Breeds / Small
Frenchton puppies
The Frenchton is playful, easy going and strongly people oriented, which suits flats and first time owners. Exercise should be short and frequent, and it must be kept out of the heat because both parent breeds overheat quickly.
The facts
- Size class Small
- A cross of French Bulldog and Boston Terrier
- Country of origin Not published
- Adult weight 5.4 to 12.7 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 12 to 28 lb
- Adult height 25 to 33 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short smooth
- Typical lifespan 10 to 13 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Usually good
Where these come from:
- petmd.com for adult weight and height and energy, grooming and the temperament ratings
- petmd.com for life expectancy, coat type and health notes
No published figure for country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
A cross, not a breed. No kennel club standardises the Frenchton, and the figures here are typical observed ranges rather than a standard. Litter mates vary: some inherit the French Bulldog's flatter face and heavier build, others the Boston Terrier's slightly longer muzzle and lighter frame, and that difference matters far more than looks because it decides how well the dog breathes. A first cross differs from a later generation backcrossed to either parent, and a backcross to the French Bulldog usually means a flatter face again.
About the Frenchton
The Frenchton crosses the French Bulldog with the Boston Terrier, a pairing often chosen in the hope of a slightly longer muzzle than the French Bulldog alone. Adults are compact and heavy for their height, roughly 5.4 to 12.7 kg and 25 to 33 cm, with a short, smooth coat. Both parents are cheerful, people focused companions, so the cross is typically playful indoors, easy with strangers and content in a flat.
Exercise should be short and frequent rather than long, and never taken in the heat, because both parents overheat quickly. Grooming is a weekly brush plus cleaning of any facial folds. The thing that matters more than anything else here is the face. A flat muzzle brings snoring, exercise intolerance and possible airway surgery with it, so watch both parents breathe at rest and choose the puppy with the most open nostrils.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Frenchton puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, assessed on conformation and an exercise tolerance test, and often needing surgical correction
- Patellar luxation, graded on orthopaedic examination
- Intervertebral disc disease and hemivertebrae, seen on radiographs and confirmed by MRI or CT
- Eye disease including corneal ulcers, cherry eye, cataracts and glaucoma, found on veterinary eye examination
- Atopic skin allergies and skin fold dermatitis, diagnosed by excluding other causes and by allergy testing
- Ear infections in narrow ear canals, found on otoscopic examination
- Congenital deafness where white pigment is present, detectable by BAER testing
- Whelping difficulty, since both parent breeds commonly need a caesarean section
From Frenchton breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/french-bulldog. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Frenchton puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Frenchton.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 5.4 to 12.7 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other small breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.