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When a French Bulldog has longer legs than the average Frenchie, many people wonder why they’ve become taller. If they’re a purebred French Bulldog, why would they be taller or have longer legs than other French Bulldogs?
This is a common question, and there are 4 possible reasons why a French bulldog is tall.
A French Bulldog will have long legs for genetic reasons, because they have traces of another breed in them, if they were neutered or spayed too early, or if they had a growth plate injury.
In this post, you’ll discover:
- Why these 4 reasons can impact a French Bulldog’s height
- What’s a ‘normal’ height and size of a French Bulldog
- When Frenchies typically stop growing
- And how to know for sure if a French Bulldog is purebred
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
4 Possible Reasons Why Your French Bulldog Is Tall
1) Genetics
Some French Bulldogs are simply born with genes that make them taller than others.
Just like with people, the size of a French Bulldog’s parents, or grandparents, plays a role in how tall they end up becoming. If their parents are abnormally big/tall, there’s a good chance their offspring will be as well.
Or, if their grandparents were big and their parents were average-sized, the height could have skipped a generation.
So if your French Bulldog is tall, it could be due to genetics. But that’s not the only possibility. So let’s take a look at some other possible reasons.
2) Not Purebred
Another possibility is that your French Bulldog is not purebred. In other words, they may have been bred with another dog breed that is taller than the average Frenchie.
Or, their parents or grandparents may have been bred with another taller dog that is hardly recognizable anymore.
For example, if a French Bulldog was bred with a Poodle at some point, their puppies would likely be taller than most French Bulldogs. And the more those mixed breed Frenchies are bred with purebred French Bulldogs, the more they’ll look like standard Frenchies with a slight size difference.
So if you’re not sure whether your Frenchie is purebred, it’s possible that this is the reason why they are tall.
3) Pre-Mature Neutering or Spaying
Another possibility is that your French Bulldog was neutered or spayed a little too early.
This is more of an educated guess in the veterinary community. There’s not enough concrete evidence to support saying this impacts growth with 100% certainty, but it’s a possibility.
The reason why some believe this can make a dog grow taller is that neutering or spaying a dog before they’ve reached full maturity impacts their body’s hormones.
When they’re neutered or spayed, their body stops producing hormones that are used to stop or cap their growth. This means their legs continue to grow beyond what is considered normal or average.
So if you adopted a French Bulldog that was neutered/spayed early or accidentally had them fixed before reaching full maturity, that could be why they have longer legs.
4) Growth Plate Injury
Last but not least, your French Bulldog may have a growth plate injury.
The growth plates are the areas of cartilage near the ends of a puppy’s long bones. These cartilage cells eventually turn into bone cells and fuse together, which is what stops a dog’s growth.
If these growth plates are damaged, it can cause the bones to grow longer than they should. This can happen due to an accident or injury, or even from genetics.
So if your French Bulldog is taller than average, one of these four incidences could be the reason why.
When Do French Bulldogs Stop Growing?
The vast majority of French Bulldogs will be their full adult size by the time they reach 9-12 months old. But, of course, some will reach maturity sooner than others, and some may take longer.
But most will be fully grown in that 9-11 month window.
How Tall Do French Bulldogs Normally Get?
French Bulldogs typically weigh between 20 and 28 pounds and stand between 11 and 13 inches tall at the shoulder.
However, some French Bulldogs may be smaller or larger than average. Some may even reach heights of 15 or 16 inches. While taller French Bulldogs are not necessarily unhealthy, they can be more prone to some joint issues.
For this reason, many breeders try to select smaller dogs when breeding French Bulldogs. As a result, the average height of French Bulldogs has remained relatively constant over the years.
Are There Different Size French Bulldogs?
Yes, there are different sized French Bulldogs. As we mentioned earlier, most Frenchies fall into the standard size category. However, there are also some that fall into the miniature or toy category.
Those in the miniature and toy categories tend to be smaller than those in the standard size category. So if you’re looking for a smaller Frenchie, you may want to look for one of these two types.
The way these smaller French Bulldogs are made is by breeding two small Frenchies together. This is different from breeding a standard Frenchie with a smaller dog of another breed.
When two standard Frenchies are bred together, the resulting litter will usually have a mix of both standard and miniature puppies. But when two miniature or toy French Bulldogs are bred, the entire litter will be made up of miniature or toy Frenchies.
Another way this is done is by crossbreeding a Frenchie with a different smaller dog breed. For example, some breeders have bred French Bulldogs with Pugs to create a smaller Frenchie-Pug mix.
Keep in mind, however, that miniature and toy French Bulldogs are not recognized by the AKC. So if you’re looking for an AKC-recognized Frenchie, you’ll need to stick with the standard size category.
Is It Normal For French Bulldogs To Be Tall And Skinny?
No, it is not normal for French Bulldogs to be tall and skinny. However, there are a few reasons why a French Bulldog may be tall and skinny.
First is that they simply aren’t fully developed quite yet, and different parts of their body are growing faster than others. For example, their legs may be growing faster than the rest of their body right now.
Another possibility is they aren’t getting the nutrients they need from their food. This will cause them to be much skinnier than they should, which gives them the appearance of being tall and skinny.
This can be caused by a food allergy or something more serious like an intestinal parasite. If you think there’s something going on with your French Bulldogs’ health, it’s important to have a veterinarian look at them.
There’s also the possibility that they have a condition called hypothyroidism. This is a hormone imbalance that can cause a dog to lose weight, even if they’re eating a normal diet.
If your French Bulldog is tall and skinny, it’s important to have them checked out by a veterinarian to ensure there isn’t any underlying health issue.
How To Find Out If Your French Bulldog Is a Purebred
If you’re unsure whether or not your French Bulldog is a purebred, there are a few ways you can find out.
The first way is to ask your breeder. They should have done a genetic health test and be able to tell you if your Frenchie is purebred or not.
Another way is to look for registration papers. If your Frenchie is a purebred, they should have papers from the AKC or another similar organization.
You can also take a DNA test. This involves taking a swab of your dog’s cheek and sending it off to a laboratory. They’ll then be able to tell you what breeds make up your French Bulldog’s DNA.
DNA tests are the most accurate way to determine if your Frenchie is a purebred. However, they are also the most expensive option.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! That’s everything you need to know about tall French Bulldogs. Remember, if you’re not sure if your Frenchie is purebred, there are a few ways you can find out.
And if you think your French Bulldog may be tall and skinny due to a health condition, it’s important to have them checked out by a veterinarian.
There are a few reasons why a French Bulldog will be taller than average, but as long as they’re healthy, there’s no need to worry.
Other posts you might find interesting:
French Bulldog Tail: Docked Or Born Without? (Explained)