The Boston Terrier and the French bulldog are both small and attractive dog breeds, which can make choosing between them a difficult task. Despite looking very similar, however, there are some differences between these two breeds that can help you decide which one is more suitable for you. So, what are these differences?
The biggest difference between the French Bulldog and the Boston Terrier is price. Frenchies are generally more expensive than Boston Terriers. These two breeds also have differences in popularity and lifespan, but these are not the only differences. Below, let’s check out 16 surprising differences between these two breeds.
16. Price
Finally, the biggest difference between the Boston Terrier and the French Bulldog – how much they cost. Acquiring a Boston Terrier puppy from a reputable breeder will set you back anywhere between $700 and $2,700.
In comparison, buying a French Bulldog puppy from a reputable breeder will cost you anywhere between $1,200 and $8,500. The high price tag on French Bulldog puppies can be attributed to the popularity and demand of this breed.
15. Popularity
Despite having a closely similar appearance, the Boston Terrier and the Frenchie are not equal when it comes to popularity. According to the AKC Most Popular Dog Breeds List of 2020, the Frenchie was the second most popular dog breed in the US in 2020, compared to the Boston Terrier, which came in at position 21.
For the first time, Frenchies ranked higher than German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers, showing just how popular Frenchies have become.
14. Appearance: Coat Color And Patterns
One of the most distinctive differences between these two breeds is their coat color and patterns. Boston Terriers usually come with a black, seal, or brindle coat with white markings in the tuxedo pattern. This has earned Boston Terriers the name “American Gentleman”.
Frenchies, on the other hand, come in a wide variety of coat colors. A French Bulldog could be white, brindle, fawn, cream, or a combination of two of these colors.
13. Appearance: Wrinkly Skin
While both the Frenchie and the Boston Terrier have some wrinkles on their face, the wrinkles on the French Bulldog are heavier and more pronounced, which makes the Frenchie’s face look a lot more smashed. This look is enhanced by the fact that French Bulldogs have rounded cheeks, compared to the Boston Terrier’s flatter cheeks.
Aside from the wrinkly face, Frenchies also have soft and loose skin that forms wrinkles on the neck and shoulders.
12. Appearance: Ears
The ears are another distinguishing physical attribute between the Boston Terrier and the French Bulldog. The Boston Terrier’s ears are straight, upright and erect, with a sharp, pointed end.
While the French Bulldog’s ears are also upright, they are not as straight or rigid as those of the Boston Terrier. In addition, the Frenchie’s ears are wider and more rounded, which makes them resemble those of a bat.
11. Appearance: Tails
At a glance, the French Bulldog and the Boston Terrier have similar looking tails, which are actually more of stumps than tails. In both breeds, the tail is very short, jutting out just a few inches over the rectum, and can either be straight, or twisted like a cock screw.
The screwed tail is, however, more common in French Bulldogs compared to Boston Terriers. The screwed tail is usually the result of malformed vertebrae.
10. Shedding Level
Both the Frenchie and the Boston terrier have fairly low shedding coats that do not require lots of maintenance. You should note, however, that the French Bulldog sheds significantly more than the Boston Terrier.
Despite the relatively low level of shedding, both breeds still require regular brushing to get rid of loose furs and distribute the natural oils in their coat, which is important when it comes to keeping the coat healthy and shiny.
9. Energy Levels
Both breeds are moderate energy dogs that do not require lots of physical activity to remain healthy and fit. That said, the Boston Terrier is more energetic and will actually enjoy some amount of physical activity.
Owing to its heavier build, the Frenchie is a lot less enthusiastic about physical activity. In addition, French Bulldogs have worse breathing problems that Boston Terriers, which makes them poorly suited to dog sports.
8. Temperament: Easily Distracted
Owing to its significantly higher energy levels, the Boston Terrier is a lot more excitable and easily distracted compared to the French Bulldog. They’ll quickly leave what they are doing to go and investigate something more exciting.
