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The Frorkie – A French Bulldog and Yorkie Mix

The Frorkie – A French Bulldog and Yorkie Mix

Hybrid breeds are becoming more and more common as breeders work to experiment with not only improving a purebred breed of dogs but to promote the best qualities of two great breeds.

For instance, many breeders began to mix varying breeds of dogs with the Poodle (often, the Miniature or Toy version was utilized for such breeding purposes).

According to AKC, Because the Poodle is considered to be hypoallergenic, many hobbyists and professional breeders decided to mix the Poodle with a number of other breeds to increase the incidence of hypoallergenic genes in the resulting pups.

Although there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog, the Poodle is well-known for its tendency to either shed very little or not at all (the mark of a hypoallergenic dog).

Therefore, many breeders have mated a healthy Poodle with Shih Tzu, Maltese, and even the French Bulldog!

Even if the French Bulldog is not considered hypoallergenic, there are many positive traits in the Frenchie that a breeder might want to see in a hybrid offspring. The French Bulldog is small, loyal, and very sweet.

The Health of the French Bulldog Parent Breed

The French Bulldog is typically thirty pounds or less. They have short, stocky legs and a strong, barrel-shaped chest. They may appear strong, but they are companion dogs.

Unfortunately, the French Bulldog may be prone to some health issues, not all of which are terribly life-altering. Yet, they must be managed or cause some quality-of-life issues for your Frenchie.

Many French Bulldogs have issues with tearing, and many have skin issues. These are treatable conditions that do not have to change the quality of life of your French Bulldog.

Some Frenchies have issues with their gastrointestinal system, and a nutritious diet must be provided to the French Bulldog to help mitigate any issues.

There are those who have issues with their teeth, another condition that is typically not life-threatening but can have an effect on whether your French Bulldog has a good quality of life.

According to HillsPet, Most Bulldog breeds have a shorter muzzle that often results in a condition described as brachycephalic. Brachycephalic dogs have issues with getting an appropriate amount of air due to their short snouts.

This can result in overheating (as they cannot pant properly), and in some cases, death.

The Yorkshire Terrier Parent Breed

The Yorkshire Terrier is a very small dog that originates in England; it was brought to the town of Yorkshire by Scottish workers who had migrated to the town to work in the mills, factories and coal mines located there.

The small Yorkie of today is not the same dog as the dog that the Scottish laborers brought to England with them.

The terrier which was brought to Yorkshire was likely bred with the now-extinct Skye Terrier or maybe the Clydesdale Terrier to achieve a smaller dog. Some of the Yorkies today weigh three or four pounds at best.

The Yorkshire Terrier is first listed as being raised in America around 1872. Since then, the Yorkie has become an absolute favorite in American homes.

The Health of the Yorkshire Terrier Parent Breed

The Yorkshire Terrier is typically healthy; however, there are some health conditions that the Yorkie might be prone to – hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and von Willebrand's Disease, for instance.

Hip dysplasia is a condition that affects the hip joints; the Yorkie may also experience elbow dysplasia. Hypothyroidism and von Willebrand's Disease can be treated with medication.

According to AKC, Otherwise, the Yorkshire Terrier is a happy, playful, and intelligent dog apt to live a very long and healthy life.

So, Just What is a Frorkie?

A Frorkie is the name of the hybrid dog breed that results from mating a full-blooded French Bulldog and a purebred Yorkshire Terrier. This particular hybrid breed is a definite one-of-a-kind dog.

First, the size of the Frorkie makes it a unique dog. The Frorkie is going to be rather small depending on its parents. A toy Yorkie parent will typically have smaller Frorkie offspring regardless of the size of the French Bulldog parent.

The Frorkie is typically black with tan markings, but this can change depending upon the exact parents of the Frorkie litter. The Frorkie will typically be curly or at least wavy-haired, a nod to the somewhat naturally wavy hair of the Yorkie parent.

The French Bulldog typically has a screw-tail. This means the French Bulldog has the same type of tail as his larger Bulldog cousins – a "corkscrew" type of tail. The Frorkie, however, will often have a long, straight tail.

The French Bulldog parent will often affect the final coloration of the Frorkie offspring. Frenchies come in a wide variety of colors, so it is truly difficult to predict the likely colors of a hybrid litter of Frorkies.

The Frorkie will likely be a terrific combination of the French Bulldog and the Yorkshire Terrier as far as personality traits are concerned.

The French Bulldog is a happy, playful pup. They are tremendously loyal, just as other Bulldog breeds tend to be.

Although they are protective, they are much more likely to be a companion dog rather than a guard dog. This is likely due to their size instead of their need to protect.

The Yorkshire Terrier is a happy, playful pooch as well. They can be rather energetic, and they love to learn tricks and perform for an audience (even if its an audience of one – you!). They love praise and treats for a job well done.

One thing to keep in mind – the Frorkie is likely to inherit one definitive character trait from his parents. Frorkies do best (when training) with positive reinforcement. Try to keep from punishing the Frorkie or losing your patience with him.

This is likely attributable to the intelligence of the Yorkshire Terrier parent and the stubbornness of the French Bulldog parent.

The Frorkie does best when you reinforce good behavior with treats and praise. Redirecting negative behavior is always the best choice when training this special pup.

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