What Are Fluffy Frenchies?
You may not believe this, but a Fluffy French Bulldog is 100% Frenchie, meaning that it is not mixed with another breed. Even though their long coat is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, fluffy frenchies are purebred.
An interesting fact is that fluffy frenchies get their fluffiness from a mutation in the FGF5 gene (also known as a fibroblast growth factor), which means that their cute appearance is the result of an extremely rare gene mutation.
What Do They Look Like?
This is how these cute and unusual dogs look like:
Fluffy French vs similar breeds
Fluffy frenchies are 100% French bulldogs, meaning that they have the same features as short haired French bulldogs and English bulldogs. Here is more detailed information about them:
Lifespan
The life expectancy of long haired Frenchies is between 10 and 12 years.
Temperament and personality
Frenchies are often called “clown dogs” for their cheeky sense of fun and intelligence. They are a bit stubborn, but not aggressive, do not bark a lot, and are absolutely in love with their owners. That is why they are also prone to separation anxiety and cannot be left alone for too long.
Even though they are not very active dogs, they still need a certain level of moderate exercise in order to stay mentally and physically healthy. In general, they are very social, meaning that they get along with people, kids, and other animals and other pets.
Known health problems
Future owners should know that most Frenchies are not healthy dogs and might have many health problems due to their aggressive selective breeding and miniature size.
The most common are the following: the difficulty breathing due to their facial structure, cherry eye (inflammation of the third eyelid), hip dysplasia due to their short legs, juvenile cataracts, skin allergies, ectropion (eyelids rolled inward), and other health concerns that are common for this breed.
Fluffy frenchies colors and coats
As mentioned above, the long hair of fluffy frenchies is the result of the gene mutation. These long-haired pooches possess the Fibroblast Growth Factor 5 gene that is responsible for long coats.
According to the statistics, there is a 25% chance that French bulldog puppies will be born with long hair.
The most common colors of Fluffy Frenchies are brown, white, lilac, blue, fawn, blue merle and black.
Where Can I Get One?
It is important to understand that this type of French Bulldog is very rare, so it is not easy to find a long haired Frenchie puppy.
Here is a list of the most popular and reputable breeders in the United States that sell long-haired Frenchies:
The List Of Reputable Breeders Of Long Haired French Bulldogs In The United States
- REO Ranch in Carmel Valley, California
- Francoeur French Bulldogs in Southern California
- TatosFrenchies.com in West Palm Beach, Florida
- Beantown Frenchies in Andover, Massachusetts
- American Kennel Club Marketplace, nationwide
- Frenchie Classifieds, nationwide
- Cherry Valley Blue Frenchies in Cherry Valley, California
Can You Adopt A Fluffy Frenchie?
If you decided to purchase a puppy, choose the breeders very thoroughly because there are many unscrupulous breeders. You may also try to adopt one, though it is going to be extremely hard to find a long haired Frenchie for adoption, as this unique type of dog is purposefully bred .
However, sometimes people have to give up their adult dogs due to their personal circumstances, so you should keep checking out rescue centers. The best place to rescue a Frenchie is a French Bulldog-specific rescue site. Here is a list of three of them:
List Of Reputable Rescue Sites Of French Bulldogs
- French Bulldog Village in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
- French Bulldog Rescue Network in Glen Allen, Virginia
- Bulldog Rescue Squad in Greater Dallas Fort Worth, Texas
How much are Fluffy French Bulldogs?
In general, the French Bulldog is one of the most expensive dog breeds because they are hard to breed, and many puppies are produced through artificial insemination.
The average price of a puppy in the United States is $3,500. Since Fluffy Frenchies are very rare, they are even more expensive. You will have to pay for a long haired puppy from a responsible breeder between $5,000 and $15,000.
Special Care And Other Considerations
Grooming and Cleaning
Even though Fluffy Frenchies are in general very similar to regular short-haired Frenchies, there are certain grooming and cleaning requirements because of their long coats.
Long-haired Frenchies need to be washed and brushed more often than their short-haired cousins. Their long hair accumulates more debris and dust, so their coats require special care. It is also important to wash their hair more often because of the fungal infections and doggy odor that are quite common.
In order to handle their shedding tendencies, you are recommended to use two tools – a medium bristle brush and a hound glove.
Also, do not forget to trim their nails regularly and clean their facial folds to prevent bacterial infections and development of eye health issues that are common for this breed. If it is too difficult for you to do it yourself, you should take your long haired Frenchie to a professional groomer.
Dietary Requirements
Since long haired frenchies are prone to many health issues, they need proper and well-balanced nutrition. Since they become overweight very fast, you should supervise their portion sizes. However, at the same time, do not let your Frenchie be on a strict diet because these dogs tend to develop allergies.
What Is The Best Diet For Your Fluffy Frenchie?
The best diet for your Frenchie is the one that consists a lot of carbohydrates and protein. Make sure your pooch eats chicken, fish, and beef.
Your dog needs between 25 and 35 calories per pound of their body weight per day. If you are not sure about the proper nutrition for your fluffy Frenchie, you can always talk to your veterinarian.
Space Requirements
Just like regular French Bulldogs, fluffy Frenchies do not need too much space, which makes them perfect for urban living. This is actually one of the main reasons why Frenchies are becoming more and more popular. They can happily live in smaller apartments and they do not need a spacious yard to play and run around.
However, it does not mean that you should not provide them with any activity at all. They are still very playful dogs, so make sure that you have interactive toys for your fluffy pooch in the house.
Final Words
If you are thinking of getting a truly unique breed, a fluffy frenchie is probably the breed you need. They are unique looking, they are perfect companions, and they live in large families with kids and other pets and animals. They are also perfect for those who prefer urban living and live in small apartments.
However, you should be aware of certain things. First, long haired frenchies live only up to 12 years due to their possible health problems. Therefore, you have to take care of their health all the time. In addition, since they are long haired dogs, you need to provide proper care for their long coats – they require regular grooming and washing, just like other dogs with long hair.
Finally, do not forget about the price – fluffy frenchies can be extremely expensive, so be prepared to pay at least $5K for this unique puppy.
