The practice of cross-breeding two different purebred dogs such as the French Bulldog and the Dalmatian is a practice known as hybrid or designer dog breeding.
This is the same exact process that has been successfully used for so many centuries to create many of the popular modern purebred dog breeds we love so much.
For example, both the French Bulldog and the Dalmatian were originally hybrid dog breeds themselves. You will learn a lot more about how that process works in this article.
By the time you finish reading, you will also know what to expect if you decide to add a French Bulldog Dalmatian mix dog to your family and whether this might be the right companion canine for you.
French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix
The French Bullmatian, as the French Bulldog Dalmatian mix breed dog is often nicknamed, is simply a puppy that has one purebred French Bulldog parent, and one purebred Dalmatian dog in their genetic line.
However, a French Bulldog Dalmatian mix can come from two different purebred dog breeds or two-hybrid dogs bred down from these two dogs.
This is important to know for a number of reasons, not the least of which is how it can help you better predict the temperament, traits, size, and overall health of your new puppy.
See a French Bulldog Playing With a Dalmatian Dog
In this cute owner-made YouTube video, you can watch a French Bulldog and a Dalmatian enjoying some friendly playtime together.
While the two dogs happen to have the same classic black and white coat colors, there is clearly quite a size difference between the two, which is one of many interesting factors in the unique French Bulldog Dalmatian hybrid dog breed.
A Basic Overview of Hybrid Dog Breeding
The term "hybrid dog breeding" sends a mixed message about the true nature of crossing any two different-breed dogs to produce puppies.
The mixed messages get worse with the term some people use for the same practice – designer dog breeding.
The fact is, hybrid or designer dog breeding is simply the process by which a breeder sets out to create a new dog breed.
This is how nearly all of today's modern so-called purebred dog breeds have been developed.
Whenever a breeder has aspired to selectively breed a dog with certain traits, be those appearances, temperament, coat type, health profile, or some other combination of traits, they start with dogs they already know about.
By selectively (deliberately) crossing different dogs with desired traits together, eventually, that breeder can create a new dog breed with the hoped-for mix of traits.
The process takes place over multiple generations.
As Breeding Business explains, in the world of dog breeding, these generations have labels like F1, F1b, F2, F2b, F3, and so forth. The labels simply note whether the parent dogs are purebred dogs or hybrid dogs themselves.
This is very important to know if your goal is adding a French Bulldog Dalmatian mix puppy to your life includes finding a puppy that will be a certain size or have a certain mix of traits.
The later generations (F2b, F3, F4, and so forth) of puppies typically exhibit more uniformity in terms of size, coat type, health, personality, temperament, and other traits.
The History of the French Bulldog and the Dalmatian
Aside from learning about which breeding generation your French Bulldog Dalmatian mix puppy comes from, one of the best ways to prepare for the arrival of your new puppy is to learn more about the history and heritage of the parent dogs.
French Bulldog history
The French Bulldog is the fourth most popular (out of 195 American Kennel Club registered dog breeds) purebred dog breed in America today.
French Bulldogs found their way into the purebred dog breed circles by way of crossbreeding between English Bulldogs, Rat Terriers, other terrier breeds, and Pug dogs.
They have working and fighting dogs in their background, but the Frenchie is best-known for being a consummate entertainer and delightful lapdog for their people.
Dalmatian history
The Dalmatian is the 56th most popular (out of 195 American Kennel Club registered dog breeds) purebred dog breed in America today.
These dogs have murky breed origins. Their breed name may have come from Dalmatia, a territory in what is now Croatia. These dogs have a long history as coach dogs and fire dogs and are working dogs to their core.
French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix: Personality, Temperament, Training, Exercise
Another area where you will see some definite differences is in terms of the French Bulldog and Dalmatian personality and temperament.
French Bulldog personality, temperament, training, exercise
The French Bulldog is a lively, smart, affectionate, and very people-oriented dog. These dogs are known to be slightly stubborn when being trained but will respond well to positive training methods.
Overall, Frenchies have a moderate to low energy level and are typically content with indoor play and one or two short walks during cooler times of the day.
