The Labradoodle French Bulldog mix is friendly, loving, and pretty uncommon! This breed is very new in development, so it can be more challenging to predict the traits your little puppy will grow up to have. The new status of this mix can also mean a longer wait to get matched with a puppy. It’s worth doing your research before bringing one of these dogs home. Especially since the French Bulldog parent can pass down some serious conformation-related health issues. In this guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about this Doodle Frenchie mix, including size and appearance, personality, trainability, health and more, so you can make an informed decision about your next puppy.
Contents
- What is a Labradoodle French Bulldog mix?
- How big does this mix grow up to be?
- What does a Labradoodle Frenchie mix look like?
- Are Doodle Frenchie mixes friendly?
- Training and exercise requirements
- Health and lifespan
- Is the Labradoodle French Bulldog mix right for you?
What is a Labradoodle French Bulldog Mix?
A Labradoodle French Bulldog mix is like a double hybrid dog breed. Reason being, the Labradoodle dog breed, while increasingly popular, is still considered a crossbred or hybrid dog breed itself. This means your Labradoodle French Bulldog mix may inherit a complex set of genes from as many as six other dog breeds (depending on whether the Labradoodle parent dog is an Australian Labradoodle or a Labradoodle).
Suffice to say no two Labradoodle French Bulldog mix puppies will ever be completely alike. When you choose this hybrid dog breed, you truly select a one-of-a-kind dog. But, there are some major pros and cons to this. Particularly if the dog you bring home is much more energetic than you were prepared for, or has some serious health problems. It’s important to consider all of the potential traits this puppy might inherit before committing to one.
Labradoodle French Bulldog Mix Size
Estimating your Labradoodle Frenchie’s adult height and size can be challenging for a couple of reasons. First, Labradoodles are bred in at least three different sizes. And second, it isn’t possible to know in advance which parent dog’s genes your puppy will inherit. This means the best way to figure out how big your adult dog will be is to learn as much as you can about your pup’s parents.
For example, breeding data tells us that French Bulldogs typically weigh between 16 and 28 pounds and stand about 12 inches tall (measured paw pads to shoulder tops). Labradoodles, in contrast, are bred in miniature, medium and standard size, meaning that these dogs can vary in weight anywhere from 15 to 65 pounds. Similarly, a fully grown Labradoodle may stand anywhere from 14 to 24 inches tall.
If your puppy’s Labradoodle parent dog is a miniature, you can expect your Labradoodle Frenchie to be about the same size as a purebred French Bulldog adult. If your puppy’s Labradoodle parent dog is a medium size, add about 10 to 15 pounds to that. And if your puppy’s Labradoodle parent dog is a standard size, add another 10 to 15 pounds to your adult weight and height estimate.
Labradoodle French Bulldog Mix Appearance
As with any crossbred dog breed, your Labradoodle Frenchie’s appearance can vary quite a bit based on which genes your puppy inherits from each parent dog. For example, both Labradoodles and French Bulldogs are bred in a wide range of colors and color patterns today. As well, both breeds are known to change coat colors as they grow up. This can make it hard to predict with certainty what color your adult dog will turn out to be.
French Bulldogs have become popular in part for their unique appearance. With their short, flat muzzles, shortened legs and screw tails, there is no mistaking a French Bulldog. But there is also no guarantee your Labradoodle Frenchie will inherit these appearance traits.
As well, it is worth remembering that the mutations that cause these appearance alterations are also linked to some serious health conditions. So, even if you think these traits are cute, it’s usually better for the dog’s health if they look more like a Labradoodle than a Frenchie
Labradoodle French Bulldog Mix Personality and Temperament
What type of personality will your Labradoodle Frenchie mix grow up to have? Will your dog be outgoing and social, active and athletic, calm and content? Many variables can influence your dog’s adult personality and temperament, including genetics, early life environment, diet, health, activity level, training and socialization and more.
Overall, a healthy, well-bred Labradoodle French Bulldog inherits the personality traits of three of the most popular dog breeds of all time. Smart, loyal, loving, playful, joyful and good with people of all ages, these dogs can make a sunny addition to any family. But, make sure you socialize and train them well to encourage these happy traits.
