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Meet the Frenchie Shepherd โ€” The French Bulldog German Shepherd Mix

What is the French Bulldog German Shepherd Mix?

The French Bulldog German Shepherd mix, also called a Frenchie Shepherd, is a combination between the French Bulldog & German Shepherd— two of the world’s favorite breeds.

Cross-breeding the cute, attention-loving French Bulldog with the brave, noble and loyal German Shepherd results in a wonderful dog with a huge personality.

Great for families, couples and people looking for a playful companion, the French Bulldog German Shepherd mix is just as suited to living in the city as in a more rural setting.

Read on to learn more about the Frenchie Shepherd— how much it costs, the colors of its coat, their personalities, their history, and see if they’re the right breed for you!

Table of Contents

Nicknames For The French Bulldog x German Shepherd Mix

You say tomato, I say tomahtoe.

Some people say “Frenchie Shepherd“, others say “French Bulldog German Shepherd Mix” (isn’t that a mouth-full!).

Nicknames include…

  • Frenchie Shepherd
  • German Frenchie

What Does A French Bulldog x German Shepherd Mix Look Like?

When it comes to crossbreeds it’s always hard to predict exactly what the puppies will look like. This is because there is an element of randomness in the way that the genetic traits of the parents are passed on to their puppies.

It’s bigger than the Frenchie, but smaller than the German Shepherd

Even so, a Frenchie Shepherd will generally be considerably larger than a French Bulldog which is 11 to 13 inches at the withers, and smaller than a German Shepherd, which is usually around 22 to 26 inches at the withers. 

How big is the Frenchie Shepherd?

Therefore, as a rough guideline, your Frenchie Shepherd will be approximately 12 to 18 inches at the withers.

A Frenchie Shepherd will generally weigh in at between 30 to 50 pounds but there is considerable variability in this as well! 

Frenchie Shepherd Build

Frenchie Shepherds have a compact, muscular chest and large ears.

The ears can either be upright, like a German Shepherd, and often have the distinctive butterfly shape that French Bulldogs are famous for. 

Frenchie Shepherd Coat Appearance

Frenchie Shepherds tend to inherit the colorings of their German Shepherd parent although its coat can vary greatly in length.

It can be short or long

French Bulldogs have short fur while German Shepherds can either have a long or short coat.

Some are fluffy, some are short

Depending on the puppy’s parents, it may have a fluffier coat, like a long-coated German Shepherd, or a short thick coat like a French Bulldog.

Frenchie Shepherd Tail

A Frenchie Shepherd’s tail is usually a lot shorter than a German Shepherd’s but not as small and curled as a French Bulldog’s.

Often, a Frenchie Shepherd’s tail will be about half the length of the German Shepherd’s, although, once again, it’s very hard to predict in advance!

French Bulldog x German Shepherd Mix – Personality And Traits

  • Loyal
  • Loving
  • Friendly
  • Stubborn
  • Highly intelligent

A mix of two opposites

French Bulldogs were bred to be a pampered lap dog whereas German Shepherds were bred to be a powerful working breed that is keen to impress.

This means that when you mix the two breeds you’ll generally end up with a boisterous, loving, friendly and fiercely loyal companion. 

Both are intelligent…

Both parent breeds are highly intelligent so you should expect puppies that are equally gifted in terms of their ability to learn new tricks and adapt to life in your home.

Frenchie Shepherds make fantastic family pets and so long as you start socializing them early you’ll have no problems with aggression or jealousy.

But Frenchies can be stubborn

French Bulldogs do have a tendency to be a little stubborn so it’s important to start training your Frenchie Shepherd early to ensure that you teach them to be obedient from a young age.

However, you can be sure that as they grow up they will be protective of you and any children in the house and trustworthy enough to be left alone while you’re at work or running errands. 

French Bulldog German Shepherd Mix Colors

Both the Frenchie & German Shepherd come in a bunch of colors— the American Kennel Club recognizes 8 colors for the Frenchie & 10 for the German Shepherd.

Mix these two breeds together and you’ve got endless possibilities for the Frenchie Shepherd’s coat.

  • Black
  • Black & Cream
  • Black & Red
  • Black & Silver
  • Black & Tan
  • Blue
  • Brindle
  • Brindle & White
  • Cream
  • Fawn
  • Fawn & White
  • Fawn Brindle & White
  • Gray
  • Liver
  • Sable
  • White
  • White & Brindle
  • White & Fawn

Note: Some non-purebred Frenchies & German Shepherds may come in different colors than the AKC officially recognizes… we didn’t include these are they aren’t in the AKC breed standard.

French Bulldog German Shepherd Mix Price

The average price of a Frenchie Shepherd is $1,000–$2,000.

Mixed Frenchies cost less than a purebred Frenchie, but both dogs are expensive so their crossbreed is still more likely to cost more than the average dog.