Dalmatian personality, temperament, training, exercise
The Dalmatian dog is a working dog at heart with the drive and high energy level to match. These dogs evolved to trot beside coaches and have even accompanied the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses on their parades.
Dalmatians are also famous for their iconic work alongside human firefighters and have the bravery and steadfastness to work under the most challenging and dangerous conditions.
Overall, Dalmatians are known to be people-pleasing dogs and are smart and easy to train. However, you will have to be careful not to over-exercise your puppy until your dog is done growing the bone growth plates have closed permanently (your veterinarian can tell you when it is safe).
French Bulldog Dalmatian personality and temperament
From this overview, you can see that your French Bullmatian may have a range of energy levels from high to low.
If your dog inherits more of the short muzzle of the Frenchie, however, you will have to be very careful how much exercise you give your dog and keep the temperature cool.
French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix: Size, Height and Weight
One area where the French Bulldog and the Dalmatian dog are quite visibly different is in terms of their sheer size, height, and weight.
French Bulldog size, height, and weight
The French Bulldog is a non-sporting dog that weighs less than 28 pounds and typically stands no taller than 13 inches from paw pads to shoulder tops.
These dogs are petite yet stocky, with broad chests and the smashed-in faces that speak so strongly of the English Bulldog and Pug influence.
Dalmatian size, height, and weight
In sharp contrast to the diminutive French Bulldog, the Dalmatian can weigh anywhere from 45 to 70 pounds and stand as tall as 24 inches from paw pads to shoulder tops.
These dogs are slim and graceful, with long muzzles and equally long legs that can quickly break out into the Dalmatian's signature coach-bearing trot.
French Bulldog Dalmatian size, height, and weight
From this quick overview, it is easy to see how it can be hard to know how tall and large your French Bulldog Dalmatian mix puppy might be in adulthood!
You have a weight range of anywhere from 20 to 70 pounds and a height range of anywhere from 11 to 24 inches.
However, as you learned here earlier, when you work with a hybrid dog breeder that breeds for later generation French Bulldog Dalmatian mix puppies, this is easier to estimate.
This is because you will have more certainty about your dog's adult size and height because the hybrid parent dogs will be more similar in these traits.
French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix: Shedding, Grooming and Coat Care
One big question many aspiring dog owners have is whether their dog will shed and how much grooming and coat care will be required.
The first thing to understand is that, despite what some breeders may claim, there is no such dog as a "hypoallergenic" dog – even if the dog does not shed hair visibly.
This is because the protein that causes pet allergies is in the dog's skin, saliva, and urine, not in the hair itself.
Having said that, neither the French Bulldog nor the Dalmatian is a non-shedding dog breed, which means you will have some shed hair to contend with.
French Bulldog shedding, grooming, and coat care
French Bulldogs, with their short and neat flat coats, can shed a surprising amount, especially when the seasons change twice a year.
This shedding process is important for coat renewal so the coat can do its job of protecting your dog.
Happily, however, you won't have to do more than brush your dog once or twice a week (and perhaps run a de-lint brush over your clothing or furniture).
Dalmatian shedding, grooming, and coat care
Like the French Bulldog, the Dalmatian has a short, neat, flat coat. And like the Frenchie, the Dalmatian can shed quite a lot year-round and more so seasonally.
Here again, you can expect to get by with one to two weekly brushings and bathing as needed. No special grooming is required.
The one caveat is that you will need to give your Dalmatian ears special attention. The long floppy ears can cause bacteria to grow more easily due to a lack of airflow.
French Bulldog Dalmatian shedding, grooming, and coat care
You can expect your French Bullmatian dog to shed year-round and seasonally. However, your dog shouldn't need any special coat care aside from weekly brushings and bathing as needed.
If your dog inherits the Dalmatian's floppy ears, you may have some extra ear cleaning to do as well to prevent infection.
French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix: Longevity and Health
It is always wise to learn as much as you can about breed health and longevity before making a lifetime commitment to a French Bullmatian.
French Bulldog longevity and health
The French Bulldog has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years, on average.
According to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals' Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the French Bulldog dog breed has six main known heritable (genetic) health issues:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Patellar luxation.
- Cardiac issues.
