French Pomerdog
The French Pomerdog is a cross between a French Bulldog and a Pomeranian, which is small on size but maxes out on cuteness. Their big ears and fuzzy fur give them the appealing looks of a plush toy, with a soft, loving character to match. However, don’t mistake lack of size for meaning they don’t need exercise, because these are playful fellows who thrive on attention and activity.
The French Pomerdog is a breed to fall in love with and is a dog suited to a moderately active person looking for a gentle canine companion to get out and about with. Prospective pet parents should know the French Pomerdog can be a sensitive soul that dislikes excessive noise and may struggle to cope in a chaotic household. But given the right owner, they make for the perfect loving pet.
About & History
The French Pomerdog is a lesser known hybrid that has only been on the scene a few years. Therefore their history is really the story of the two parent breeds.
The French Bulldog
As the name suggests, the French Bulldog is an offshoot of the traditional British Bulldog and originated in the 19th century as a pocket-sized version of the Bulldog. They were especially popular with the Nottinghamshire lace-workers, as companions and ratters.
When in the 1860s there was an exodus of lace-workers from England to France, seeking better employment, they took their favourite dogs with them. This migration of workers accompanied by their small bulldogs soon established a dog breed in its own right, which became known as the French Bulldog.
The Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is decided from a long line of Spitz type dogs. The smallest representative of the type, their bigger relations include dogs used for sledging. This smaller dog originated from an area, Pomerania, which no longer exists but is roughly centred on the modern Polish city of Gdansk.
In the 18th century, these small spitz dogs were called ‘Wolf dogs’ and were mostly white coated. They were imported into England as companions for royalty, specifically Queen Charlotte, which marked the beginning of their rise to popularity.
Appearance
If a camel is a horse designed by a committee, then the French Pomerdog is a canine designed by Steiff. It is impossible to gaze into that round face with enormous ears, covered in fuzzy fur, and not fall in love a little.
They are a small-to-medium dog that stands a little short than a bowling pin, and weighs about the same as a bowling ball. They have a rounded skull with a broad forehead, and a slightly longer snout than the classic French Bulldog. They inherit wonderful prick ears from both parents, but this time adorned with fur. Indeed, the Pomeranian in a long-haired breed, which balances out the short-coat of the Frenchie, so produce an appealing fluff-ball.
The French Pomerdog is stocky, being broad across the chest with sturdy legs, with a leaning towards daintiness inherited from the Pomeranian. That said, there is no guarantee that any hybrid pup will be a perfect blend of the parent breeds. In the same litter, there will be pups that lean more towards the appearance of either parent.
Character & Temperament
The French Pomerdog has a reputation for being sweet, playful, and loving. They tend to be amiable characters that get along fine with respectful children and other household pets.
Of course, as with any dog, a good temperament depends not just on breed characteristics but on the individual being well-socialised as a puppy. Since the Pomeranian can be a bit touchy and intolerant, it is important to expose a French Pomerdog pup to a wide variety of experiences in a positive manner. This builds their confidence and helps them become well-adjusted, tolerant adults.
Likewise, the sensitive nature of the French Pomerdog means they may be distressed by an overly busy household with lots of comings and goings. They are best suited to a stable home-life with responsible children or calm adults seeking canine companionship.
Trainability
The French Pomerdog is an intelligent hybrid that responds well to reward-based training methods. Indeed, training is a way to provide them with a sense of security, because their owner is in control. They are quick learners, but sometimes the Frenchie’s laidback character makes them slow to respond, whilst the sharper Pomeranian personality may make them prone to answering back.
Health
As a hybrid dog there is no data as to the health problems the French Pomerdog is at greatest risk of. However, it is reasonable to assume they may inherit some of the problems more commonly found in the parent dog breeds.
Wobbly Kneecaps (Luxating Patellas)
Both parent breeds can have loose kneecaps, which pop out of position when the dog walks or jumps in a certain way. In mild cases, this is of little consequence other than causing the occasional hop or skip. However, severe cases can be left in constant pain and develop early arthritis.
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)
The French Bulldog has a flattened face that makes for breathing difficulties associated with their tongue, soft palate, and tonsils crowding into the back of the mouth. To some extent, the slightly longer nose of the Pomeranian helps correct this, but many Poms also have a long soft palate, leading to similar issues to the Frenchie.
Signs of this include snorting and snoring, constant panting, and shortness of breath. Some of the anatomical problems can be corrected by surgery, but then these dogs should not be bred from, as this passes the problems down to future generations.
Dental Disease
Both parent breeds are prone to dental disease, but for different reasons. For the Frenchie, their flattened face leads to an over-crowded mouth, whereas the Pomeranian is prone to plaque formation on their teeth.
This means that daily tooth brushing is essential, in order to remove plaque before it hardens into tartar. Not to do so risk bacteria-rich dental calculus causing gum inflammation, tooth root infections, and wobbly teeth.
Exercise and Activity Levels
The French Pomerdog is the Mini Cooper of the canine world: They may be small but they are action packed. Like a pocket dynamo, these guys enjoy active walks and love nothing better than vigorous games of ball. To ignore their inner drive to be active, risks the French Pomerdog becoming bored and leads to bad habits such as barking or chewing.
Ideally, exercise a French Pomerdog twice a day, within one long energetic walk and one stroll. Take care not to over-tire them, but rather return the French Pomerdog home pleasantly tired so they settle down for a good snooze.
Grooming
The French Pomerdog has a plush medium-length coat that does shed heavily. Grooming at least three times a week is advisable, with daily brushing preferred. The latter keeps that thick double coat knot free but also captures shed hair to reduce unwanted fur on the soft furnishings.
The French Pomerdog should be bathed no more than once a month, unless there is a medical reason to do otherwise. To do otherwise risks stripping the natural conditioning oils out of the coat, making the hair dry, dull, and brittle.
An important part of French Pomerdog care is daily tooth brushing. The secret to achieving this is to use pet toothpaste (these are soooo scrummy to dogs) and start gradually by having the dog lick the toothpaste from your finger. As they begin to seek out this daily treat, introduce the toothbrush with toothpaste on and slowly build up from there.