The French Bulldog and the Pug are two of the most iconic dogs in the world. Who doesn’t know a Frenchie or a Pug when they see them?
The French Bulldog Pug mix is a fantastic crossbreed; combining the traits of one with the other will produce an over-the-top cute mix that is affectionately called the Frug. While I have to admit the name Frug doesn’t conjure up what a wonderful designer breed this is, I think they could have chosen another name, ignore the name and focus on this beautiful mix.
Both the Frenchie and Pug have so much character it’s almost impossible to believe crossing them will produce anything better. Everyone knows how much personality is packed into both these dogs, so how will mixing them improve or alter their personalities?
That’s one of the things we’re going to delve into in this article, along with their appearance, health issues, exercise needs, and what it would be like to live with a French Bulldog Pug mix.
French Bulldog Pug Mix
1. French Bulldog Pug Mix Parents
To know a designer breed, you have to get to grips with the parent breeds. If you understand as much as possible about the parents, this is where you’ll find a host of helpful information, and it goes a long way in understanding the mix.
French Bulldog
French Bulldogs are small companion dogs but make no mistake; these are powerful little dogs. They shouldn’t be attractive, yet they have so much appeal and overwhelming personality they win almost everyone over. They are the 4th most popular dog in the States, with no sign of their popularity slowing down.
They are powerful, Frenchies have a muscular body and deep chest, and they are not easy to persuade if they don’t want to move. Luckily, they are too easygoing to cause an owner too much trouble. When they are young, they love to race around at breakneck speeds, but as they get older, they slow down and would much rather lounge around on the sofa than go for a walk.
Don’t be fooled into thinking the Frenchie isn’t intelligent because while he’s no Border Collie, he’s no slouch when it comes to intelligence. This can come out as stubborn at times; Frenchies often seem to need persuading or need a good reason for doing something.
Although he’s called a French Bulldog, his origins are firmly in England. He was bred from the original bulldogs but crossed with smaller breeds to fulfill the role as a companion dog. Frenchies were very popular around the midlands area of England. When the Industrial Revolution meant there was no call for local lacemakers, they moved to Northern France, taking their companion dogs.
They became even more popular with the French, and they took over his development into what he is today. However, the French preferred the rose-shaped ears rather than the erect bat-like prevalent with some lines. The third country to take a hand in the Frenchie’s development was the Americans. They much preferred the erect Bat-like ears that are so part of the breed today.
French Bulldogs are not large dogs, rarely weighing over 28 pounds (unless they’re overweight) and reaching a height between 11 and 13 inches. The Frenchie has a lifespan of between 10 and 12 years. French Bulldogs have a very short and sleek coat. They do shed a lot and require regular brushing to help control the hair fall. Another classic feature of the Frenchie is the facial folds; as a Frenchie owner, you must pay particular attention to these because they can become moist and breed bacteria, and bits of food or other debris can become lodged in the folds.
Pug
Pugs have quite an illustrious history, going back hundreds of years. In their native China, they were revered as royalty, and only the Emperors of China could own one unless they gave a Pug as a special gift to a person the Emperor favored. Pugs are one of three flat-nosed dogs that the Chinese bred, the Lion Dog, the Pekingese, and Lo-Sze (ancient Pug).
During the 1500s, when Europeans began trading with the Chinese, they brought the Pug back to Europe; the Dutch called the dog Mopshond. Even in Europe, the Pug was popular with royalty. A Pug even became the official dog of the House of Orange. William of Orange, who later became the King of England, brought his Pugs to England with him. Pugs became hugely popular all over Europe.
Pugs entered into competition in England in 1861, and a studbook was started in 1871. During the Victorian era, Pugs were incredibly popular in England, and Queen Victoria herself had several. Pugs were taken to America and were recognized by the AKC in 1885. Today the Pug ranks number 28th most popular dog breed in America.
Pugs are also relatively small yet very sturdy dogs. They don’t have the deep chest of the Frenchie and probably aren’t as muscular or as powerful, yet they are still a pretty solid dog. A Pug weighs between 14 to 18 pounds and will reach a height between 10 and 13 inches. Pugs have a short coat but the skin ruffles around the neck and down the back giving the impression of a much thicker coat. If anything, Pugs shed more than Frenchies, and you’ll definitely want to brush your Pug every day if you’re going to get some control over the hair loss.
Pugs have a flatter face than a Frenchie and also have more facial folds than a Frenchie. The folds are also more profound and more likely to collect all kinds of debris. If you don’t clean the folds regularly, they can begin to smell pretty badly.
2. French Bulldog Pug Mix – Size And Look
Frugs tend to inherit features from each parent, but until the puppy is born, it’s impossible to know for sure which features. You would expect the puppy to be brachycephalic because both parents are. He could very well have the flatter face of the Pug with large bat-ears of the Frenchie. While he might have the bat-ears, they might not sit erect on the top of the head; they might lay horizontally or even fold. He might also inherit the slightly longer body and tail of the Pug but the chest and musculature of a Frenchie.
One thing for sure, he will be a conversation starter, especially when you take him to the local dog park. Very few people will guess you have a Frug on your hands. The Frenchie Pug mix isn’t going to be any larger than his parents; expect him to be between 11 and 13 inches tall and weigh up to 28 pounds.
3. Coat And Colors
Expect a Frug’s coat to be short, with a thickness and texture somewhere between the two parent dogs. The Frenchie and Pug mix will have a coat that sheds all year round, and you will need to brush regularly to keep the hair fall under control.
Coat colors could be anything from the fawn and white of the Pug to the black, brindle, cream of the Frenchie. The coat color of the Frug will also depend on the color of the Frenchie. If the parents both have black coats, you’ll likely see a black Frug.
4. French Bulldog Pug Mix Temperament
French Bulldogs are lively, alert, and very bright; they make excellent watchdogs and will alert their owners to anything they feel is suspicious. They love being with their owners, and while they aren’t good jumpers, they leave you in no doubt they want to be on your lap. A Frenchie’s energy level will drop off as they get a little older, but they still have plenty of life in them.
A Pug is the clown prince of dogs; he’ll always be looking for attention by clowning around and being as naughty as he can get away with. Even though they suffer from breathing difficulties, Pugs are always up for a game and will run around until he flops exhausted.
When you assess the two personalities that go into creating the Frenchie Pug mix, it’s not difficult to imagine you getting a loving family dog. Who will want to be with their family at all times might be a helpful watchdog but isn’t going to need masses of exercise.
5. French Bulldog Pug Mix Training
Frenchies love nothing more than pleasing their owners and receiving masses of praise and a treat in return. Pugs are eager to learn and find learning new things pretty easy. You might find your Frenchie being a little stubborn at times. But he only needs gently cajoling into doing what you want. Both the Pug and Frenchie are pretty sensitive, and neither will take kindly to harsh treatment.
With the French Bulldog Pug mix, you’re going to have to wait and see which personality will be more dominant. But in fairness, neither of the parent breeds are challenging to train, and I wouldn’t expect the mix to be any different. In fact, Pugs and Frenchies are the perfect dogs for first-time owners, so it follows the mix will also make a wonderful pet for inexperienced dog owners.
Final Thoughts – French Bulldog Pug Mix
Combining the French Bulldog with a Pug was a masterstroke, creating a fantastic mix. The Frug will be a character and close to his human family, good with children, playful, and outgoing.
