The French Pitbull
The French Pitbull — as the name suggests — is a mix between a French Bulldog & American Bull Terrier (Pitbull).
It’s what is known as a designer dog breed, which is a dog breed that has been created by breeding two purebred dogs together.
With designer breeds, you get the best of both breeds— and some will inherit more features from one or the other ancestors… Some French Pitbulls might look more like a Frenchie, while others look more like Pitbulls.
The mix of these two adorable breeds
The French Pitbull in a nutshell
The French Pitbull is a stocky & sturdy medium-sized dog that has the powerful & muscular build of the Pitbull with the cute pointy ears of the Frenchie.
Lots of energy
It is a highly energetic breed with a strong prey drive— but don’t be fooled by the Pitbull’s bad reputation for being aggressive & dangerous dogs…
They’re super friendly & loving
Properly socialized, the French Pitbull is a highly loving & social breed that makes a great family pet— they’re good around children, the elderly, and pretty much any stranger they meet!
They shed a little bit
They’re known to shed a fair bit, but it’s easily controllable with some basic grooming practices & using de-shedding brushes.
Table of Contents
- Nicknames for the French Bulldog x Pitbull Mix
- What the French Bulldog x Pitbull Mix looks like
- French Bulldog x Pitbull Mix Colors
- French Bulldog x Pitbull Mix Personality & Traits
- French Bulldog x Pitbull Mix Price
- Where can I get a French Bulldog x Pitbull Mix Price
- French Bulldog x Pitbull Mix Health Issues
- French Bulldog x Pitbull Mix Lifespan
- French Bulldog x Pitbull Mix Shedding
- History of the French Bulldog x Pitbull Mix
- Is a French Bulldog x Pitbull Mix right for me?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Nicknames for the French Bulldog x Pitbull Mix
While anybody will know what you mean when you say you have a “French Bulldog Pitbull Mix”, there are a few other names that this mixed breed goes by…
Other names include…
- French Pittie
- French Pitbull
- American French Bull Terrier
French Pitbull Personality & Traits
Some of the sweetest & most loving dogs that I’ve ever met have been Frenchies & Pitbulls… the French Pitbull
French Pitbulls are known to be…
- Friendly
- Loving
- Easy to train
- Eager to please
- Stubborn (just like Frenchies)… but they’re also intelligent
- Couch potatoes (but not as lazy as Frenchies— they’re quite active)
What does a French Pitbull look like?
A French Pitbull is typically…
- Ears— pointy ears just like the Frenchie
- Size— a French Pitbull is bigger than a Frenchie but smaller than a Pitbull
- Height— 14–18 inches as adults; the males are usually taller than females as well
- Face— a snout that isn’t as flat as the Frenchie’s but not as pronounced as a Pitbull’s
- Tail— typically has a longer & pointy tail, unlike the Frenchie who has a short & stubby tail (is it even a tail!?!)
- Color— can be seen in Black; Blue; Grey; Brown; Brindle; Fawn; and White (any combination of these colors is possible as well)
- Weight— a full-grown French Pitbull weighs anywhere from 30–40lbs (13.5–18.1kg); with males weighing more than females on average
French Pitbull Colors
Only 8 French Bulldog colors are recognized by the AKC & 18 are recognized for the Pitbull… this means that French Pitbulls can come in any combination of these colors…
French Pitbulls can be found in the following colors…
- Black
- Blue Fawn
- Blue
- Blue Brindle
- Brown
- Brown Brindle
- Fawn
- Fawn Brindle
- Liver
- Red
- Red Brindle
- Red Sable
- White
- Black Brindle
- Liver Brindle
- Fawn Sable
- Seal Brown
- Blue Fawn Brindle
It’s also possible for a French Pitbull to come in any combination of the above colors with various different coat patterns as well.
French Pitbulls can be found in the following patterns…
- Patched
- Spotted
- Blue Mask
- Tan Points
- Black Mask
- White Mask
- Brindle Points
- White Markings
- Spotted Or Patched
French Pitbull Price
A French Pitbull puppy costs anywhere from $300-$750. The price of a puppy can vary based on many factors such as location, color & pattern, the breeder, and the bloodline of the dog.
Price can vary based on factors such as…
- Your location
- The bloodline of the dog
- Color & pattern of the dog
- The breeder & their reputation
Compared to the price of Frenchies
Compare this to Frenchies, which range in price from $2,000–$5,000+.
Frenchies cost a lot due to…
- Their popularity
- Needing artificial insemination & c-sections to breed
- Their long list of health problems (and the health testing that reputable breeders perform)
Compared to the price of Pitbulls
A purebred Pitbull on the other hand can cost anywhere from $500–$3,500.
Pitbulls cost a lot due to…
- A high demand for high-quality bloodlines
- They also have their own health issues that can be pricey
Where can I get a French Pitbull?
If you’ve decided that you want a French Pitbull, you generally have two options: a breeder or rescue/adoption.
A French Pitbull Breeder
Getting a French Pitbull from a breeder is going to cost your more money, but you’ll be able to get a puppy that’s 8–10 weeks old.
You’ll also know more about the dog’s family history of medical issues (or hopefully, the lack of), and the environment that the dog was raised in.
