french bulldog color guide
The French bulldog breed is growing in popularity, and one reason is because of all the French bulldog colors from which to choose, such as light brown, dark brown, white markings, fawn hairs, tan markings, merle coat, and other rare French bulldog colors. However, the coat color doesn’t just affect the appearance of your dog. Some dogs with light blue eyes or a blue coat color are at higher risk of for some health conditions.
If you are thinking about getting a French bulldog, especially rare colored Frenchies, it may be time to learn about the common and rare coat colors. In addition, you’ll find where you can find happy and healthy rare Frenchies. If you would like to know more, keep reading to find out about rare French bulldog colors.
What Are Considered Rare French Bulldog Colors?
The French Bulldog is a domestic dog bred to be a companion dog. The breed results from a cross between the Toy Bulldog and the English Bulldog. They were popular in France during the late 1800s and were brought to America by immigrants in the early 1900s. Today, French Bulldogs are one of the most popular breeds in America.
Cream
Cream is one of the most common French bulldog colors, and it looks like an off white. Fawn French bulldogs have a light yellow/tannish coat or tan markings. Brindle markings are dark brown or black stripes over a base coat color: usually a lighter brown.
Piebald
is a rare coloring that resembles the markings on cows, so the dog usually has a white basecoat with black, tan, or fawn spots. Similarly, some bulldog colors come with spots, which is known as a ticked coat. Finally, black masks are black fur that covers the dog’s face like a mask.
Dark SHAdes
Unlike other dog breeds, darker French bulldogs (like a chocolate Frenchie and chocolate Frenchies) are rare. Other rare French bulldog colors include sable French bulldogs, cream, black and tan, black and white French bulldogs, blue Frenchies, blue and fawn, lilac Frenchies, Isabella French bulldog, and blue merle French bulldogs.
Sable
French bulldogs can actually have drastically different hair and coat lengths. The sable pattern usually has other colors, including fawn, black, brown, and/or red. On the other end of the spectrum form a Sable French bulldog, you have a purple lilac coat color, which looks like a soft grey-purple color.
Isabella
French bulldogs are mostly brown, but they have some white or cream markings on the chest. Blue French bulldogs have rare coats. The blue coloring comes from a very rare dilute gene. This gene also often causes blue and grey eyes in a blue Frenchie.
Merle
Merle Frenchies have one of the most interesting French bulldog’s coats because it has multiple markings. Most merle colored French bulldogs have a basic fawn coloring (or cream/white) with darker colors as spots and markings.
tan
Finally, the tan Frenchie is another rare coat option. Tan Frenchies aren’t actually all tan; they typically have tan points with other colors as the main coat color. One of the most rare tan Frenchies is black and tan colors. Other rare tan colors include the tan and blue and tan and lilac.
Why Are They Considered Uncommon?
The leading reason for rare color French bulldogs is because they have a recessive gene. Recessive genes are weaker than dominate genes, so they are usually suppressed, allowing white, cream, and fawn colors to take over. For example, cream French bulldogs are a rare color for this breed because their coat comes from a recessive rare dilute gene related to the fawn coat color.
However, when two recessive genes come together, you can get a rare French bulldogs like the blue French bulldog, the merle Frenchie, and other strange coat color options.
Another reason these colors are considered uncommon is because it’s hard for French bulldogs to breed on their own. Therefore, you must choose a reputable breeder. French bulldogs have small hips, so natural birth is usually not an option.
Who Regulates Colors and Breeds?
The AKC is usually the leading expert on regulating dog colors and breeds, including French bulldogs. The AKC is an esteemed registry for purebred dogs. If your dog doesn’t match their strict guidelines on what the dog should look like, including coat colors, you can’t register your dog with the AKC. In addition, each breeder regulates the colors they produce, whether they are common or rare French bulldog colors.
What Impact Do Different Colors Have?
Naturally, different colors mean you can find a dog that is unique. However, some of those different colors can affect your dog’s health. Many of the issues affect rare colored French bulldogs. For example, the blue in a French bulldog’s coat also contains a disorder that can lead to dry, scaly skin, and hair loss. This can cause color dilution alopecia.
French bulldogs with a blue coat are also more likely to get cold, but all rare breeds are also prone to heatstroke because of their brachycephalic face. All white or all black pups carry a deaf gene, increasing the risk of hearing loss in the future. However, these dogs are also at higher risk of developing blue eye, which often present with complications.
If the French bulldog breed has a chocolate coat, they may have yellow eyes from a recessive gene. These light colored eyes are at a higher risk of early blindness or cataracts in young dogs. Finally, all rare Frenchie colors have an increased risk of allergies and intervertebral disk disease, which leads to stiffness, back pain, and partial loss of movement.
Which Should You Consider for Your Next Pup?
Overall, rare French bulldog colors are a great choice, but the perfect choice depends on you, your preference, and your budget. Since pups with a rare coat color often have special health issues, a French bulldog with a blue hue, blue hue, light colored eyes, bright yellow color eyes, and other extremely rare colors may be best to avoid if you have a limited budget. These types of dogs will likely need special medical care in the future.
Of course, even if you get French bulldogs with standard French bulldog colors, you’re sure to have a friendly new member of the family. Plus, without a problematic recessive gene, these French bulldogs are less likely to develop health conditions like early blindness and deafness.
However, whether you choose rare French bulldog colors or standard French bulldog colors, make sure you choose a reputable breeder. If you do choose a rare French bulldog, make sure the French bulldog breeders have experience with rare French bulldog colors. This will reduce the risk of those health issues associated with rare colors like the blue French bulldog.
The French bulldog is one of the most popular dog breeds. French bulldog colors range from common to incredibly rare French bulldog colors like blue Frenchies, merle Frenchies, and the Isabella French bulldog. Rare Frenchies may have a higher risk of conditions, but if you choose a great breeder for rare French bulldogs, you’re sure to find the right pup for you and your family. Get started today by determining which rare French bulldog colors are right for you.
