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French Bulldogs, also known as Frenchies, are the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States. Why do we call them French Bulldogs? It lies behind the fact that they originated in the 1800s when people felt the need to increase the size of small breeds of British Bulldogs. So, French Bulldogs came into being by the cross match of British Bulldogs.
In the start, they weren’t assumed to be a separate breed but with time, French Bulldogs became different from their parents and regarded as separate dog breeds. They are unique due to their colors, compact muscular bodies, and friendly nature.
French Bulldogs prove to be loving pets and are obedient to their owners. But people often become confused regarding their colors, as they come in a variety of colors, so in this article, we will discuss all the colors of French Bulldogs, the genetics behind those colors, their cost, and their acceptance in the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Overview Of Colors of French Bulldog
Why is there even a need to discuss French Bulldog colors? The reason is simple: they can be seen in almost 12-13 colors. People feel the difficulty in recognizing whether a specific-colored dog is a French Bulldog or not when buying them as a pet.
All the colors of French Bulldogs are not accepted by American Kennel Club so those colors which are accepted by the AKC are regarded as Standard colors while the rest of them are regarded as Non-standard colors of French Bulldog.
Standard colors are easily available in the market and are not very expensive while Non-standard colors are rare and expensive. Let’s dive into the details of French Bulldog’s standard and non-standard colors.
Standard French Bulldog Colors
These are the most common colors of French Bulldog and will be seen everywhere in the best of their health because they seldom have genetic diseases. Let’s discuss all the accepted Standard French Bulldogs one by one.
Brindle French Bulldogs
Physical Appearance: Brindle French Bulldogs are one of the most common breeds and have fawn-colored coats with black stripes on them giving them a tiger look. Brindle French Bulldogs also have two types, one in which the fawn color is dominated and black bands are seen and the other one in which black color predominates, known as “Reverse Brindle” French Bulldog.
Genetics Behind Color: The gene that is responsible for the stripes and Brindle French Bulldog coloring is the Locus “K”, this gene is an addition to the genetic makeup of French Bulldogs to make it Brindle.
Care & Grooming: Brindle Bulldogs need regular bathing and brushing, but be careful as excessive washing can remove the natural oil from their coat.
Cost: Brindle French Bulldog is available in various price ranges depending upon the breeder’s reputation and location, generally it is about 2000-4000 USD.
Fawn French Bulldog
Physical Appearance: Fawn French Bulldogs come in various colors from light dawn to dark red fawn-colored coats. They don’t have any markings on their coat, have solid color throughout the coat, and have black noses, black paw pads, and black eye rims. They have a black mask which is their prominent feature.
Genetics Behind Color: The locus “e” in the genetic makeup is responsible for the fawn coloration of the coat.
Care & Grooming: For taking care of the Fawn French Bulldog, you need to wash them regularly as they shed their hair so to prevent entanglement in the coat, brushing is necessary.
Cost: As you know Fawn French Bulldogs have various shades so depending on the hue, they differ in price. Overall, you can purchase a Fawn French Bulldog for 2500-5000 US dollars.
Cream French Bulldog
Physical Appearance: Cream French Bulldog appears off-white to cream color and has a solid coat, which means it doesn’t have any pattern. People often make mistakes to differentiate between fawn French Bulldog and Cream French Bulldog. They have black noses, black eyes, black paws, and black lips.
Genetics Behind Color: The cream color is due to the dilution gene which dilutes the pigment responsible for fawn color and converts it into cream color.
Care & Grooming: Cream French Bulldogs don’t require skin and coat care daily but they are more prone to genetic diseases due to recessive genes in genetic makeup so keep an eye on their coat.
Cost: Cream French Bulldogs are relatively expensive and available in the range of 3000-6000 USD.
White French Bulldog
Physical Appearance: White French Bulldogs are less common and appear full white but sometimes may seem off-white.
Genetics Behind Color: white color is a recessive trait and occurs when recessive genes from both parents pair up to give a white striking physical appearance.
Care & Grooming: As the white color of the coat quickly absorbs dirt and debris and appears stained, you need to give regular skincare to your white pet.
Cost: White-colored French Bulldog is not easy to find, so its price is accordingly high. You can have a White French Bulldog for 3000-6000 USD.
Non-Standard French Bulldogs Colors
Non-standard French Bulldogs, although are not accepted by the American Kennel Club but people love to have them as pets due to their uniqueness. The following are Non-standard French Bulldog colors,
Lilac French Bulldog
Physical Appearance: Lilac French Bulldogs as the name indicates, appear light blue or lilac and have pink muzzles, and light-colored eyes. They are very rare and are not available easily, so you have to search for their breeders.
Genetics Behind Color: The lilac-colored coat is the result of parents having genes for blue and chocolate colors. The dilution gene (d) is responsible for converting the chocolate color to a lilac color.
Care & Grooming: Due to their unique subtle lilac shade, their skin is sensitive and can develop some allergies so you need to take great care of their skin by regular cleaning.
Cost: The Lilac French Bulldog is a unique and rarely found Bulldog so it is expensive like all the non-standard Bulldogs. You can get a healthy Lilac French Bulldog for 5000-10000 US dollars.
Blue French Bulldog
Physical Appearance: Blue French Bulldog although appears gray but mostly regarded as Blue French Bulldog. It has a solid color that can range from dark gray to blue or even sometimes black. The color is more prominent at its nose where you can identify its breed properly as it resembles other French Bulldogs of relatively similar shades.
Genetics Behind Color: Blue French Bulldog is the result of parents having the dilution gene (d) so if the pair (dd) is formed the black colored coat will change into blue color.
