One of the most common questions we get regarding our Frenchies at the farm is:
"What are Fluffy French Bulldogs? I've never seen one. Are they a mix?"
If you've been following us long, you know that Peaches is the star of the show around here and she's a tiny fluffy full French Bulldog. But she's not our first. Her momma, Shelby- a black and tan Frenchie, is here as well as her brother Bandit, a chocolate merle and tan full fluffy frenchie.
Fluffy French Bulldogs have become a rising topic of fascination among dog enthusiasts due to their unique and adorable appearance. Let's dive deeper into the genetics and history of fluffy French Bulldogs to clear up any confusion.
The Genetics Behind Fluffy French Bulldogs
Fluffy French Bulldogs are not a mixed breed. They are purebred French Bulldogs that carry a recessive long-hair gene. This gene has always been present within the breed, even though it is not commonly expressed. The long-hair gene is recessive, meaning that both parents must carry the gene for their offspring to exhibit the fluffy coat.
To understand this better, consider basic genetics. Each dog has two sets of genes for every trait, one from each parent. For a French Bulldog to have a long coat, it must inherit the long-hair gene from both parents. If only one parent carries the gene, the dog will be a carrier but will not display the long-hair trait.
Historical Context
The French Bulldog breed originated in the 1800s when English Bulldogs were crossed with local ratters in France. During the development of the breed, various coat lengths and textures may have appeared. However, the breed standard eventually favored the short, smooth coat that we commonly associate with French Bulldogs today.
Despite this preference, the long-hair gene persisted within the breed's gene pool. When two carriers of this gene are bred together, there is a possibility that some of their puppies will be born with the fluffy coat. This occurrence is rare, but it is a natural part of the breed's genetic diversity.
WIRE HAIRED & LONG COATED FRENCH BULLDOGS IN 1931: EVIDENCE (crowdpleazerfrenchies.com) goes into more detail if you are curious about the in-depth history of the movers and shakers of French Bulldog breeding from the early 1900's that have significantly contributed to our current Frenchie breed we all love.
Fluffy French Bulldogs: Purebred and Unique
It is essential to emphasize that fluffy French Bulldogs are purebred. They possess the same physical and behavioral characteristics as their short-haired counterparts, with the only difference being their coat length. They have the same muscular build, bat-like ears, and affectionate nature that make French Bulldogs such beloved pets.
AKC: recognition and registration
There also seems to often be confusion with whether AKC recognizes the more "rare" coats of Frenchies: true for long hair, for patterns like merle or tan point and or colors like lilac or platinum. While these choices don't default, these traits are still allowed for registration. Your french bulldog must have proven pedigree (4 generations of pure frenchie on record), and you must send a photo in to validate your color or pattern request. These NON-standard Frenchies while registrable cannot however compete as show dogs.
French Bulldog Mixes Rise in Popularity
While Fluffy Frenchies are in fact fully Frenchie, there is a growing trend to mix frenchies with other breeds, including "hairy" ones. For example, crossing Frenchies with other small wire-hair breeds and Froodles, which you guessed it are frenchie plus small poodle mix. These mixed pups can be awfully cute but they aren't full frenchie. Be sure if you are looking for that pure breed Fluffy that you ensure you're getting a registered Frenchie.
And we can attest, they make for awfully cuddly furry friends.