Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a fluffy French Bulldog or a long haired french bulldog. A fluffy French bulldog gets its long hair due to rare autosomal recessive gene that the French Bulldog parents carry.
As word has gotten out about these long haired French Bulldogs, some French Bulldog kennels have begun intentionally breeding carriers of the long-haired gene.
What Exactly Is a Fluffy French Bulldog?
These rare French Bulldogs that have a majestic look to them are simply variations of the traditional Frenchie but with a distinct difference; their long hair.
Fluffy Frenchies come about because the Frenchie mom and dad carry the rare recessive gene that doesn’t normally appear in the purebred short haired French Bulldogs.
These lion-looking French Bulldogs are known as fluffy french bulldogs or Long-haired French Bulldog.
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The Fluffy French Bulldog Genetic Profile Explained
As mentioned previously, these long-haired French Bulldogs came about due to a genetic variation.
There are dog genetic testing companies like Embark that state that the long-coated French Bulldog possesses the Fibroblast Growth Factor 5 (FGF) (also known as the autosomal recessive gene).
It is this gene that is responsible for expressing the two gene codes known as short hair (Sh) and long hair (Lh).
If two different French Bulldogs carrying the Lh gene have a Frenchie puppy, there is a strong chance that the whole litter of Frenchie will be of the long-haired variety.
On the other hand, if one of the French Bulldog parents carry the Sh gene, only one Frenchie puppy from that particular litter will be of the fluffy French Bulldog variety.
Hopefully that short genetic discussion didn’t cause PTSD from your high school biology classes.
Is The Fluffy Frenchie Actually Considered a Purebred French Bulldog?
This is where things get a little controversial. French Bulldog purists do not consider these fluff-balls as part of the breed standard.
There is nothing inherently wrong with these fluffy Frenchies, they just aren’t recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), and United Kennel Club (UKC).
These organizations do NOT qualify the fluffy French Bulldog as meeting the breed standard. While absolutely adorable, they are not considered purebred French Bulldogs.
There may be a shot that someday this variation of Frenchie will be acknowledged by organizations like the AKC but not currently.
Are Fluffy French Bulldogs Hard To Come By?
I was so used to seeing “normal” French Bulldogs that the first time I saw a picture of a “Fluffy French Bulldog” I didn’t think it was real.
In my small city it is rare that I see another dog owner with a French Bulldog and seeing a long-haired French Bulldog is especially rare. This is indeed a rare variation of the French Bulldog so they are hard to come by.
With that said, this variation of French Bulldog is becoming more popular so they are starting to pop up more and more as some breeders are starting to intentionally breed them to meet the demand.
Where Can You Buy a Fluffy French Bulldog?
This is little tough to nail down as breeders that have these furry fur balls available are few and far between. I did some research
- Tom King Kennels – One of the first results in Google is a kennel called Tom King Kennels. They are based overseas in Hungary and the reviews online are very positive and some trusted sources have good things to say about them.
I would normally be very cautious about buying a dog I haven’t seen but the reviews look good. Just be aware of the inherent dangers about purchasing a dog you haven’t seen and also understand with the added travel expenses of having the dog sent to you will be quite pricey. - REO Ranch in CA – Another Kennel that showed up highly in Google included the REO Ranch in California. I couldn’t find a lot of reviews on Google or Facebook but they had some on their website here. As always, do your homework before ever purchasing a French Bulldog. Some tips in this article should help.
- AKC Marketplace – I know I stated earlier that the AKC doesn’t officially recognize this variation of the breed BUT they do list a lot of French Bulldog breeders so it might not be a bad idea to reach out to some of them.
- Fluffy Frenchies UK – This is another breeder in the UK based out of Berkshire. These breeders test the bloodlines thoroughly and their fluffy Frenchies come with the necessary pedigree papers.
- Beantown Frenchies – I recently had a great conversation with Alek from Beantown Frenchies, a French Bulldog Breeder in Massachusetts that does in fact breed Fluffy French Bulldogs as well as short haired French Bulldogs too.
Some have asked about the chances if it is possible to adopt a Fluffy French Bulldog. Your chances of doing this won’t be very good, but you just never know. It is possible but the odds won’t be in your favor.
Fluffy French Bulldog Cost – How Much Is a Long Haired French Bulldog?
