My French Bulldog has long legs? Is this right?

The Short Answer is:

If a Frenchie is taller than average. You shouldn’t be surprised to learn your long-legged friend is probably a mixed breed. It’s possible that your Frenchie is just a fluke of genetic expression, but the odds are that they’re not purebred.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “My French Bulldog has long legs? Is this right?“.

My French Bulldog has long legs

When you first notice your French Bulldogs abnormally long legs you might find it a little confusing. When your Frenchie grew up you probably expected them to have the traditional small head and broad chest combined with short little legs but they ended up being taller than their English cousin. What is the most likely cause of your Frenchies unusually tall stature?

Why is my French Bulldog so tall?

Although French Bulldogs come in a few different varieties all of them remain relatively small and do not often exceed a certain size. If a Frenchie is taller than average how do you explain this? You should not be surprised to learn your long-legged friend is probably a mixed breed. Its possible that your Frenchie is just a fluke of genetic expression but the odds are that they’re not purebred.

Many others have wondered the same things about their lanky Bulldog. All the statistics on French Bulldogs suggest that if your dogs size exceeds certain measurements he is not a pure-blooded Frenchie. Considering you were probably assured of their purebred status when you purchased your pump this discovery might be troubling.

How tall do French Bulldogs get?

By the time they are one year old a French Bulldog should have reached a height of about 12 inches. This is the maximum height they will reach.

An interesting observation is that French Bulldogs are not much taller than other dogs!

How big do French Bulldogs get?

When we discuss how big do French Bulldogs get it is important to remember that there are two different kinds of French Bulldogs.

There are standard French Bulldogs and teacup micro or mini French Bulldogs.

According to previous information a standard French Bulldog will grow to be about 12 inches tall or 30 centimeters long.

Depending on how they are bred a mini French Bulldog could be anywhere from 8 inches to 12 inches tall.

Standard French Bulldogs are AKC (American Kennel Club) registered which provides a degree of protection because of the breed standard – a list of qualities that should be present in a French Bulldog.

The AKC does not register micro or mini French Bulldogs which means there is much less protection for the breed and too much room for unscrupulous breeders.

You can use the growth chart below to track a standard French Bulldogs height and weight throughout their first year.

Standard french Bulldog growth chart

You must realize that these markers or milestones are only approximate.

Each dog will grow at a different rate.

It isnot something to worry about if your Frenchie isnot exactly five inches at the age of three months (or ten inches when they are nine months old).

A male and female French Bulldog will usually be about the same height.

French Bulldog males are generally heavier have more muscle and bulk and will be a few pounds heavier than females.

Why is my French Bulldog tall and skinny?

Four main reasons could explain why your Frenchie is tall and skinny:

1. They are still very young
2. Food isn’t nutritious enough
3. They are rescue animals
4. suffering from serious health problems

There is a possibility that your dog is too skinny because he is still a puppy and needs to grow and fill out.

Later I will explain that French Bulldogs reach their maximum height by about the age of 12 months but that they can take another year to fill out and develop all their muscles.

It may also be that your French Bulldog is too skinny because you are not feeding him enough nutritious food.

Make sure that the food you buy is of good quality and the most expensive you can afford

Chances are that your French Bulldog is too thin and needs to put on weight if it was rescued.

According to a 2019 study of 900 rescue dogs 47% of them were underweight.

Feed them well and they would not look so skinny in a few months.

Last but not least your Frenchie might look too thin if they are suffering from a serious underlying health condition.

What different types/sizes of French Bulldogs are there?

With the growing demand for pocket-sized puppies breeders have found several different ways to create the kind of miniature dogs that people are looking for. Sometimes its as simple as mixing the smallest pups from two separate litters together in the hope their dinky genes will be passed down to their offspring.

Another common practice is crossing Frenchies with other smaller breeds which can explain why its not uncommon for a French Bulldog to be extremely tall or have extremely long legs.

They come in various sizes from the Mini Frenchie down to the Teacup Frenchie and they also come in various styles and patterns that set them apart from one another. It is common for Fawn French Bulldogs to have an unbroken pattern which means their cream-colored coat is solid across their head and body.

Pied French Bulldogs also have one color (normally white) all throughout albeit with a few small patches here and there. Some of their areas may stand out earning them a cliché name such as “Spot”. Patches like these are typically found near the eye.

In general Brindle French Bulldogs have dark base colors with a few brighter patches scattered about. The Seal Brindle Frenchie for instance has fine white fur that is difficult to see giving a false impression that it is just plain black. One of the most common breeds in this group is the Black Brindle Frenchie. This breed is especially known for its pure black color. A Tiger Brindle Frenchie has a colorful pattern of lighter patches of fur in a pattern similar to that of a tiger. Lastly there is the Brindle Pied Frenchie which is typically white with numerous darker segments on its body. The dark shading appears sometimes only on the feet or around one eye but it can also appear on the face or back sometimes in a pattern not unlike that of a cow.