Benefits of breeders
- Knowledge— you’ll have more information about the background of the puppy such as its family medical history and the environment it was raised in
- You get a puppy— when getting a dog from a breeder, you typically bring home your puppy when it’s 8–10 weeks old… this means you have complete control over how the dog is socialized, trained, and fed from an early age
Rescue/Adopt a French Pitbull
On the other hand, by getting a French Pitbull from a rescue, you’ll be able to provide a home for a dog desperately in need— that is, if you’re able to find one in the first place!
It can be hard to find a French Pitbull from a rescue shelter in your area, and you might have to expand your search to areas further away than your hometown if you decide to go this route.
Benefits of rescuing/adopting
- Cheaper— getting a dog from a rescue/adoption is almost always cheaper than going through a breeder…
- Giving a home to a dog in need— dogs that are in rescue shelters are in need of a loving home… by adopting, you’re able to potentially save the life of a dog that might otherwise be put down
- You can get a dog at any age— when getting a dog from a rescue, you’re able to adopt dogs from puppies to seniors… this may be a pro or con depending on who you ask, but it definitely gives you some flexibility if you don’t want to deal with the stress & training of raising a puppy
French Pitbull Health Issues
Both Frenchies and Pitbulls are prone to their own list of health issues…
Unfortunately, some conditions are quite prevalent in both breeds and therefore are common in French Pitbulls.
Common French Pitbull health issues include…
- Allergies
- Hip dysplasia
- Breathing issues
With all of this being said, studies have shown that mixed breeds are healthier than purebred breeds on average.
French Pitbull Lifespan
French Pitbulls have an average lifespan of 12-15 years, which is a bit higher than the average dog lifespan of 10–13 years.
Note: The average lifespan of 12–15 years was found by calculating the top 10 resources on the web for French Pitbull Lifespan and taking the average.
French Pitbull lifespan compared to its ancestors
Compare this to the Frenchie which has an average lifespan of 10–12 years and the Pitbull which lives an average of 10–15 years.
French Pitbull Shedding
The French Pitbull is a moderate shedder. You can expect your French Pitbull to shed all year round, but fortunately, you can cut back substantially on this shedding with a little bit of at-home grooming.
This might come as a surprise as both the Frenchie & Pitbull are both single-coated with short fur.
Tips to reduce their shedding
- Give them a bath every 2–3 months
- Use a grooming brush like the FURminator to remove any loose fur from their coat
All dogs shed to some degree— you can't change that...
But the FURminator can significantly reduce loose hair and minimize shedding.
With a curved edge that conforms to your dog's body for comfort, there's no risk of cutting their skin or damaging their coat.
- Safe— won't cut skin or damage coat
- Effective— reduces loose shedded hair
- Easy to use— just gently brush their coat
Breed History
Both the French Bulldog & Pitbull have a rich history that goes back hundreds of years—
History of the French Pitbull
Here’s what we know about the French Pitbull
While the Pitbull rose to popularity in America in the early 1900s, it wasn’t until the 1990s that the Frenchie rose to fame.
It likely came about after both the Frenchie & Pitbull were popular in America
One could speculate that it was around the 1990s to early 2000s that the French Pitbull originated.
History of the Pitbull
The Pitbull first came about in the early 1800s in the United Kingdom.
They were originally bred by mixing the now-extinct Old English Bulldog with a Terrier.
The resulting breed was heavily used for the purpose of “bull baiting”, a blood sport where dogs would be put in a ring with a bull until one of them would die or collapse/give up from fatigue.
History of the French Bulldog
Despite their name, Frenchies are originally from England and were bred to be a small, toy-sized version of the standard Bulldog.
They were first bred in the 1800s in Nottingham and were a popular pet among the lace workers of the city.
However, towards the end of the 19th Century, the breed moved to France where they quickly became a favorite with society’s elite.
Is a French Pitbull right for me?
French Pitbulls aren’t for everybody… you might be better off with a Frenchie, a Pitbull, or a completely different breed!
A French Pitbull might be right for you
if…
- You want a family dog— French Pitbulls are super friendly & are great around children & elderly (they need to be properly socialized though!)
- You want a protective dog— the French Pitbull has protective instincts and are courageous enough to protect its loved ones if the need arises
- You are committed to training— a Pitbull – and the French Pitbull – need a strong, dominant owner that
A French Pitbull might not be right for you if…
- You want a lazy dog— while Frenchies might get a reputation for being lazy couch potatoes, French Pitbulls have much higher energy levels than Frenchies… this is an active dog, and it requires an owner that is active as well for it to thrive & be happiest
- You live in an apartment— while Frenchies make great apartment dogs as they don’t need a ton of space, French Pitbulls are almost twice the size of Frenchies and definitely will need some room to run around & get exercise… furthermore, you might scare off some potential landlords when you tell them that you have a “Pitbull” mix
- You don’t want to be serious about socializing your dog— as the French Pitbull is part Pitbull, it’s even more important to socialize them at an early age… socialization is important for any breed, but even more so with a dog that is part-Pitbull
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kennel Clubs recognize the French Pitbull?
- American Canine Hybrid Club
- Designer Dogs Kennel Club
- Dog Register of America
Is a French Bulldog a Pitbull?
No, a French Bulldog is not related to a Pitbull— despite them both having “bull” in their names…
The origins of these breeds
A French Bulldog is a mix between the now-extinct Toy Bulldog and Parisian Ratters, while the Pitbull descends from the also now-extinct Old English Bulldog.