While French Bulldog colors vary depending on the parent’s genes, these incredible dogs are most known for their adorable and charming demeanor. They are excellent watchdogs but aren’t known to be big barkers.
As far as looks go, Frenchies have large, squared heads and compact, muscular bodies. While all Frenchies have short, shiny, and smooth coats, and their skin is typically loose and wrinkled, especially around their faces. This is one reason they’re so desired as a furry family member to cuddle!
What can be unique and make yours stand out is its physical features, including its color. There are a variety of French Bulldog colors, from light to dark coats.
AKC Approved French Bulldog Colors
The American Kennel Club (AKC) has been around since the 1800s and has been the recognized expert in dogs’ health, breed, and training. According to the AKC, there are 9 approved codes for French Bulldog colors. They are:
Fawn
Fawn can range from light to dark. The dark fawn often has a reddish tint. Many fawn-colored Frenchies have a black muzzle, a white chest, and patches of white on their coat.
The Fawn color family includes the following colors:
- Fawn
- Fawn & White
- Fawn Brindle
- White & Fawn
- Fawn Brindle & White
White
This is also referred to as pied-colored. White Frenchies may have patches of brindle or fawn.
Brindle (including Brindle & White or White & Brindle)
The brindle pattern is often referred to as ‘tiger-striped’ even though the pattern is more elusive, with irregular streaks of color that are darker than the color of the base coat. A brindle-colored Frenchie may appear dark or light depending on the hair patterns. They may have a white chest and white patches on their fur.
The Brindle color family includes the following colors:
- Brindle
- Brindle & White
- White & Brindle
Cream
White, cream, and cream & white French Bulldogs are all easy to spot, and their coat color looks exactly like you’d think.
These colored Frenchies are the ones you will see most often and were the most common French Bulldog colors when the AKC approved and created codes for colors. Later, you will read about other colors that aren’t so common. All Frenchies, especially if bred properly, almost always have a dark nose and dark-colored eyes.
The Cream color family includes:
- Cream
- Cream & White
To summarize everything above, the 9 official AKC-approved French Bulldog colors include:
- Fawn
- Fawn & White
- White & Fawn
- Fawn Brindle & White
- White
- Brindle
- Brindle & White
- White & Brindle
- Cream
Additional common French Bulldog colors not AKC-approved include:
- Pied (White base coat and patches of darker colors over the head, neck, and back.)
- Sable (Red fawn base coat with black hair tips.)
- Tan
- Cream & White
AKC Approved French Bulldog Markings
Along with the approved French Bulldog colors are 5 markings also approved by the AKC. They are:
- Ticked: small patches of colors
- Black Mask: black around muzzle and nose, very common
- Brindle Markings: areas of shades of red with darker pieces of hair
- Piebald: mostly white coat with spots of color
- White Markings: areas of white on a darker coat
All of these markings can commonly be seen in all French Bulldog colors.
Some Look Different
Maybe you’ve seen a Frenchie with a longer snout than ‘usual’ or a jet-black-colored French Bulldog. Typically when a French Bulldog looks ‘abnormal,’ it’s because of breeding issues.
There are many unreputable breeders out there; mishaps can occur when breeding is not done responsibly, such as an interesting color or feature. While some breeders specialize in unique colored dogs, one thing you may see from a Frenchie breeder who skimps on the ‘job’ is coloring that isn’t on the list of AKC-approved French Bulldog colors listed above.
When choosing a breeder, it’s important to be aware of particular questions and concerns to ensure that you choose a pup that has been carefully bred.
Rare-Colored French Bulldogs
While there are 9 approved French Bulldog colors, there are also rare colors due to breeding influences. Although these colors are rare, many potential Frenchie parents seek out a pet with these colors. These rare French Bulldog colors are listed in order from most rare to least:
- Blue Merle
- Blue
- Blue Fawn
- Lilac (aka Isabella)
- Chocolate
- Chocolate & Tan
- Blue & Tan
- Merle
- Black
- Black & Fawn
- Black & Tan
- Black & White
Frenchies with these unique colors typically come with a price, as the rare-colored Frenchies cost more due to being less common and more popular.
Rare-colored Frenchies have become a trend, and it’s not from a newfound gene. Many people may not realize that French Bulldog colors that are so unique have likely come from being improperly bred.