Frenchie Shepherd Price Chart

BreedPrice
Frenchie Shepherd$1,000–$2,000
French Bulldog$2,500+
German Shepherd$1,500–$3,000

Price can vary based on factors such as…

  • Your location
  • The bloodline of the dog
  • Color & pattern of the dog
  • The breeder & their reputation

French Bulldog x German Shepherd Mix – Health Issues

French Bulldogs and German Shepherds have a fairly wide range of health issues to contend with.

Sadly, these health problems are often passed down to Frenchie Shepherd puppies.

The most common health concerns for Frenchie Shepherds include:

  • Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
  • Heart Conditions in later life
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Perianal Fistulas
  • Eye Problems
  • Abnormal Cartilage Growth
  • Brachycephalic Syndrome
  • Hemivertebrae
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Frenchie Shepherd Lifespan

The average lifespan for a French Bulldog German Shepherd mix is 8–11 years.

It’s important to note that their lifespan can vary greatly depending on their genetics and if the dog has more or less genetics of the Frenchie or German Shepherd. (i.e. a Frenchie Shepherd with more French Bulldog genetics will live longer than one with more German Shepherd genes)

Note: There’s not a lot of official documentation on the Frenchie Shepherd’s lifespan… there can be lots of variance in a dog’s lifespan depending on its ancestors genetics & family history of health issues.

Frenchie Shepherd Lifespan Chart

BreedLifespan
Frenchie Shepherd
French Bulldog10–12 years
German Shepherd7–10 years

The average lifespan of a Frenchie is 10–12 years, while the German Shepherd lives an average of 7–10 years.

Did you know that larger dogs are known to have shorter lifespans?

— The University of Melbourne

French Bulldog x German Shepherd Mix – Shedding

The French Bulldog German Shepherd Mix is a moderate to heavy shedder— as both the Frenchie & German Shepherd are notorious for shedding, you can be sure that these shedding genetics were passed to their crossbreed.

Regular grooming & brushing is essential

This means they require regular grooming and need to be brushed at least once or twice a week.

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Shedding can be seasonal

Many breeds of dogs use shedding to help to control their body temperature so you’ll find that your Frenchie Shepherd will shed even more than usual on a seasonal basis, usually as the summer begins.

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The History Of The French Bulldog x German Shepherd Breed

As with many mixed breeds, there’s not a huge amount of information about the historical origins of the Frenchie Shepherd.

What we know about the French Bulldog German Shepherd Mix…

  • Originate in Europe— Both French Bulldogs and German Shepherds originated in Europe during the late 19th Century.
  • They’ve been around— The first Frenchie Shepherds were probably bred in the mid to late 20th Century.

History Of The German Shepherd 

The first German Shepherd was bred in Germany by Max von Stephanitz in 1899. German Shepherds were bred to be strong, energetic, loyal and intelligent herding dogs.

A Black & Fawn German Shepherd
A Black & Tan German Shepherd

A dependable working dog

German Shepherds were originally bred to herd sheep but since then they have been used as working dogs in many different capacities. 

They’re still used as working dogs today

German Shepherds are still used as working dogs because of their high intelligence and strong physique. German Shepherds often work as search-and-rescue dogs, police dogs, guard dogs and disability assistance dogs.

They also make loving family pets

Of course, they are also hugely popular family pets and companion dogs in both Europe and America.

Brief History Of The French Bulldog

Despite their name, Frenchies originated in the UK during the 19th Century and were bred as companion dogs for the wealthy elite of France.

A Fawn French Bulldog

The Frenchie we love today

They were originally bred by crossing English Bulldogs and Parisian ratters to create the ionic Frenchie that we all know and love today.

The resulting dog was small, stocky, mild-mannered, and had the characteristic ‘bat ears’ and stubby nose that makes them so recognizable.

Frenchies are popular

Did you know that Frenchies are the #1 most popular dog breed according to the American Kennel Club?!

Is A French Bulldog x German Shepherd Mix Right For Me?

Frenchie Shepherds are loving, playful, loyal, and intelligent. The breed has a strong desire to please and is easy to train. 

If they are properly socialized they are great with children and other pets.

  • You want a protective dog— A protective crossbreed that will alert you if someone is at the front door.
  • You want an adaptable dog— Frenchie Shepherds are an adaptable breed that is just as suited to living in a city apartment as on a country farm.

A French Bulldog x German Shepherd Mix Might Not Be The Right Dog For You If…

  • You aren’t prepared to invest the time to properly socialize and train your Frenchie Shepherd puppy. 
  • You haven’t got enough time to take your Frenchie Shepherd for a walk each day. 
  • You have allergies and can’t live with a dog that sheds quite heavily.

A Frenchie Shepherd Makes A Wonderful Companion

Frenchie Shepherds combine the very best of French Bulldogs and German Shepherds.

They are loyal, intelligent and loving pets that can be trusted with children and other animals as long as they are properly socialized when they are puppies. 

Happy to live in the city or the countryside, Frenchie Shepherds are adaptable, playful and eager to please.

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