7 Things to Know Before Getting a Frenchton

If you see a tiny and flat-faced dog that’s neither a French Bulldog nor a Boston Terrier but looks like both – it’s probably a Frenchton, the crossbreed of Frenchies and Boston Terriers. This curious cross is considered a “designer breed” and isn’t recognized by most kennel clubs yet, however, that doesn’t prevent it from being a potentially fantastic pet. Does this make it a good choice for you? Is such a dog healthy, well-mannered, and fun to play with? Let’s find out by going over the 7 main things to know about the Frenchton below.

So, what kind of breed is the Frenchton and what should you know before getting such a dog?

The Frenchton, or Frenchton terrier for clarity’s sake, is as fascinating as its name suggests. Also called Frenchbo, Froston, and Faux Frenchbo, these dogs always have a fairly consistent look as both of their parents look alike quite a bit. After all, the Boston Terrier itself originates from Bulldog crosses so it’s not that distant of a relative to the French Bulldog.

This both helps keep the two parent breeds’ look fairly consistent and allows breeders to diversify the gene pools of their dogs as both French Bulldogs and Boston Terriers can suffer from a lack of genealogical diversity. So, enter the Frenchton and its many fascinating characteristics.

1. Outgoing and social, the Frenchton should get along with everyone around it

These dogs are naturally friendly with everyone they meet. If you ever see anti-social Frenchtons, the only probable explanation is that their owners have given them no socialization whatsoever. Granted, this is a mostly indoorsy breed, so, if you don’t have guests often, your dog can grow up without socialization. Still, as long as you give your Frenchton at least some social contacts early on, it should grow up into a social and friendly dog.

This means getting along with people, other dogs, kids, and even non-canine pets such as cats.

2. This lovable goof is an excellent companion for families with kids

Whether you want a pet for an elderly person, for a solo bachelor, or for a large family with young kids, the Frenchton should be a great candidate to consider. These dogs are playful and can even be temperamental but are always loving, gentle, and affectionate if they’ve gotten at least some love in return. While not “lapdogs” per se, the Frenchton certainly loves to snuggle in its owner’s lap too, especially after a nice session, be it outside or in your living room.

This exceptionally loving and affectionate nature has a notable downside, however – separation anxiety. Like so many other pet breeds, the Frenchton is just too social and affectionate to tolerate being home alone for longer than a few hours a day, let alone if this starts happening regularly.

What does this mean, can’t you ever leave your house?

You can, of course, but it’s usually best to have a plan for what to do with your dog while you’re away. This is a dog, after all, not a cat. The most common tips for how to deal with your dog’s separation anxiety include:

• Take the dog with you if/when you can
• Work from home if/when possible
• Have a family member stay home while you’re away
• Hire a dog walker or a dog sitter
• Arrange for playdates with other dog owners
• Give your Frenchton plenty of attention and playtime before you go out
• Get a second pet to keep your Frenchton company
• Make sure your dog at least doesn’t have access to the most valuable furniture while home alone

Overall, however, if you know you’re going to have to leave your Frenchton alone for too long and too often, this may not be the right breed for you.

3. Some Frenchtons are impressively easy to train but others can be a bit stubborn

Terriers have a reputation for being stubborn and difficult to train. The Boston Terrier is probably the main exception to that but even they are still terriers. Bulldogs like the Frenchie, on the other hand, are fairly more trainable. So, what this means for your Frenchton is that it should be relatively easy to train with the right amount of obedience training early on.

You may stumble upon the occasional extra temperamental Frenchton that really doesn’t like following commands but even that’s usually ok – after all, we’re assuming you’re looking for a pet and not a working dog, right?

4. The Frenchton loves to travel with you everywhere you go

As a result of both its separation anxiety as well as its curious and adventurous nature, the Frenchton loves traveling with you wherever you go. This ticks the breed’s two most important boxes – 1) being with you and 2) doing fun stuff.

Unfortunately, the Frenchton isn’t exactly the pinnacle of canine physical endurance. These dogs tire quickly so you should keep that in mind when you’re planning long mountain treks.

Fortunately, thanks to its small size, the Frenchton is easy to carry around, either in your arms or in a pet carrier. There are even pet carrier backpacks invented specifically for breeds like the Frenchton. Devices like these allow you to go wherever you want and still have your tiny pooch with you – running with you whenever it has the strength to and chilling in its pet carrier when it gets too tired.

5. This crossbreed will always be Brachycephalic, just like both its parents, but its health can otherwise vary

Speaking of the Frenchton’s tendancy to tire during long hikes, it’s important to note that the Frenchton has Brachycephalic syndrome. Even though this is a crossbreed, there’s no going around this issue as both the Boston Terrier and the French Bulldog are Brachycephalic as well.

If the term is not familiar to you, it’s simply the official term for flat-nosed dogs. While undeniably adorable, these dogs can have some respiratory issues that you should talk with your vet about. Even when 100% healthy, however, all such breeds will still have difficulties breathing during extensive physical exertion and especially in high temperatures.

So, while taking your Frenchton on that long weekend hike is still very much possible, you should definitely bring a pet carrier as well as lots of water.

As for this breed’s other health specifics – these can vary greatly. Simply put, if the Frenchton’s parents were healthy, the mix will likely be healthy too. If not – get ready for some hefty vet bills and lots of care. That’s why it’s important to always ask for a health certificate when you get your dog, be it from a breeder or a shelter. The rest is just a matter of adequate food and good exercise.

6. The Frenchton is playful and lively but its exercise needs are easy to satisfy

The flip side of the Frenchton’s lack of endurance is that it isn’t difficult to give this dog the exercise it needs to stay healthy and happy. Unlike other dog breeds with which you have to spend 2+ hours a day in the dog park plus a few more hours in the yard, the Frenchton is much easier to manage.

Typically, this dog can feel just fine with a couple of 30-minute walks a day. Alternatively, you can do one extended walk plus one or two quick toilet trips. And that’s more or less all your Frenchton needs. The rest of its playtime needs can be taken care of at home, from the comfort of your living room.

7. The coats of these dogs are always short, low-shedding, and easy to groom

Both Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs are single-coated breeds with short and dense hair, as well as low shedding overall. So, unsurprisingly, the same applies to the Frenchton. French Bulldogs can sometimes be double-coated as well so the occasional Frenchton can have that feature too. Even then, however, the shedding you should expect from this mix isn’t all that significant.

This makes the grooming needs of the Frenchton easy to accommodate – a couple of brushings a week are usually enough. Just make sure to also brush and clean your dog’s skin folds to prevent skin infections.

Simply put, the Frenchton is everything you’d expect it to be considering who are the parents of this cross. Always flat-faced and with health depending on that of its parents, the Frenchton is a highly affectionate and social breed. Playful and fun to be around, these dogs are ideal for the more indoorsy types of families. That isn’t to say that a Frenchton won’t like going out and exploring, of course, but these dogs don’t exactly have the endurance of a Husky, so to speak.

So, if you want a loving and fun companion for your kids or for yourself, the Frenchton can be the perfect choice. Just don’t leave these dogs home alone for too long or too often or you’ll get one severely depressed and distraught dog on your hands.