I have always been a fan of Big, strong dogs and have had the pleasure of raising quite a few. Nothing quite like walking a super-jacked pit bull down the street to get people’s heads turning. Big dog's mean big messes though, big shits to pick up, more food to buy, and they require tons more physical energy to take care of. For the older version of me, the answer was a Frenchie, or maybe I should say Frenchie’s. If you have decided on a smaller dog but are not sure what kind you want, please read on. I would suggest if you have the energy, get a Frenchie, learn everything you can about the breed, and plan to breed it. I say this because Frenchies are super expensive to buy and own and if you breed your dog, you can recoup some of the costs associated with its ownership and also get a second Frenchie out of the deal. To do it right you will need to understand a few key things. Almost all French Bulldogs are bred using artificial insemination and for the mom and pups’ safety, it is recommended that they give birth at a veterinarian via C-section.
The French bulldog benefits from being one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. One of the benefits of this is that there are multiple labs available that will sequence your Frenchies DNA and tell you exactly what you have. They will tell you if your dog has any of the typical problems that Frenches have but also what colors your dog can produce. Even more important is the parent’s 4-panel health check, this can be the factor that keeps you from purchasing a genetic mess of a dog. And FYI the “cheap” Frenchie is likely a genetic mess of a dog that hasn’t had any testing – just a cheap upfront price. Think “LOTS OF VET BILLS” so go with a reputable breeder!!! Let’s get into the details below.
What is DNA and how is it organized in cells?
Cells are the basic structural and functional units of all living organisms. Inside all animal cells (except red blood cells) is a nucleus that contains the genetic material, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) In animal cells (except egg and sperm cells), each chromosome is present twice, with one full set inherited from the mother and the other full set inherited from the father. Organisms with two copies of each chromosome are referred to as diploid. In reproductive cells (egg and sperm), each chromosome is present once. In all mammals, there are two chromosomes, X and Y, that determine the sex of an individual. Females have two copies of the X chromosome; males have one X and one Y chromosome. (Canine Genetics for Dog Breeders AKC)
Frenchies are famous for their rare and exotic coat colors, and the science behind it is pretty amazing. The French bulldog can come in regular standard colors and other rare colors. Having a basic understanding of this will help you towards your goal of producing a Frenchie in the color you desire. Each cell in the dog contains 39 pairs of chromosomes, 39 from the mom and 39 from the dad. One pair identifies the Frenchie’s sex, while the others determine everything else that distinguishes them.
Dominant genes are the ones that only need one copy of that particular gene for it to be expressed in a French Bulldog. For recessive genes, you need two copies of that particular gene to be visible on a Frenchie’s coat. So, when pairing a Frenchie, you will need two pairs of said recessive genes for a chance of that color to manifest in your puppies.
Frenchie standard colors are Brindle, Fawn, Cream, Black, or pied.
Rare colors in Frenchies are Blue, Merle, Lilac, Lilac Fawn, Isabella, Blue Fawn, Chocolate, New Shade Isabella, Pink, Koi/Husky, Platinum, and Tan points + any of the above colors. Thank you to (frenchiefaq.com) for supplying so much of the information I use here. See below the explanation supplied to us by (frenchiefaq.com)
1. Merle French Bulldog Pattern
A gene in the Merle French Bulldog causes mottled spots of color in a solid or piebald coat, and it can also impact skin color. Merle is a pattern gene as well. Merle comes in a variety of colors and patterns. Merle is represented by the letter “M” in genetics. The Merle pattern dilutes specific regions of the dog’s hue, making it appear different. This leads them to appear even more attractive. To create a visual Merle, only one copy of Merle must be present.
When two merles French bulldogs are bred together, this pattern is quite controversial in the French Bulldog community since it can create serious health difficulties. Remember that only a solid-coated French Bulldog should be bred to a merle French Bulldog. It is impossible to breed two longer merle lengths together because this can result in a fatal combination that can cause deafness, blindness, or worse. Although I am not an expert in merles, I strongly advise you to do extensive research before purchasing one for breeding purposes.
There are no known health risks associated with the merle gene. Merle dogs’ eyes are frequently brilliant blue or odd-looking, but not always. Heterochromia Iridium is a color variation in the iris. Merle French Bulldog colors are uncommon and, as a result, more expensive.
