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French Bulldogs come in a variety of colors, including brindle, fawn, and white.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes 11 official colors for French Bulldogs.
Fawn French Bulldogs can range in color from a light cream to a dark red.
The color of a French Bulldog's coat is determined by genetics.
On a similar theme: Fawn Colored English Bulldog
Color Chart Overview
French Bulldogs come in a wide range of colors, making each one unique and special. The most important colors and patterns are listed in the color chart below.
The color chart shows that the rarest colors are Blue, Blue fawn, Lilac, Lilac fawn, and Lilac sable. These colors are considered rare because they have unique genetics that make them stand out.
Here is a breakdown of the standard and rare colors:
Overall, the color chart gives us a good idea of the many different colors and patterns that French Bulldogs can come in.
Standard Colors
Standard Colors are a key aspect of the French Bulldog breed. There are several colors that are recognized as standard by breeders and enthusiasts.
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Brindle is one of the most common standard colors, characterized by a striped pattern. Cream is another standard color, often with a light, creamy shade. Fawn is a sandy-colored coat that can range from light tan to deep red.
Black is a rare but standard color, with a solid black coat and no other color. White is also a standard color, with a solid white coat.
Here is a list of standard colors:
- Brindle
- Cream
- Fawn
- Black
- White
These colors can be combined in various ways to create unique and beautiful patterns.
White
The white French Bulldog color is a rare and beautiful variation.
White French Bulldogs are not as common as you might think, even though white is considered a standard color.
An all-white Frenchie can sometimes be confused with a cream French Bulldog, which has a more yellowish shade of white.
Pied French Bulldogs may appear all-white, but they usually have a small patch of another color somewhere on their body.
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Color Variations
French Bulldogs come in a wide range of colors and patterns, making each one unique and special. The most common colors include red, fawn, and white, which are all standard colors.
One of the most common patterns is brindle, which is a base coat of fawn hairs with black hairs extending in bands. This pattern can range from a "tiger" brindle to a more common brindle.
A pied French Bulldog has a pattern of pigmented spots on a white background, and can come in multiple standard color variations such as brindle pied, fawn pied, and red fawn pied. There are also exotic color variations of pied French Bulldogs.
Here's a breakdown of the standard colors and patterns:
These colors and patterns make each French Bulldog a one-of-a-kind companion. Whether you're looking for a classic red or a rare lilac, there's a French Bulldog out there for everyone.
Seal
Seal is a color pattern in French Bulldogs, but it's not a single solid color.
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The seal pattern in French Bulldogs is a result of the interaction between the fawn and black hairs, similar to the brindle pattern.
Seal French Bulldogs have a base coat of fawn hairs through which black hairs extend, but unlike brindle, the black hairs don't form distinct bands.
This results in a coat that is darker than fawn but not as dark as black, with a subtle sheen.
Seal is often confused with the brindle pattern, but it's a distinct color variation.
Worth a look: French Bulldogs Black and Tan
Cream
Cream French Bulldogs are often mistaken for light fawn French Bulldogs, and vice versa. A true cream Frenchie will look slightly off white all throughout, aka a solid color. It’s a recessive dilute from the fawn coat.
Creams have no markings on them, which is one of the key differences between cream and light fawn French Bulldogs. They have black pigment, which is a defining feature of the cream coat.
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Cream French Bulldogs will always have black noses, black eye rims, black paw pads, and black lips. This is because they have black pigment, which is a result of the recessive dilute gene.
The DNA of a cream French Bulldog is different from that of a light fawn French Bulldog, despite their similar appearances.
Fawn/Sable
Fawn/Sable French Bulldogs can come in a variety of shades, depending on the other locus alleles contributed.
Their colors include blue fawn, chocolate fawn, chocolate, lilac, and Isabella fawn, but they cannot express tan or tricolored points.
The fawn French Bulldog is the quintessential Frenchie color, and it's a dominant color over all colors except Brindle and Cream.
Pictured above is a beautiful Lilac Fawn French Bulldog, Sasha, who showcases the lovely lilac color.
Blue fawn color French Bulldogs are very similar in color to lilac fawn, and they're both stunning shades.
Beige French Bulldogs, on the other hand, have a lighter shade of fawn color and can have a black mask or be maskless.
Tan
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Tan Frenchies are truly adorable, and their unique color patterns are a big part of their charm. They have a solid base color with red or beige markings on their paws, chest, bottom, cheek, and eyebrows.
The color difference between the base color and the markings can make these Frenchies look even more stunning. The more distinct the color difference is, the more beautiful they are.
You can find tan Frenchies in a range of different base colors, including black, blue, lilac, and chocolate.
Related reading: Difference between French and English Bulldog
Color Variations
French Bulldogs come in a variety of colors, each with its own unique characteristics. The most common colors are black, red, red fawn, beige, and cream.
Red Frenchies have a light brown coat with a reddish shade and a black mask. They're a standard color variation. Red fawn Frenchies are similar, but with an ashy shine. They're also standard.