Care & Grooming: Blue French Bulldog is rare and the blue color coat is a recessive trait. The dog often undergoes health issues so you need to maintain proper hygiene. Due to dark color, the stains and dirt become prominent so take great care of their coat also.
Cost: The price depends upon the reputation of the breeder and the health of the dog; you will find a healthy Blue French Bulldog in between 3000-10000 US dollars.
Chocolate French Bulldog
Physical Appearance: Chocolate French Bulldogs come in various shades, they can be light brown, dark brown, and chocolate colored. The expression of genes in them decides the coat color and they have light-colored eyes as it is a recessive trait. Some Chocolate French Bulldogs will have orange eyes, which are too rare and expensive as orange is an unusual color.
Genetics Behind Color: The B locus of their genetic makeup has allele b responsible for their chocolate color. The allele b produces a brown-colored pigment and dilution genes convert this brown pigment to chocolate colored pigment.
Care & Grooming: Although Chocolate French Bulldogs don’t need regular maintenance, their coat can sometimes show discoloration so to overcome this issue keep an eye on them. Efficient breeding ensures no health issues.
Cost: The buying cost of Chocolate French Bulldog depends on the dog’s overall fitness and location; you may need to pay 3000-7000 US dollars to be the owner of Chocolate French Bulldog.
Black French Bulldog
Physical Appearance: The black French Bulldogs have a pure black coat that is sleek and shiny giving them an elegant look. They have compact muscular bodies and short sturdy legs. There are no patches or stripes on the coat so the coat has a solid black color.
Genetics Behind Color: The black color of Black French Bulldogs is their dominant trait so at the locus K, the allele k is responsible for producing a black colored coat.
Care & Grooming: As the black coat is a dominant trait, Black French Bulldogs are not prone to health issues but they can develop parasites in their coat so keep checking them regularly for any wounds or parasites.
Cost: Black color is not the accepted color for the French Bulldogs but they are in demand due to their uniqueness and elegance and expensive accordingly. You can expect to pay 3000-8000 US dollars to purchase a Black French Bulldog from a trusted breeder.
Patterns Of French Bulldogs
In addition to the above different types of Frenchies, French Bulldogs are often seen with some sort of pattern on their coat, among all patterns of French Bulldogs, the Pied and Merle patterns are the most common. Let’s discuss them in detail.
Pied Pattern
A pied pattern is defined as a white colored coat on which patches of various colors can be seen. The colors of patches are mostly dark like chocolate patches, dark brown or black ones giving a mottled look to the Frenchie.
The pied pattern is a standard pattern of the French Bulldogs as many Canine Clubs and Organizations have accepted it. Pied French Bulldogs can also participate in the event certified by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
The genetic makeup of Pied French Bulldogs contains S Locus so allele “s” contributes to producing white areas throughout the coat. The size of patches is also under the control of this gene so depending upon the color of the patches, Pied Frenchies are named as Blue Pied, Black Pied, and Chocolate Pied respectively.
Merle Pattern
Merle pattern is a non-standard pattern of French Bulldog as AKC does not accept it and appears as a black Bulldog but with clear light Merle patches on the coat. They have light-colored eyes and are normally healthy dogs.
The gene responsible for the Merle patches is dominant so only one gene can change the game. If one of the parents has the gene, it would be enough to produce merle patches in offspring.
Merle French Bulldogs are seen to develop certain eye problems like Microphthalmia, a condition in which one of the eyes is extremely small leading to malfunctioning of an eye.
Why Doesn’t the AKC Accept All French Bulldog Colors?
American Kennel Club (AKC) only accepts those breeds that are produced regularly and don’t require too many breeding strategies to create a specific pattern or color. Till now, AKC has only accepted white, cream, and related colors of French Bulldogs, the rest of the colors are rare and aren’t produced regularly with ease.
That’s why AKC does not accept those rare colors and these French Bulldogs have recessive traits that normally cause several health problems in them so how can they survive? Maybe in the future, AKC will accept some more French Bulldog Colors which remain healthy throughout their life.
What Is the Best French Bulldog Color?
The best color of the Frenchie is what you like the most as no color is defined as the best French Bulldog Color. It is suitable to buy the standard colors though because they are not too expensive. And if you want a non-standard French Bulldog as your pet, try buying a Bulldog with the dominant trait as it would be more likely to be healthy.
It also depends on your budget to choose the best French Bulldog for you as the standard French bulldogs are economical while purchasing non-standard French Bulldogs requires more money comparatively. If you have a handsome budget, a proper space, and time to take care of your lovely pet, you can have any of the French Bulldogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rarest French Bulldog color?
Merle is the rarest French Bulldog color and is very difficult to find out. A few breeders produce this rare French Bulldog due to the risk of genetic diseases as discussed earlier. After Merle, the chocolate and Blue French Bulldogs are French Bulldogs’ rare colors.
What is the most expensive Bulldog Color?
Lilac and Blue French Bulldogs are the most expensive Bulldogs as they have unique colors and look so beautiful. You need to pay at least 4000-10000 USD to be the owner of such rare pets.
What are some common health issues among all the rare French Bulldogs?
Non-standard French Bulldogs are more likely to have diseases which may include Hip Dysplasia, dermatitis, allergies, conjunctivitis, and several other health issues.
Conclusion
French Bulldogs are one of the most popular pets and are available in many different shades and patterns. Some rare French Bulldogs also have become common these days as people love to have unique pets and post them on social media.
If you are thinking about having a French Bulldog as your pet, consider the above guide and choose the one that suits your lifestyle the most.
