Frenchie Bichon (French Bulldog & Bichon Frise Mix): Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

The Frenchie Bichon sounds like an elegant dessert found on the menu of an ice cream parlor. But instead, he is an equally delicious designer doggy who is becoming increasingly popular with all kinds of families. He is the hybrid puppy of the not-so-French French Bulldog and the Mediterranean Bichon Frise.

One of his parents is cheeky and playful, and the other is comical and sweet. Together they have produced a lovable pooch who makes a fantastic family addition. He is a well-balanced dog who is obedient most of the time, but always friendly and polite. He loves to be the center of attention, and he is gorgeous and intelligent.

He is adaptable to most family environments, he gets along with all other pets, and he is excellent with children. In all honesty, we’re struggling to see any real negatives about this guy. Have we piqued your interest in this hybrid yet? Well, let’s jump straight into the world of the Frenchie Bichon to discover all the details that you need to know before fully committing to him.

Frenchie Bichon Puppies

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So, the first thing that you need to know before you welcome a Frenchie Bichon into your life is that he is a mixed breed, and with that comes mixed genes. Although this might sound obvious, it is something that many dog owners overlook when it comes to inviting a mixed puppy into their life. And sadly, a big reason why they end up in rescue shelters.

The Frenchie Bichon is a rare mix, and so it is likely that he will be a first-generation pup. This means genetic uncertainty. You must research both of his parents’ breeds and ensure that you’ll love him no matter what his genetic outcome, as well as being able to offer him everything that he needs. Although both of his parents are very happy-go-lucky pooches, there are a few differences that you need to know about.

The main difference is that his Frenchie parent can be very stubborn and independent. So the Frenchie Bichon has the potential to be a challenge to train. Hopefully, his very trainable and dependable Bichon parent will calm his stubbornness and instill an obedient streak into him.

His French Bulldog parent is also a brachycephalic breed, meaning that he has a short muzzle and a flat face. Therefore the Frenchie Bichon is likely to inherit a flatter face, too, and with that, the associated health concerns. Although this will not be as severe as his French parent, he will inherit an element of this condition. So you need to be aware of it and the potentially life-threatening concerns it poses.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Frenchie Bichon

1. The Frenchie Bichon is a great performer

Not only does he inherit the cheeky personality of the Frenchie, but he is also likely to inherit the performing circus persona of the Bichon parent. With a treat in hand, your Frenchie Bichon will pick up tricks in no time. Back in the day, when his Bichon parent fell out of favor with royalty, he had to turn to employment as a circus performer to earn his keep.

2. The Frenchie Bichon’s appearance is totally unpredictable

His appearance can look totally like his Frenchie parent, or his Bichon parent, or anywhere in between. Even within the same litter, the characteristics of each puppy varies. The only two real givens are that he will have a slightly flatter face like the Frenchie parent and longer hair like his Bichon parent’s coat.

3. The Frenchie Bichon has no French blood

Despite his parent’s name, the French Bulldog, the Frenchie Bichon has no French blood at all. The French Bulldog is the cousin of the English Bulldog, and he is from Nottingham in Great Britain.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Frenchie Bichon 🧠

The Frenchie Bichon is a happy pooch who has a real zest for life. He is delighted to join you in whatever you are doing, be that a romp in the garden, or a snooze on the sofa. He is adaptable, and he is also happy to keep himself entertained while you aren’t there. As such, he’s unlikely to suffer from separation anxiety, which is a big appeal factor of his.

When you do return back to him, he’ll be ready and waiting to smother you in doggy kisses. He is affectionate and loving with his family. If the Frenchie Bichon inherits the flatter face of his Frenchie parent, he could be a loud snorer and snuffler. Some find this trait annoying, but this is all a part of his charm.

He is also a crowd-pleaser, and everyone will fall head over heels in love with him. His cheeky Frenchie genes combined with the circus performing past of his Bichon parent means you are in for hours of canine entertainment. He is full of mischievous energy, and there is never a dull moment with this guy around.

Both of his parents are intelligent, especially his Bichon parent. His Bichon parent is also super eager to please his master. If your Frenchie Bichon takes after his Bichon parent, he’ll be easily trainable. On the other hand, there is also a chance that he could inherit the stubbornness of his French parent. But with early and consistent training, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Yes, the Frenchie Bichon makes a fantastic family addition to most, if not all, families. The reason for this is that he is so adaptable to all family environments. He’ll happily live in a small apartment all the way up to a large home. As long as he gets his daily exercise, he’s a happy bunny.

He also gets along well with children too. And because he is not so small and he is tolerant of their behavior, he makes an excellent companion for small children with excitable hands. He’s entertaining enough for the older too-cool-for-school kids too, and he also knows when to be calm and respectful when the grandparents visit. This is yet another reason why he is a top pick with many families.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Frenchie Bichon gets along with all other pets, from other dogs to cats, and rodents to birds, he’s suited to a multi-pet household. You’ll find that if you have to leave him at home for a few hours, he’ll probably be happier with the extra company.