Labradoodle French Bulldog Training and Exercise
Labradoodles, with the strong genetic influence of the Labrador Retriever and Poodle breeds, score high marks in intelligence and trainability. French Bulldogs as a breed may not be above using “cuteness” to their advantage in training sessions. However, they too are considered a highly trainable dog breed. Use positive reward techniques for the best results, but be wary of overfeeding treats. Subtract training treat calories from your dog’s daily allowance to prevent obesity.
Labradoodles are known to be active and energetic dogs. Standard size Labradoodles in particular can grow up to be standout canine athletes. French Bulldogs, on the other hand, typically have lower energy levels and do very well living a mostly indoor lifestyle where they can be protected from heat and over-exertion.
Overall, your Labradoodle French Bulldog mix puppy is likely to master new training commands quickly and require only moderate daily exercise to stay healthy and happy. But, it will entirely depend on the traits that your dog inherits from either parent.
Labradoodle French Bulldog Health
Many more purebred dog breeds today are affected by genetic (heritable) health conditions. And French Bulldogs, with their flat faces and shortened trunk and legs, often seem to have more than their fair share of genetic health concerns. Luckily, there are now pre-screening health tests that can detect many heritable canine health conditions. Your breeder should be able to provide you with negative test results for all testable conditions that are known to affect each parent dog breed.
As you search for your puppy and interview prospective breeders, be on the lookout for:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Patellar luxation
- Eye and heart issues
- Autoimmune thyroiditis
- Tracheal hypoplasia
Conformation Related Health Issues
Unfortunately, the French Bulldog parent can pass down some serious health issues that won’t be detected through health tests. Instead, they’re linked to your dog’s body shape and face shape. The main problems you should be concerned about are:
- Chondrodystrophy – a form of dwarfism that can cause back problems, large heads, and malformed hips.
- Screw tails
- Brachycephalic airway syndrome
- Brachycephalic ocular syndrome
- Narrow nostrils
These issues cause a lot of the popular features in French Bulldogs, like their flat faces, oversized heads, and short legs. But, they can severely decrease a dog’s quality of life. A Labradoodle French Bulldog mix that has these conformational traits might struggle to breathe properly, could suffer from heatstroke, and could even require surgery.
Will All Doodle Frenchie Mixes Have These Issues?
Thanks to the Labradoodle’s healthy body and face shape, this mixed breed will usually be slightly healthier than a purebred French Bulldog in terms of body and face shape. But, this doesn’t mean that they won’t experience issues at all. As with every other trait we’ve looked at, everything depends on what a puppy inherits from their parents. Some may be just as unhealthy as the Frenchie, which can make care more complex and expensive.
How Long Does a Frenchie Labradoodle Mix Live?
Is there any way you can know in advance how long your Labradoodle French Bulldog mix puppy will live? The best way is to look at the life expectancy for each parent dog breed. Labradoodles typically live between 12 and 15 years. French Bulldogs have an average life expectancy of 10 to 14 years. This means the life expectancy for your Labradoodle Frenchie might be anywhere from 10 to 15 years.
Is the Labradoodle French Bulldog Mix the Right Dog For You?
The Labradoodle French Bulldog mix is a cute, clever and uncommon pup. But, they can be prone to several very serious health issues. So, it’s really important to consider the implications of these before seeking a breeder. If your heart is set on this mix, you can also try finding one in rescue centers dedicated to Labradoodles and other mixed breed dogs!
More Labradoodle Mixes
References
- Ugland, A. ‘About the Breed’, Australian Labradoodle Association of America (2022)
- Ali, M. (et al), ‘Analysis of Australian Labradoodle Genome Reveals an Excess of the Poodle Genome’, PLOS One (2020)
- Roedler, F. (et al), ‘How Does Severe Brachycephaly Affect Dogs’ Lives? Results of a Structured Preoperative Owner Questionnaire’, The Veterinary Journal (2013)