As I mentioned earlier, these fluffy French Bulldogs are currently hard to come by so the normally expensive Frenchie is even more expensive due to their rarity.
After scouring the Internet I saw the price range for a male long-haired French Bulldog going from $3,500 to $15,000. The females are even more of an investment. The fluffy female French Bulldogs cost $4,500 to $16,000.
Yowsers!
As if that sticker shock wasn’t enough, you might even see those numbers climb from breeders with top quality lineages.
I paid $4,500 for my short-haired French Bulldog to put that in perspective. It is not atypical for short haired French Bulldogs go from $3,500 to $8,000. I have seen the prices of these come down as more breeders are getting into breeding Fluffy Frenchies.
Is The Temperament of a Fluffy French Bulldog The Same As a Short Haired French Bulldog?
While the length of the hair on these adorable fluff balls is different the temperament is similar to that of any French Bulldog. Just like their short haired cousins, these Fluffy French Bulldogs are wonderful family dogs.
They are playful, stubborn, love kids, and they can be vocal at times
Frenchies are food-driven, people-pleasing, affectionate bat eared little dogs that will work their way into your heart very quickly.
They are also prone to separation anxiety and aren’t fans of being left alone for extended periods of time. Our little Frenchie often gets himself into trouble when he is unattended by “his humans.”
Just ask my favorite chair he ripped the stuffing out of after being left alone for too long.
Are Fluffy Frenchies Hypoallergenic?
In short the answer is No, Fluffy French Bulldogs are not hypoallergenic.
Even short haired Frenchies aren’t hypoallergenic. Fluffy French Bulldogs shed, even more than their short-haired counterparts.
If you are someone that suffers from allergies their hair and dander may affect you.
Unfortunately there aren’t any dog breeds that are 100% hypoallergenic, and Fluffy Frenchies can certainly cause allergies in some people.
Are Fluffy Frenchies Bad?
The long hair gene in French Bulldogs doesn’t pose a threat to the health of the dog.
If proper breeding practices are followed the long-haired Frenchie is at no greater risk of health issues than a short haired version.
However, it should be known that some French Bulldog purists criticize this version of the breed as it doesn’t officially meet AKC breed standards.
Ultimately, I personally don’t believe it will affect you loving them any less but that choice is up to you if you are ok with it not being an official accepted version of one organizations rules.
What Does a Fluffy French Bulldog Look Like? Fluffy French Bulldog Appearance
The first time I saw a picture of one of the Fluffy French Bulldogs it looked like a small lion. He had quite the mane and was very impressive looking.
Here’s a beautiful fluffy French Bulldog picture:
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Here’s another shot of a different Fluffy French Bulldog
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Look at this Fluffy French Bulldog cutie
And how about the cute face of this Fluffy French Bulldog:
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3 Tips To Keep Your Fluffy Frenchie Clean
While these fluffy French Bulldogs are absolutely adorable their long hair doesn’t come without issues.
1. Regularly Wash Your Fluffy Frenchie
Long-haired Frenchies need to have their hair washed and brushed more often than their short-haired counterparts. Their long hair is more likely to collect dust and other undesirable material. By washing them more often this will prevent your fluffy Frenchie from having a smelly odor and even fungal infections.
2. Regularly Brush Your Frenchie
With the long hair you will want to brush your Frenchie’s mane on a regular basis. You could use a hand glove brush or even a medium bristle brush to keep their hair looking good.
3. Regular Grooming of Facial Folds and Trimming of Nails
Finally, you will want to also clean your long haired French Bulldog’s facial folds.
Aside from cleaning their Face to prevent odors and infection you will also want to trim their nails on a regular basis. I personally choose to bring my Frenchie to a professional groomer.
Final Thoughts About The Fluffy French Bulldog
There is no doubt these Fluffy French Bulldogs are a pleasure to look at. Some French Bulldog purists may not accept them but to each their own is what I always say.
The price tag alone may make these long-haired Frenchies unattainable for most.
These Fluffy French Bulldogs have a unique and remarkable appearance. While their hair may look different, they still share the same lovable temperament as their short-haired counterparts.
If you decide that you absolutely must have a Fluffy French Bulldog, be sure to do your homework, know what you are getting into, and purchase one from a reputable breeder.