Is it okay to get a rare-colored Frenchie?
Because Frenchies are already cute, cuddly, and charming pets, rare French Bulldog colors can add to their appeal. A rare-colored Frenchie will likely be more prone to a number of health issues due to its breeding.
The issue with these pups is that once these special colors started to be seen, backyard breeders took to the trend and started irresponsibly breeding. It’s important to note that all rare-colored Frenchies are not irresponsibly bred.
If you’re looking into getting one, that can be okay. Still, it’s important to be adamant about finding an accountable breeder who breeds responsibly so that you don’t bring home a furry family member that comes with possible high vet bills. Finding a proper breeder will lessen the likelihood of glaring health issues due to improper breeding.
If rare French Bulldog colors appeal to you enough, just be sure you have pet insurance for your Frenchie, as is truly best with any furry family member.
French Bulldog Colors and What They Mean
There is an abundance of information out there about French Bulldog colors and what they mean genetically. Opinions and research vary, as they do with all dogs, because that’s only expected when people are breeding animals, and the results have a wide range.
Specifically, one commonly studied and observed aspect of an all-white Frenchie is that they have a deaf gene. Many French Bulldogs have blue eyes (which we’ve read isn’t common in Frenchies properly bred), but they also have congenital deafness, which is a loss of hearing due to genetic causes.
According to Doctor Lynn Buzhardt in this article on genetics basics, there are two basic pigments that determine French Bulldog colors (and colors of all dogs). They are black and red. When these basic pigments of black and red are changed by a variety of genes that ‘dilute’ them, other colors are the result. Overall, genes transferred when dogs are bred control the pigments that are produced and where they are produced, and this results in dogs of all colors with different markings.
What Color Frenchie is the Best?
Since there are quite a few French Bulldog colors and everyone has different preferences, this can be hard to say. It’s no secret that the rare blue French Bulldog is a popular color choice. Be aware that some blue French Bulldogs (and other dogs, too) can develop Color Dilution Alopecia. Color Dilution Alopecia is a genetic defect found in dogs with unique coat coloration. If it’s severe, excessive pigmentation can cause breakage of the hair shaft and bald spots. There is no cure for Color Dilution Alopecia, so it can be highly frustrating to deal with. Again, getting a dog from a reputable breeder specializing in rare French Bulldog colors can reduce the chances of issues like this.
The brindle-colored Frenchie is also popular because these coats offer a nice mix of different colors. It is also darker than the white and fawn-colored French Bulldogs. Many like this for a cleaner appearance.
However, if we are being honest, all French Bulldog colors are adorable. Any way you go when it comes to choosing the best-colored Frenchie, you will have a precious pup that is small in size and easy to cuddle and love on.
Maintaining a Frenchie’s Coat
It’s safe to say that all French Bulldog colors will only add to the appeal of these endearing furry friends. As long as you choose a French Bulldog carefully and pick the one that feels like the perfect fit, that’s what matters most. It’s okay to shop around for the Frenchie you feel good about and that you connect with. It’s likely that this will matter more than their coat color.
With that said, it’s important to keep your Frenchie’s coat of any color looking healthy and nice. In turn, your French Bulldog will feel just as happy as it is cute.
Maintaining your Frenchie’s coat takes work but isn’t so difficult if you take care of it regularly. You should wash your French Bulldog as needed, depending on what works best for both of you, and take further steps to ensure their coat is kept up. Here are some useful tips for doing so:
- Bathe your Frenchie at least every couple of months, more if they play outside often.
- Make sure to wash their facial folds with water and dog shampoo in between baths (avoid the eyes).
- Always dry your dog after a bath, and be sure to do a good job drying their facial folds.
- Dry shampoo is a great in-between-baths routine.
- Use a leave-in conditioner for extra care.
- Regularly brush your dog to remorse loose hair, dirt, and parasites.
Read all the tips and tricks for washing and caring for your French Bulldogs coat.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, all the French Bulldog colors are appealing when these dogs are so precious! With 9 AKC-approved colors and 16 other popular and rare colors, there are options out there for your perfect pup.
No matter the color dog you choose, as long as you carefully buy or adopt your dog and take care of its coat properly, it will surely be one of the most attractive dogs on the block.