Since the French Bulldog was initially bred for bullfighting, they still have the high level of concentration and determination that they required to hold onto a bull, even though today’s Frenchies no longer participate in bullfighting.
7. Temperament: Friendliness
One thing you’ll quickly notice about Boston Terriers is that they are naturally friendlier with everyone. They will easily get along with the family, other pets, and even strangers.
French Bulldogs, on the other hand, are a lot more reserved and very picky with who they lavish their attention and affection on. While they’ll easily get along with the family, they won’t get along as easily with strangers or other pets.
6. Temperament: Laid-Back
While both the Boston Terrier and the Frenchie are moderate energy dogs that don’t fancy lots of physical activity, the Boston Terrier will still enjoy joining in whenever you are engaged in fun activities, whether that is going out on a short hike, or playing in the yard.
Frenchies, on the other hand, are more laid back and will prefer lying down and watching rather than taking part in these activities.
5. Health Problems: Deafness
Another major difference between the Frenchie and the Boston Terrier is that Boston Terriers are highly prone to deafness. Almost 5% of all Boston Terriers suffer from deafness, which can either be hereditary or congenital.
Vets believe that deafness in Boston Terriers is either caused by the piebald gene, which some Boston Terriers carry, or the gene that is responsible for blue eyes. Deafness is not as common in French Bulldogs.
4. Exercise Requirements
Since both Frenchies and Boston Terriers are low energy breeds, they do not require lots of exercise. That said, Boston Terriers are more active and will therefore require more exercise compared to French Bulldogs.
Owing to their brachycephalic nature, French bulldogs tend to overheat very easily, and therefore, they should never be exercised outside when the weather is hot. This can easily lead to heat stroke, a condition that can quickly turn fatal.
3. Lifespan
One thing we love about both the Boston Terrier and the French Bulldog is that, despite the various health issues that these dogs are prone to, they still have a relatively long life expectancy.
That said, Boston Terriers tend to have a slightly longer lifespan compared to French Bulldogs. Boston Terriers have an average lifespan of about 12 to 14 years, on average, while French Bulldogs live for about 10 to 12 years, on average.
2. Appearance: Weight
French Bulldogs have a thick bone structure, a wide, round chest, a wide body, and short but very muscular legs, compared to the Boston Terrier’s leaner and higher body. This makes the French Bulldog heavier compared to the Boston Terrier.
French Bulldogs weigh between 15 lbs to 30 lbs while Boston Terriers weigh between 12 lbs and 25 lbs. This difference in weight means that Frenchies are stronger, while Boston terriers are faster and more agile.
1. Appearance: Height
While both the Boston Terrier and the French Bulldog are small-sized dogs, there is a difference in size between the two. Boston terriers have longer legs than Frenchies, with the body sitting higher than that of the Frenchie, while Frenchies have short, muscular legs and a low-to-the-ground body.
The height of Boston Terriers falls between 15 and 17 inches at the withers, while the height of French Bulldogs falls between 11 and 13 inches.
Related Questions
Do Bostons And Frenchies Get Along? It is possible for Bostons and Frenchies to get along well. While Boston Terriers are friendly with everyone, Frenchies can be a little reserved towards other dogs. Therefore, the Frenchie needs to have been properly socialized for them to get along well with a Boston Terrier or any other dog.
Are Frenchies And Boston Terriers Related? The Frenchie and the Boston Terrier are related in that they are both descendants of the English Bulldog. However, that is where the relation ends. Frenchies originated from the crossbreeding of the English Bulldog with French Terriers, while Boston Terriers originated in Boston, Massachusetts from crossing the English Bulldog with White Terriers, which have since become extinct.
What Breed Is A Frenchton? Frenchtons are a crossbreed between the French Bulldog and the Boston Terrier. Sometimes referred to as the Froston or Frenchbo, Frenchtons are strong, playful, and friendly little doggos that bring together the best qualities of the Boston Terrier and the French Bulldog. Most notably, they are a lot less susceptible to respiratory problems compared to the Frenchie.