The Blue/Grey Frenchie is the rarest of all. Due to changes in their genetics passed down from both parents their regular black color is altered to a more bluish gray shade.

How long is a French bulldog?

The length of a Frenchie is usually very similar to its height. The average adult French Bulldog stands approximately 12 inches (30cm) tall and weighs between 16 and 28 pounds (7.2 to 12.7 kilograms). Females are slightly heavier than males. While there are exceptions to these measurements it is unlikely that a Frenchie would exceed these dimensions unless they are a mixed breed.

Why has my French Bulldog got short legs?

Some owners are curious about the short legs of their French Bulldogs at the other end of the scale. This is due to a few reasons.

Your dog might be acting strangely if you do not have a standard French Bulldog but a teacup Frenchie which is a type of French Bulldog that is bred to be even smaller than the standard breed.

Also perhaps you have a French Bulldog mix rather than a purebred French Bulldog. It is quite easy to confuse a Frug (a French Bulldog and Pug mix) with a French BoBulldog (a French Bulldog and Boston Terrier mix).

Thirdly it is possible that your French Bulldog is a young standard French Bulldog whose legs have not yet grown fully. Although it is quite unlikely most puppies even Frenchies go through a “lanky” phase (around the age of six months) in which their legs seem too long for the rest of their body.

When do French Bulldogs heads get bigger?

Your little friend wondered if their tiny heads would ever get any bigger. According to legend a Frenchies head only grows in the first 12 months of its life. Their head stops growing after the first year which can sometimes produce an unbalanced appearance depending on their weight but it is perfectly normal.

A French Bulldogs neck measures about 14 inches (35cm) long and its head measures between 13 and 18.5 inches (33 to 47cm). Since Frenchies have such small heads you need to be extra careful around the pool since they are not the best swimmers. Maintaining their small head above water might be a challenge that you do not want to deal with since they already have breathing problems.

At what age is a French Bulldog fully grown?

It is estimated that the Frenchie reaches the extent of its fundamental growth anywhere between 9 and 12 months of age. By the time they reach the age of two they will be fully mature. During their second year they’ll gain a lot of weight to fill out their tiny structure. Good health during their early years of development is essential for proper growth. Make sure that they consume enough food of the highest quality to adequately fuel their growing bodies and inquisitive minds. In the first few weeks of growth your puppys development and size can also be affected by illness.

When your dog is fully grown you can estimate how much it’ll weigh using a basic method. For a rough estimate of what you can expect when they are 8 weeks old multiply their weight by 4. Alternately you can double their weight when they are 4 months old to get an estimate. To get a more accurate measurement you should calculate the estimate at 5 months old instead of 4 months for larger breeds such as Great Danes.

How can I tell if my French Bulldog is purebred?

Dog breeders sometimes mix and match different types of dogs to get something more suited to what is popular or profitable often at the expense of the dogs health. Pugs Pitbulls Boston Terriers Chihuahuas Beagles Poodles and Australian Shepherds are common mixes for Frenchies. A bit of risk exists when buying from private breeders. You might not get exactly what they promise. As with any purchase you expect to get what you pay for when you buy from a pet shop but this isnot always the case. Typically you’ll pay much more for a purebred dog than you would for a mixed breed or a “pavement special” so you should make sure that your pet is actually what they’re supposed to be.

When your dog is truly purebred you’ll have a better understanding of what you’ll need to do when they reach their fullest size and weight. In addition it will be easier to anticipate their personality traits and what diseases and conditions to watch out for. Purebred dogs are dogs whose parents and grandparents are also the same breed. What would be the best way to know for sure if they are untainted? You can of course compare other supposedly purebred dogs and see how similar they are but this is not a very professional approach since there is a lot of room for error.

Dogs that are truly purebred should have pedigree documents detailing their ancestry going back 5 generations. Authenticating a purebreds authenticity with this method is more trustworthy but breeders may fabricate false documents. The best thing you can do is take a DNA test. Despite the cost this has become much easier to do these days and it is the only way to ensure that your dog descends from a pure line of ancestry.

Conclusion

Theres no need to worry if your Frenchie turns out to be a Frenchton (French Bulldog crossed with a Boston Terrier) or a Froodle (French Bulldog crossed with a Poodle). You’ll get just as much love and companionship from a Frenchie thats half-blooded or even multi-blooded.

In general mixed-breed dogs tend to suffer fewer ailments than purebred dogs. There is no doubt that mixed breed dogs often have the most unique and interesting personalities. You might consider leaving a review of the breeder where you got the dog so that other people will be more aware when buying from them.

Its not uncommon to find French Bulldog owners with dogs that just do not look right for one reason or another. Long-nosed Frenchies are a common example.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.