A hidden merle is a merle dog whose coat has been coated in cream or whose spots have been removed by treatment. Because the cream “blankets” the Merle pattern, a cream dog that is genetically merle will not display a visible Merle pattern. A pied dog, particularly an extreme pied, can remove all pigment from areas where merle would be visible, effectively “hiding” it. Other than a cream or a pied, no other two dogs can have “hidden merle.”
The most famous category in the Merle is the Blue Merle French Bulldog. This dog features a light gray base coat with darker patches. Along with that, these Frenchies mostly have striking blue eyes that are permanent. If you ask me, those blue eyes are my weakness! Let’s not forget that this is the only gene that can create permanent blue eyes.
2. Chocolate French Bulldog
Our next candidate is the Chocolate French Bulldog. Unfortunately, chocolate is also a recessive gene, meaning it will require two copies of the said gene to appear on the dog. The carrier of the chocolate gene is known as ‘Coco.’ Might as well just buy a chocolate Frenchie and name him Coco.
These dogs have a special feature that sets them apart. They have a ‘red eye glow,’ so if you put a flashlight in their eyes, you’ll notice a bright red reflection. Isn’t it amazing? Furthermore, Coco Chocolate is a discovery; there was no DNA test for it before this.
3. Blue Fawn
A Blue Fawn French Dog is a result of color dilution. The signs of dilution are mostly visible on the noses, masks, ears, or paw pads. This breed can be easily differentiated from the normal fawns because they have a different color mask and lighter-colored eyes.
Due to their unique color coat, The Blue Fawn French Bulldog is quite expensive as they cost anywhere from $4000 to a whopping $10000. Unfortunately, the craziness does not end here; in some areas, these cute blue Frenchies can even go above $10000, making them one of the most expensive colored breeds.
4. Isabella French Bulldog
We have another exotic color with an exotic name. Isabella French Bulldog is often referred to as ‘double lilac’ or ‘true lilac. This is mostly a new shade of lilac. These dogs contain a mixture of blue or chocolate hues, and in this case, the chocolate gene is testable (b/b).
Due to the presence of the chocolate, it has a more ‘red tint.’ Therefore, this particular breed is the most exotic out of all the colors in the French Bulldog community. These dogs have a soft, beautiful, and fabulous coat that has the power to grab anyone’s attention instantly. An Isabella is one hell of an investment as it can cost from $15000- $40000. It sounds pretty crazy, but these Frenchies do have loyal followers.
5. Lilac French Bulldog
Lilac results from two combinations of D Locus, i.e., blue (d/d), and Co locus, i.e., chocolate (co/co). It is a recessive gene because it requires two copies of each following at the locus. Usually, if a dog carries two copies of the ‘d’ gene, the coat will feature a purplish color; however, if the dog is a tricolor, it will entail tan points on its coat.
In contrast to that, If the dog isn’t tricolor, solid black (a/a), or has the (Ay/Ay), it will be a lilac Fawn, which has a more yellowish champagne aspect to it than a blue fawn, which has snowier champagne look to it making them look adorable. Safe to say, this color does make them stand out in a crowd.
6. Tri-French Bulldog
These are quite the diversified ones. Black and Tan, Chocolate and Tan, Blue and Tan, Lilac and Tan, and Merle and Tan are just a few of the Tricolor combinations. The A-Locus Allele combination is what gives these canines their tan point markings.
The ‘At’ gene is primarily responsible for the dog’s tri-color look. As previously stated, the At gene predominates over the ‘a’ gene. For dogs who are (At/At) or (At/a) at the A-locus, the Tan Points will be expressed. Apart from the dog’s tan points, the Alleles your dog's carry at the D-Locus, B-Locus, and M-Locus determine the color of your dog’s coat. If the dog does not carry two alleles of blue or chocolate, then its base color will be black and tan.
7.Exotic Features - Big rope French Bulldogs, Fluffy/Furry French Bulldogs
Make sure you check out our page “Available Pups” (Link below) and see what colors we are expecting in 2023. All of our dogs are AKC registered, 4-panel health clear, and vet wellness checked.
https://www.stlouisfrenchies.com/available-puppies
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