Froodle Basics
Smart, loving, and lots of fun to be around, the Froodle is a relatively new designer dog breed that’s set out to steal some hearts. A mix between a Poodle and a French Bulldog, this crossbreed combines the best traits of its parents into one, new designer dog. These pooches might be fairly rare, but when you come across one, you’ll quickly realize why they are so beloved – not only Froodles are cute as buttons, but they are also very sweet and goofy, and make quick friends with anyone they meet.
Thanks to their happy-go-lucky personality, sharp minds, and bright disposition, Froodles make great pets for families of all sizes. When socialized on time, these designer dogs will get along great with other pets in the family, from dogs to cats and small animals, and they tend to do great with dog-savvy kids. They won’t mind sharing their life with a senior or a single, either, as long as they are spending a lot of time with them – Froodles form strong bonds to their people and can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for long periods of time during the day.
Thanks to their happy-go-lucky personality, sharp minds, and bright disposition, Froodles make great pets for families of all sizes.
Origin
Froodle, just like many other designer dog breeds, doesn’t have a well-documented, detailed history of origin. In fact, the breed’s beginnings are quite a mystery! What we do know is that there probably have been French Bulldog and Poodle mixes decades back, but as a product of “accidents” where mixing of the two breeds wasn’t planned. The intentional crossbreeding in an effort to develop a new designer dog breed is something that probably happened in the 1990s and early 2000s when most designer dogs got their start.
The best we can have is an estimate, and it’s most likely that the Froodle was first developed as a unique designer dog breed around 30 years ago.
Pedigree
The Froodle has an unusual lineage – this is a crossbreed between French Bulldog and Poodle, or to be more precise, Miniature or Toy Poodles. Due to significant differences in size, Frenchies are never bred to Standard Poodles to create a litter of Froodles. This mix, as many other doodle mixes, was probably created in an effort to create a more hypoallergenic coat in a new breed that would combine the traits and the looks of two established breeds in one dog. The result is a lively, affectionate crossbreed that has a goofy look and a small stature.
Froodles are so-called F1 or first-generation designer dogs, which means that each Froodle always has one Poodle parent and one French Bulldog parent. Further crossing between two Froodles (which would create F2, F3, and other multigenerational crossbreeds) is avoided as most breeders think that first-generation mixes are the healthiest. Sure, the results in terms of appearance and coat type can be unpredictable with F1 designer dogs but the chance of genetic diseases is much lower, provided that they are responsibly bred in the first place.
Designer dog breeds, such as the Froodle, can’t have an official pedigree because they are not recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Food/Diet
When it comes to food, Froodles are not much different than most other dogs – they will thrive when they have a complete, balanced, and healthy diet. Most dog owners opt for high-quality dry dog food as it is the most convenient way to make sure that your pet’s nutritional needs are met. However, not any kibble will do the trick! Feed only premium quality dry food that is made from natural, wholesome ingredients and avoid cheap kibble full of fillers, by-products, and artificial substances. The food you choose should be formulated for your Froodle’s specific needs which means dry food for small breeds with high energy levels and appropriate for their age (puppy, adult, or senior).
Another important aspect of the Froodle’s diet is the amount of food you’re giving to your pet and the amount of exercise in their daily routine. Even though spunky and energetic, Froodles are still small breed dogs and are prone to obesity when being overfed and under-exercised. To avoid health risks that come with being overweight, make sure to feed recommended amounts of food and provide regular physical activity.
Spunky and sassy, Froodles are full of energy and always ready for an adventure. They might be small, but they are not couch potatoes!
Training
Thanks to the Poodle parent, this designer dog breed can boast serious smarts – but just because they are intelligent, it doesn’t mean that training them is going to be easy peasy. Sure, a Froodle will pick up on things faster than an average dog, but the question is – will they WANT to follow commands? Froodles can be stubborn and willful, which can be a big challenge for newbie dog owners.
The key with Froodles is being firm without being harsh – no yelling, hitting, or any kind of force, just stick with your guns and be patient. On top of that, you should rely on positive reinforcement methods when training: use treats and praise as a reward for a job well done. Once your Froodle has the motivation, they’ll be much more open to doing what you want them to do.
Despite being a bit of a handful when it comes to training, Froodles need to be trained, and early on at that. Timely training and socialization will not just ensure your pet is well-behaved later on, but it will help you prevent some behavioral issues later on, such as excessive barking or nippiness, which Froodles can be prone to if not brought up properly. Another thing to have in mind is that Froodles can develop separation anxiety, so it pays off to crate train them while they are young, as it can help manage the anxiety down the road.
