The Mini French Bulldog
The Mini French Bulldog, sometimes called Teacup French Bulldogs, is a miniaturized version of the standard French Bulldog, a breed that already falls into the small dog category. They don’t exceed 11 inches tall from floor to shoulder, and their maximum weight will be less than 28 lbs. This mixed-breed will exhibit a lot of different characteristics depending on the breeding method used to create it.
Unfortunately, Mini French Bulldogs are known to develop health issues primarily because of the various methods that were used to create the breed, and because of its inordinately miniature dimensions.
In this article, we’ll discuss the characteristics of the Mini French Bulldog, from the history of its parent breeds to its temperament. We’ll also talk about the various health problems that one can expect from members of this mixed breed, and give you tips on how to care for your Mini Frenchie to mitigate these issues as much as possible.
The Mini French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is perhaps one of the most—if not the most—popular breed of small dog today. Indeed, it’s been ranked the fourth most popular breed of dog (of any size) in the United States, and even surpasses the Labrador Retriever to be the most popular dog in the UK.
The French Bulldog’s size is among the features that make it so appealing to people, so much so that in recent decades, breeders have tried to get the breed down to even smaller dimensions. The result of all the effort to create a smaller version of the French Bulldog is the Mini French Bulldog. Breeders were able to create a tiny version of the French Bulldog by either crossbreeding it with other, much smaller, breeds of dog or by introducing a genetic mutation for dwarfism somewhere in the breeding process. Needless to say, it is this latter method that has led the mixed breed to develop health issues.
Another method that was used to create the Mini French Bulldog was to keep breeding small French Bulldogs with each other in the hope that the genes for smallness would be passed down to members of the next generation, who will then be bred with each other.
This repeated breeding of the smallest and weakest dogs in the litter, however, has also led to poor health among offspring.
Mini French Bulldog Appearance
Members of this mixed breed can have a variety of physical characteristics depending on the breeding method used to create it. Mini Frenchies who were the result of a crossbreed between a Frenchie and a smaller breed will have physical and temperamental characteristics similar to either parent breed, or a combination of both.
Mini Frenchies that have genetic dwarfism, however, will typically have shorter legs and narrower hips than normal Frenchies. They will also typically have disproportionately large heads compared to their bodies, which inevitably leads to more health issues. Mini Frenchies who’ve been bred from smaller and weaker members of a litter, on the other hand, are the ones who will most look like smaller versions of a French Bulldog.
A typical French Bulldog will be around 11 to 13 inches tall from floor to shoulder, and will have a maximum weight of 28 pounds. Mini French Bulldogs will typically be smaller and weigh less than a conventional Frenchie, but, again, their appearance will mostly depend on the method that was used to create them.
Temperament
The same with their appearance, a Mini Frenchie’s temperament will be dependent on the method used to create them. They’ll pretty much exhibit the same temperamental characteristics of each of their parent breeds, and will mostly be affectionate and loyal.
Mini French Bulldog Health Issues
The muzzle of Mini Frenchies can be exaggeratedly shortened because of how it was bred, and this can lead to the development of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome. Animals with BOAS can have difficulty breathing, which will cause them to have a lack of oxygen in their blood.
Dogs with flat muzzles will also have their eyes more open to injury, and will also be more prone to skin problems due to the tendency of the folds in their skin to gather dust and dirt.
Since dwarfism is a skeletal disorder that can cause some bones in the body to be deformed, a Mini Frenchie with genetic dwarfism can also develop chronic pain due to this condition.
Caring for you Mini French Bulldog
Since they are miniature dogs, they won’t require as much food and space as other, larger breeds, but they’ll still need regular training and exercise. Make sure not to over-exercise your Mini Frenchie, however, because their flat faces make them prone to overheating and breathing problems.
In hot conditions, like during summer, overheating might also be a problem for your Mini Frenchie. If the weather conditions are extremely hot and dry, it might be best to skip the exercise and your Frenchie might need to be kept in an area of the home where the temperature can be regulated.
Because of the health conditions Mini Frenchies can develop, it’s important to feed your dog healthy food and get them checked by the vet regularly.
Needless to say, their size, as well as the specific health problems they’re prone to developing, make them especially fragile. So owners must give special care to handling them.