- Eye issues.
- Autoimmune thyroiditis.
- Juvenile cataracts.
In addition, the French Bulldog, like all short muzzle-type dogs, is at high risk for a condition called BOAS, or Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome.
BOAS is directly linked to a dog breed's conformation or appearance. The shortened muzzle which gives the Frenchie such an adorable expression can also cause lingering respiratory, digestive, vision, and even brain health issues.
The respected PLOS One Journal explains that as many as 70 percent of bulldog breed dogs may be prone to developing BOAS, which is the most severe manifestation of the many health issues linked to short muzzle dogs.
Some of these issues can be corrected surgically, albeit at the owner's great expense. Other BOAS issues, such as chronic intolerance to heat, inability to swim, and (often) inability to tolerate air travel safely, are inborn and cannot be corrected.
It is very important to be aware of these health issues before inviting any dog with a short muzzle breed genetic influence into your life. These dogs will likely be more expensive to care for and have more limitations you will need to be aware of.
Dalmatian longevity and health
The Dalmatian has a life expectancy of 11 to 13 years, on average.
According to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals' Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Dalmatian dog breed has two primaries concerning health issues that could be heritable (passed from parent dog to puppies):
- Hip dysplasia.
- Congenital deafness.
In addition, OFA-CHIC recommends that, before breeding, breeders test parent dogs for eye issues and thyroid function issues.
Congenital (inherited) unilateral (single ear) and bilateral (both ears) deafness in Dalmatian dogs is a particular concern among breeders and fans of this dog breed.
The Dalmatian Club of America explains that the higher incidence of deafness in Dalmatians may relate to their white coat and blue eyes.
Two long-term studies revealed that the overall incidence of deafness in the population of purebred Dalmatian dogs seems to follow these general statistics:
- 70 to 78 percent of Dalmatians have a full hearing in both ears.
- 17.9 to 21.9 percent of Dalmatians have deafness in one ear.
- 3.8 to 8.0 percent of Dalmatians have deafness in both ears.
One of the side benefits of hybrid dog breeding programs comes from the increase in genetic diversity when two different purebred dog breeds are crossed together. This can reduce the incidence of severe inherited health issues such as canine deafness.
Many modern dog breeds bred to compete in the show dog circuit are bred to very strict conformation (appearance) standards. This narrows the genetic diversity and can increase the risk of passing along unwanted health issues.
From this, it is possible to infer that your French Bulldog Dalmatian mix dog may have a lower risk of inheriting unilateral or bilateral deafness than if you were bringing home a purebred Dalmatian puppy.
The risk is further reduced if you work with a reputable and responsible breeder who takes canine health seriously and performs all required and recommended breed health tests before allowing a pair of dogs to breed.
French Bulldog Dalmatian longevity and health
As with so many purebred dog breeds today, clearly both the French Bulldog and the Dalmatian dog breeds have their individual known genetic health issues to be aware of.
With the Frenchie, the main concern is the brachycephalic muzzle shape, with the lifelong limitations in respiratory, vision, digestive, and brain health function that can come with it.
With the Dalmatian, the main concern is congenital deafness in one or both ears.
All else being relatively equal, the life expectancy for both dogs is nearly identical, despite the two dogs being very different in size.
As long as you work with a reputable hybrid dog breeder, there is every reason to expect your French Bullmatian puppy to be healthy and happy.
As further reassurance against major health issues, be sure you get three things from any breeder you choose to work with:
1. An initial guarantee of good health (usually pending your own independent veterinary checkup and covering a period of 6 to 24 months).
2. Proof that all required and recommended pre-breeding screening health tests were performed.
3. Proof that all required vaccinations and pest treatment measures were given to your puppy.
French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix: Is This the Right Dog for You?
Now you know much more about both parent dogs, the French Bulldog, and the Dalmatian, and the diverse traits each parent dog can contribute to a French Bullmatian puppy.
As a freelance pet writer and blogger, Shannon is passionate about crafting knowledge-based, science-supported articles that foster healthy bonds of love and respect between people and animals. But her first and very most important job is as a dog auntie and cockatiel, tortoise, and box turtle mama.