Weight
Froodles are a result of crossbreeding two small breed dogs, Miniature or Toy Poodle and a Frenchie. Most Froodles weigh between 16 and 24 pounds – the number will depend on which of the parents your puppy favors more. Either way, these are petite dogs and do great in apartments, provided that they get enough outdoor time to burn off excess energy.
Temperament/Behavior
The sociable Froodle will expect to be involved in all of the family activities – and be in their spotlight, at that. These dogs grow very attached to their people and will want to spend every second of their day close by, so they make great companions. Smart and curious, Froodles have a goofy side to them and can be a bit of a clown – even when they don’t mean to do it, their antics can really put a smile on your face.
When socialized on time, Froodles make fantastic family pets. They get along well with other pets in the family, which they treat as playmates and partners in crime, and love kids. They are small, though, and can be a bit bossy, which is why young kids are not always their best buddies: small children can be a bit grabby and tend to mishandle them, and Froodles won’t appreciate that.
Spunky and sassy, Froodles are full of energy and always ready for an adventure. While they won’t have the stamina of, let’s say, a Husky or a German Shepherd, they will happily accompany you on walks and enjoy a lot of playtime, both with you as their owner and with other dogs with similar energy levels.
Common Health Problems
As a crossbreed between the Poodle and the Frenchie, this designer dog is susceptible to various diseases that affect both of the parental breeds. The list of some common health problems these two purebreds experience and that could affect the Froodle includes diabetes, patellar luxation, heart defects, and eye issues such as progressive retinal atrophy. If your puppy inherited a flatter nose from the Frenchie parent, you should also be on the lookout for respiratory issues and heat sensitivity issues.
Of course, it’s important to note that you should always get a puppy from a reputable breeder if you want to ensure they are as healthy as can be. Responsible breeders pick healthy breeding dogs and screen for health issues, whereas a backyard breeder would just produce litter after litter with no concern for their health status – and often in conditions where animals are so neglected that it brings on a whole other set of health problems to boot.
Life Expectancy
An estimated lifespan of Froddles is between 11 and 13 years. While this number doesn’t put Froodle on the list of most long-lived breeds, it can be considered an average lifespan of most dogs, that could be exceeded with optimal care throughout their life and good genes.
Exercise Requirements
Despite what their small stature might make you think, Froodles are full of energy! These happy-go-lucky dogs are always on the go and ready to get themselves into trouble – or a new adventure, depending on how you look at it. To make sure your pooch spends their energy productively rather than mischievously, you will have to provide an outlet. Daily walks, for at least 30 minutes are a must, and so is active playtime. This could be playing fetch in the backyard or using interactive dog toys to provide both mental and physical stimulation. Either way, Froodles are not couch potatoes. They are not as high-maintenance as working breeds or athletic dogs, but they do need regular exercise to stay fit and happy.
When socialized on time, Froodles along well with other pets in the family, which they treat as playmates and partners in crime, and love kids.
Recognized Clubs
As Froodles are designer dogs, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). However, there are various clubs dedicated to elevating the status of designer dog breeds to full-fledged “real” breeds and those that recognize the Frenchie and Poodle mix are the Designer Breed Registry (DBR and the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).
Coat
One of the main reasons why Froodles came to be is the desire to create more breeds that would have a hypoallergenic coat like the Poodle does, but with more variety in terms of looks and personalities. Froodle is a low-shedding dog, but as is usually the case with designer dogs, the appearance and the quality of the coat can significantly vary. Some crossbreeds might take after Frenchie and have a shorter coat, others could favor the Poodle parent and have a wavy or curly coat. The grooming routine will depend on the type of coat your pet has – shorter coats require only brushing a few times a week, while a longer, Poodle-like coat will probably require trimming and clipping.
As for the colors, there’s a lot of variety. Froodles can be black, grey, cream, red, fawn, or white. There are even Froodles with a brindle coat or multi-color coats – each of these designer dogs is unique.
Puppies
Froodle litters usually have between 2 and 5 puppies – and they are tiny and fragile. This is why caution and care are recommended in those early days, as it doesn’t take much to inadvertently injure a puppy that small. You should avoid having small kids around or other pets, as well, at least until they are big enough.
You can start training your Froodle puppy when they are around 7 to 8 weeks of age, but start small. They are still too young to remember more complex commands, so you will need to build up from things such as “sit” and “stay” to potty training, obedience, and eventually crate training. In addition to training, early socialization is also very important for Froodle puppies. Exposure to new people and other animals will help shape them into friendly dogs that don’t get anxious or aggressive around strangers and pets.
Photo credit: Songdech Kothmongkol/Shutterstock
