

The French Bulldog originated in Nottingham, England, and was originally bred to be a toy-sized bulldog. Breeders were able to reduce the size of what was then the conventional Bulldog by breeding them with small terriers. The purpose of the breed was precisely to be a companion dog. Today they are among the most popular dog breeds in both the US and the UK and are, in fact, the second most registered dogs in the UK.

Pitbull’s History

The history of the Pitbull is, of course, mired in controversy. Pitbulls were bred from Bulldogs, who themselves had a past that was as bloody as it was cruel. Bulldogs were bred to play a part in the brutal sport of “bull-baiting,” where a pair of dogs were set to harass a bull for hours until it either collapsed from fatigue or both dogs died from their injuries. Thankfully, the Cruelty to Animals Act was passed in 1835, outlawing the sport.

Dogfighting, however, was what the masses turned their attention to, and Bulldogs were bred with Terriers to create the first Pit Bull Terrier for those very purposes. Pitbulls were thus bred specifically for dogfighting. However, the breed eventually took on more roles as they were brought from the British Isles to the American frontier, including taking care of livestock and herding cattle.

Temperament

There is no precise way to find out what the behavior of an individual member of this mixed breed will be, but it will generally have temperamental characteristics that have been inherited from both parent breeds. Some will have the temperament of a typical Frenchie, while some, a Pitbull. Others will have a combination of both or will have more behavioral similarities with one parent breed over another. To find out what the likely temperament of a French Bulldog Pitbull mix will be, it’s best to turn to the parent breeds.

Both the Pitbull and the Frenchie are incredibly loyal dogs, and they are expected to be protective of their adoptive family in every possible way. The French Bulldog Pitbull Mix will have this same devotion, making it an overall excellent family pet. It won’t just be protective; it will be sweet, affectionate, and playful towards its family’s children, too.

However, the over-protectiveness of a French Bulldog Pitbull mix can make it aggressive towards strangers or people it might see as a threat. In any case, this is a mixed breed that is highly socializable and can quickly get used to being around other pets and people who regularly come into contact with it, be them your friends or other people in the neighborhood.

It is, however, a dominant pet, and will likely try to dominate other dogs in the house, which is why early training and socialization is important so that clashes between your French Bulldog Pitbull mix and other pets in the house can be avoided.

All-in-all, this is a breed that is stocky, mild-mannered, and loves to be with a “pack,” so to speak. That being said, they don’t do well alone. So if you intend to adopt one, be sure to avoid leaving them alone for extended periods of time, as they can get miserable from being left out.

Caring for Your French Bulldog Pitbull Mix

As we mentioned earlier, a French Bulldog Pitbull Mix can behave like either of its parent breeds, which they often want to please. So training them and getting them used to be around people won’t be all that difficult as long as the process is started early enough–it is, of course, always preferable that one start training a dog while it is still a puppy.

They are very intelligent but can also have a stubborn streak. So be prepared, because they can be quite naughty–really naughty! This is why consistent positive reinforcement coupled with proper motivation (like rewarding them with treats for good behavior) can be very effective in eventually getting them to behave properly.

Another thing to note about the French Bulldog Pitbull Mix is that they are dominant dogs. This means they can be standoffish towards strangers and can get quite aggressive towards other pets. Do not worry, however, because, with patience and the right approach, there’s no reason you won’t successfully be able to socialize your French Bulldog Pitbull mix to be comfortable around other people and pets.