Beige Frenchies have a lighter shade of fawn coat with a black mask. They can also be maskless. Beige is a standard color variation.
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Cream Frenchies have a white coat with a yellowish shade. They're a standard color variation.
The platinum color is rare and unique, with an off-white or silver-looking coat. Platinum Frenchies are special because they can carry a wide range of colors, and their puppies will inherit the color of the parent.
Here's a list of the standard and rare color variations:
Frenchies with a tan pattern have a solid base color with red or beige markings on their paws, chest, bottom, cheek, and eyebrows. The tan pattern can be combined with other colors like blue, lilac, or chocolate.
Color Variations
Isabella Frenchies are considered the rarest in the Frenchie world, making them incredibly valuable for breeding purposes.
Lilac Frenchies are often mistaken for blue Frenchies, but they have a unique greyish liver coat color that's extremely hard to come by.
To produce the rare lilac color, the parents have to be blue and chocolate or at least a chocolate carrier.
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Lilac French Bulldogs usually have light-colored eyes such as yellow, light brown, and blue, which are glowing red.
The light, ashy or silver color of lilac Frenchies gets lighter and lighter as they age.
Isabella Frenchies have a unique greyish liver coat color, which is a combination of blue and chocolate.
Fawn Color Variations
Fawn is the genetic foundation of all French Bulldogs, and it can vary in shade from deep red to pale golden.
Fawn French Bulldogs can be masked or non-masked, depending on their genetic makeup. Red fawn Frenchies, for example, have a reddish shade of fawn color with an ashy shine, while blue fawn Frenchies have a light fawn coat color with a bluish shine.
Here are some common fawn variations:
- Red fawn: light brown with a reddish shade and black mask
- Blue fawn: light fawn with blue parts around the muzzle and eyes
- Lilac fawn: light fawn with an ashy or silver shine and a lighter, ashier grey mask
These variations are all part of the rich tapestry of French Bulldog colors and patterns, and they make each dog uniquely beautiful.
Red Fawn
Red fawn French Bulldogs are essentially the same as red Frenchies with a reddish shade of fawn color, but their coat has a sort of ashy shine.
Their coat can have a black mask and dark markings around their eyes and ears.
These puppies have a unique appearance that sets them apart from other fawn Frenchies.
Genetically, all French Bulldogs start out as fawn, which can vary from deep red fawn to pale golden fawn.
The E allele determines whether a fawn French Bulldog is masked or non-masked, depending on the presence of the M allele.
Red fawn French Bulldogs can be either masked or non-masked, depending on their genetic makeup.
Blue Fawn
Blue fawn Frenchies are a unique combination of light fawn and blue colors, featuring blue parts around their muzzle and eyes instead of black. Their light coat has a beautiful bluish shine.
This rare French bulldog color has become one of the most popular among adopters in recent years.
Lilac Fawn
Lilac fawn Frenchies are a rare and unique color variation. They have a light fawn coat color with an ashy or silver shine.
Their mask is a lighter, ashier grey, and their eyes are light with a glowing red color.
To produce this color, both parents need to carry blue or chocolate genes.
Patterns and Markings
French Bulldogs have some truly unique and stunning patterns, and it's not just about the solid colors! The traditional Frenchie patterns include brindle and pied, which make them even more special.
Pied Frenchies have a predominantly white coat with clearly marked patches of another color like black, red, or blue. This pattern can vary from dog to dog, making each one truly unique.
Pieds can come in all colors, including brindle and merle, which means you can find a Pied Frenchie in a wide range of beautiful colors.
Recognized by AKC
If you're planning on competing with your Frenchie in dog shows, you'll need to choose one of the official colors recognized by the AKC.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) only recognizes nine standard colors for French Bulldogs, despite the many variations that exist. These colors are the ones to look out for if you want to participate in dog shows.
Here are the recognized colors, broken down in a handy table:
Unfortunately, if your Frenchie has a rare color, it will be disqualified from dog shows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rarest color of French Bulldog?
The rarest color of French Bulldog is the Merle, characterized by a mottled coat with patches of coloration on a lighter base coat. This unique pattern is often mistaken for Brindle, but has distinct differences.
Which French Bulldog color is most expensive?
The rarest and most expensive French Bulldog color is the Blue Merle, which can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. This unique color combination is highly sought after, making it a valuable and exclusive addition to any French Bulldog family.
What is the healthiest color of a French Bulldog?
There is no direct correlation between a French Bulldog's coat color and its health. All colors of French Bulldogs are equally prone to genetic health issues.
Sources
- https://mypawesomefrenchie.com/french-bulldog-colors-standard-non-standard/
- https://tomkingskennel.com/french-bulldog-colors/
- https://lepepitefrenchies.com/french-bulldog-colors-and-dna/
- https://www.bullmarketfrogs.com/french-bulldog-articles/french-bulldog-colors-and-colloquialisms/
- https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/panel/dog-coat-color-french-bulldog
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