This is, of course, all dependant on if he is socialized well as a pup. If he is taught how to be a polite pooch, he will have no concerns in later life. But, if not socialized well, he might struggle with fitting into a multi-pet household – this one of many reasons why socialization is so important.

Things to Know When Owning a Frenchie Bichon

Despite being a laidback pooch, there are certain things that he needs to be happy and healthy, so let’s take a closer look at his requirements.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Frenchie Bichon will consume around 1 cup of food every day. Feed him the best quality kibble that you can afford because nutrition is often the easiest and cheapest way to keep him healthy. If he is a smaller Frenchie Bichon, then look to feed him a kibble that is specifically designed for smaller breeds.

It’s also essential to feed him life-stage appropriate food too. The MSD Veterinary Manual recommends that all puppies should consume a kibble with a minimum protein content of 22%, and all adults should eat a minimum content of 18%. Anything above this is just a bonus.

All high-quality kibbles will provide him with the protein content he needs, a well-balanced diet, and a variety of vitamins and minerals to keep him healthy. They will also help to break down the buildup of plaque in his compact mouth.

His Frenchie parent is a sucker for food. Although using treats to your advantage during training is beneficial, you also need to be aware of weight gain. Being overweight is associated with health problems, especially for flat-faced breeds. So, monitor his treat intake and keep them under lock and key.

Exercise 🐕

The Frenchie Bichon needs around 30 minutes of exercise every day. If it’s a casual stroll around the block that you fancy, he’ll happily tag along. Equally, if you are feeling a jog or you need a frisbee catcher, he is always game. He will want you to play with him throughout the day, too, so invest in a bunch of toys to keep his mind and body stimulated.

If he is anything like his French parent, he might try to persuade you that he doesn’t need daily exercise. If this sounds like your Frenchie Bichon, ignore his puppy-dog eyes and get his lazy butt out of the house. He needs a leg-stretch, sniff about, and heart-pumping activity just as much as anyone else.

If he has a flat face like his Frenchie parent, you need to think about when you exercise him too. Brachycephalic breeds become out of breath very quickly, particularly when it’s hot. So, if you live in a warm climate, or it’s a hot day, you’ll need to walk him during the early morning or late evening when it is much cooler.

Training 🦮

The Frenchie Bichon is very trainable thanks to the intelligence of both his parents and the eager-to-please trait from the Bichon breed. This is why he makes a fantastic dog for the first-time owner. There is a slight chance that he could be stubborn, but more often than not, this will just be an ‘off-day’ – we all get them!

To get him to be the clever boy that he is, start training as soon as you get him home. Ask your breeder if they have any words or commands that they have already started training him with. If they have, continue with these.

The Frenchie Bichon craves plenty of praise from his humans and lots of squeaky ‘who’s a good boy?’ comments. Using these with the positive reinforcement training method is the best way to train him. Training sessions will also create a closer bond between you both as well as stimulating his mind, so everyone’s a winner.

Grooming ✂️

The Frenchie Bichon can take the short coat of the Frenchie or the longer curlier coat of his Bichon parent, and with that comes different grooming needs. If he has a shorter jacket, he’ll only need brushing once a week to keep him looking healthy and shiny. If he has the long coat, he’ll need brushing 2 to 3 times a week to ensure that his curls do not become matted and tangled.

His teeth will need to be cleaned once or twice a week with specially designed doggy toothpaste. His large ears will also need to be cleaned once a week to avoid bacterial infections. Because he is not overly energetic, you’ll need to clip his nails often, so be sure to keep an eye on these too.

Bathing him once every 8 weeks will be plenty to keep him clean and smelling fresh. If he inherits the Frenchie skin rolls, you’ll need to pay particular attention to these. Ensuring that they are cleansed with a specific solution and dried thoroughly to avoid yeast infections.

Health and Conditions ❤️

The Frenchie Bichon is a relatively healthy dog, seemingly much more robust than his purebred Frenchie parent. With all mixed breeds, it is essential to make yourself aware of all the health conditions that he could be predisposed to. So let’s take a closer look at them.

Male vs. Female

There is not a vast difference between male and female Frenchie Bichons. The males are usually on the lager end of the height and weight scales when compared to females. Training and upbringing, more so than gender, is a significant factor when it comes to personality.

Generally speaking, male dogs tend to be slightly more energetic and boisterous. However, this is not always the case. If you are interested in a particular personality trait, it is always important to see the puppy in action with his or her littermates. This is a good indicator as to whether he or she is more energetic or docile.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it, everything that you need to know about whether the Frenchie Bichon is the right canine fit for you and your family. Whatever your lifestyle, because he is so adaptable, he will more than likely feel at home right away.

Don’t mistake his happy-go-lucky personality as being able to forget his needs, though. Because just like all dogs, without his exercise and stimulation, he will become agitated and unhappy. But thankfully, when it comes to the Frenchie Bichon, he is relatively easy to care for, so there are no excuses!

See also:

• Pugairn (Cairn Terrier & Pug Mix)
• Shocker (Shiba Inu & American Cocker Spaniel Mix)

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Featured Image Credit: PxHere