Floodle
FLOO-duhl
United Kingdom· No fixed region (popularised in England)
The Floodle is a modern crossbreed between the French Bulldog and the Poodle, combining the Frenchie's compact, muscular build and flat face with the Poodle's low-shedding, curly coat.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Small
Exercise needs
30-45 minutes daily
Home size suited to
Any, including flats
Grooming frequency
Brush every other day, clip regularly
Coat length
Curly
Sheds
Very little
Lifespan
10-13 years
Town or country
Either
Garden size needed
Small or larger
Where it comes from
Origins of the Floodle
A recent English crossbreed with no fixed region of origin, created by crossing French Bulldogs with Poodles to pair the Frenchie's compact shape with a low-shedding curly coat.
- Region
- No fixed region (popularised in England)
- Climate it was bred for
- Not applicable
- Original job
- Companion crossbreed
The long read
About the breed
First popularised in England, the Floodle remains rare outside the UK and has yet to catch on significantly in the United States. Because the cross is difficult to produce and demand consistently outstrips supply, it is regularly cited as one of the most expensive designer dog breeds available.
Living with one usually means a small, sturdy companion dog with a curly, low-shedding coat that needs regular clipping. Coat texture and length vary a great deal between individuals, so two Floodles from different litters can look quite different from one another.
There is no breed standard, club or register behind the Floodle, and puppies are sold almost entirely by private crossbreed breeders. Given the French Bulldog's well-documented breathing and spinal problems, health testing and honest questions about the parents matter more here than with an established pedigree breed.
What makes the coat
Hair genetics
To be classed as a Floodle, a dog must carry:
Required
- Two copies of the long-haired gene, and
- At least one copy of the furnishing gene
Variations still counted as the breed
- A double copy of the furnishing gene
- The addition of C1 or C2 curl genes
These variations do not change whether a dog qualifies as a Floodle — they alter curl texture, pattern and coat length. Two Floodles can therefore look quite different from one another, from a loose wave to a tight curl, and from a short coat to a long one.
Worth flagging: albinism presenting in two visually distinct tones (white and caramel) is an unusual claim and is not well documented. Merle is a pattern, not simply a colour choice, and merle-to-merle breeding is linked to deafness and eye defects — ask any breeder for hearing and eye testing before considering a merle or albino-linked puppy.
Living with one
Temperament & needs
Our own ratings, based on the breed standard and how these dogs behave in ordinary homes.
Friendliness
5/5
How openly the Floodle greets people it does not know.
Trainability
4/5
Generally intelligent and eager, though it varies by litter.
Energy
4/5
Usually inherits the retriever's need for daily exercise.
Barking
2/5
Usually moderate, though individuals vary.
Grooming
4/5
Wavy or curly coat usually needs professional grooming every six to eight weeks.
Suits a first-time owner
3/5
How forgiving the Floodle is for someone taking on their first dog.
Sociability
5/5
Typically very friendly with people and other dogs.
Independence
2/5
Prefers company and does not like being left alone for long.
Illustrated breed standard
The points of the breed
Hover or tap a numbered point to read what the standard asks for.
Point 1
Skull
The Floodle's skull is judged on balance rather than size — proportionate to the body, with a clean cheek and a stop typical of the breed. Coarseness or an over-refined head are both faulted.
Colours & patterns
Recognised coats
Which coats the standard accepts — and which are simply popular.
Pink
Standard colour
The breed's signature colour and the breeders' term for albino — a snow-white coat with a pink nose and pale eyes. Linked to hearing and vision problems, so ask for tested parents.
Caramel Pink
Standard colour
A golden, caramel-toned coat said to carry the same albinism trait, with the characteristic pink nose. Treat the two-tone albino claim with caution.
Rojo
Standard colour
A red to rust-toned coat with normal dark pigment on the nose and eye rims.
Blue
Standard colour
A diluted grey-blue coat produced by the dilution gene, often with amber eyes.
Merle
Standard colour
Mottled patches of diluted colour over a darker base. Merle-to-merle breeding is linked to deafness and eye defects, so this is a pattern to question rather than simply choose.
Timeline
History & development
2010s
Cross emerges
Breeders in England begin crossing French Bulldogs with Poodles, chasing the Frenchie look with a lower-shedding coat.
Late 2010s
Rare and costly
The difficulty of the cross keeps numbers low, and the Floodle gains a reputation as one of the priciest designer crosses.
2020s
Still UK-centred
The Floodle stays largely a British phenomenon, with little uptake in the United States.
present
No breed standard
The Floodle remains unregistered with any major kennel club and has no fixed standard.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Short, cobby and muscular with a deep brisket, well-sprung ribs and a slight roach over the loin.
- coat
- Wavy to curly and low-shedding, requiring two copies of the long-haired gene and at least one furnishing gene.
- ears
- Large, upright bat ears, broad at the base and rounded at the tip, carried erect.
- eyes
- Set wide and low, round and dark in pigmented dogs; pale blue eyes occur in the albino-linked coats.
- head
- Broad and square in the Frenchie mould, with a short muzzle and a defined stop, softened by curly furnishings.
- size
- Typically 27-35cm at the shoulder, 8-14kg
- colour
- Pink, Caramel Pink, Rojo, Blue and Merle are the colours breeders recognise. None are kennel-club colours, and merle carries known health risks.
- temperament
- Companionable, people-focused and playful, with the Poodle's trainability. Nervousness or aggression are undesirable.
- general appearance
- Small, compact and muscular crossbreed of French Bulldog type, carrying a wavy or curly low-shedding coat. Type varies with parentage.
Health
What to screen for
Green means little to worry about, amber means ask the breeder for test results, red means manage it actively.
Breathing (BOAS)
Screen for it
Inherited from the French Bulldog side. Ask for a graded breathing assessment on the Frenchie parent.
Spinal disease
Screen for it
Frenchie lines carry hemivertebrae and disc disease; ask about spinal screening.
Eyes and hearing
Screen for it
Albino-linked and merle coats raise the risk of deafness and eye defects. Ask for tested parents.
Skin and ear infections
Screen for it
Facial folds and a dense curly coat both need routine cleaning and checking.
General information only — always speak to your vet about your own dog.
From real owners
Dogs like this
Floodles added by PawPoint members through their pet passports. Share yours to appear here.
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Made for the Floodle
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own Floodle illustration — and one everyday accessory that suits any dog.
The book
Pawpoint: The Complete Dog Breed Book
Every officially recognised breed plus the unofficial ones nobody else documents. 400+ pages, hardback, printed and shipped from the UK.
Own stock — shipped by us
Framed poster
Floodle Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our Floodle illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
Floodle Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the Floodle illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
Floodle Mug
Ceramic mug with the Floodle illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
Stainless Dog Bowl
Weighted, non-slip base. Dishwasher safe.
Fits any dog
Pawpoint on YouTube
Watch the full Floodle video
Breed deep-dives, history and honest ownership talk. New film every week.
Watch now