According to the American Kennel Club, French Bulldogs ranked 4th on the list of most popular dog breeds in the United States. Their popularity is mainly due to their sweet nature and how generally low maintenance Frenchies tend to be.
There is also no denying the fact that aesthetics also play a huge role in making French Bulldogs. However, the variety of coats is quite underrated with Frenchies. These coat colors and patterns include angelic, all-white Frenchies and unique markings like sable and ticked spots.
Let’s take a closer look at 23 captivating colors and patterns a French Bulldog may have.
23. Short-Haired
Short-haired French Bulldogs are the most commonly found kind. This is because in Frenchies, the genes responsible for short, straight fur are dominant.
The short fur on French Bulldogs has a smooth consistency which adds a great deal to this dog breed’s aesthetic.
Something else you should know about short-haired French Bulldogs is that their fur lies very close to the skin and also sheds a lot.
22. Long-Haired
Long-haired French Bulldogs are quite rare but they do exist even among purebred Frenchie lines. The genes for long fur in Frenchies are recessive.
This means you need two long-haired French Bulldogs to produce puppies with this feature.
The long fur on these Frenchies is almost always straight. However, it may appear slightly wavy especially with younger Frenchies.
You may also notice that the fur is longer on some parts than others. The fur over the face in particular is significantly shorter than the rest of the body on a long-haired Frenchie.
21. Black Mask
The black mask on Frenchie appears as black fur on the snout. It may also extend to other parts of the face including around the eyes.
The black mask is the only mask marking found in French Bulldogs. However, it does not occur on all dogs within this breed. It is particularly difficult to pick out on French Bulldogs that have black coats. On the other hand, fawn Frenchies have the most distinct black mask.
20. Brindle Markings
Brindle markings on French Bulldogs appear as black stripes. The stripes will be on lighter colored fur which could be either fawn or tan.
The stripes on a Brindle French Bulldog are most distinct and visible over the torso.
When it comes to the limbs, and face area, you may just see what looks like random patches of black fur on a lighter coat. The face may also be all black if the Frenchie has the black mask marking.
19. Black Markings
Black markings on Frenchies occur as minority patches of black fur on a predominantly lighter coat. The rest of the coat can be any of the other recognized colors on purebred Frenchies. White is the most common lighter color in this case.
The black markings on a French Bulldog will most likely occur on the face, ears, and back. It is very rare to find them on the belly area or the chest although it is not entirely impossible.
18. White Markings, Piebald, Pinto
With white-marked French Bulldogs, the base color can be something like black, brown, chocolate, or even watered down shades like blue or Isabella. The white fur in these Frenchies covers very little space and is often limited to the face and chest areas as well as paws in some doggies.
When the white markings occur on French Bulldogs where the base coat is a faded or watered down shade, the transition between white fur patches and the darker color is not always distinct.
17. Brindle & Piebald
The brindle and piebald Frenchie is probably one of the most beautiful and unique varieties of the dog breed. It combines two common markings which is why the brindle and piebald Frenchie is so relatively easy to come by.
The brindle and piebald French Bulldog will have the base coat of dark fur with brindle stripe markings. The remaining minority sections of the coat have pure white fur.
16. Merle
Merle French Bulldogs have dark spots on white, off-white, silver, or brown fur. The spots themselves are black in color, irregularly distributed, and may even appear mottled and indistinct.
Merle markings on French Bulldogs are as a result of the merle gene. This interferes with pigmentation and affects the intensity and distribution of pigments on the dog’s coat. Merle Frenchies are also genetically predisposed to ear and eye problems especially if bred from 2 merle Frenchies.
15. Ticked
Ticked markings on French Bulldogs also appear as dark colored spots on a lighter coat. This is common with bicolor Frenchies where the darker color occurs both as large patches of fur and spots over the white fur.
The main difference between Ticked Frenchies and other varieties like merle is that the spots on ticked variations are smaller and regular. Frenchies with ticked markings are also not at any particularly special risk of developing eye and ear issues.
14. Sable
Sable French Bulldogs require a very keen eye to identify. Their markings are very subtle and occur as black tips on a different color. This creates a color gradient which from afar makes it look like the Frenchie has dark markings on a lighter coat.
If the Frenchie’s fur is trimmed, especially with long-haired varieties, you may not be able to appreciate this beautiful feature.
13. Cream
Cream on French Bulldog have a slightly off white to yellowish coat. Technically speaking, they are a variation of the more common brown shades found with Frenchies. Their shade of brown just happens to be very light and pale.
Some Cream French Bulldogs may have dark markings. This mostly takes the form of a black mask.
Cream in general is not a common color seen with dogs. This is what makes the cream French Bulldog so unique and in some cases, so pricey.
12. White
Strictly speaking, white Frenchies are all white. However, you may have a few dark markings especially on the face. These dark patches are mostly found on the area under the nose.
White French Bulldogs are further classified based on the color of their eyes and nose. If they have dark noses and eyes, they are considered simple leucistic white Frenchies.
If the nose is pink and the eyes are blue or generally very light, the white Frenchie is more likely to have albinism genes.
11. Cream & White
The cream and white French Bulldogs are a rarity in this dog breed. The fur will have pure white patches and cream sections that may range from off-white to yellowish or very pale gold tones.
For the most part, a cream and white Frenchie is more or less a brown and white French Bulldog, where the brown is expressed as a very faint and light shade due to genetics.
10. Chocolate (Brown)
While the Chocolate Frenchie only recognizes one color in their name, the dogs themselves may have different colored markings.
Brown fur will cover most of the chocolate French Bulldog’s body. The shade of brown leans more towards the darker end of the spectrum, thus the comparison to chocolate.
The acceptable markings in this case usually take the form of a black mask. The chocolate Frenchie may also have very small patches of white fur usually on the chest and paws.
9. Fawn
Fawn is one of the most common colors on a French Bulldog. It is a diluted shade of brown that looks a lot like a powdery and pale version of the tan coat color.
Fawn French Bulldogs have the classic black mask which is perfectly complemented by the contrast with the lighter brown shades.
It truly is no surprise that Fawn French Bulldogs have such high demand especially for dog lovers who want a pooch with a subtle kind of beauty.
8. Fawn & White
Fawn and white French Bulldogs are another very common variation within this popular dog breed. This standard pairing usually occurs as a majority fawn coat with white patches on the chest and face.
However, you could also find the reverse with some fawn and white Frenchies having white as the main color and fawn fur as the minority markings. The occurrence of such a coat pattern is very rare.
7. Black & Tan
Black and tan French Bulldogs are the very definition of cuteness overload. They have a mainly black coat with tan markings on the snout, over the eyes, on the chest, and on their paws.
The shade of brown ranges from lighter shades of tan brown to shades that are almost reddish-brown in color.
Contrary to popular misconception, not all black and tan Frenchies are mixed with other dog breeds with the same coat type like Rottweilers or German Shepherds.
6. Black & White
Black and white French Bulldogs are unique among bicolor Frenchies in that either the black or white fur could exist as the majority. The distribution of the specific markings varies from one black and white Frenchie to another which definitely contributes to their popularity.
Black and White French Bulldogs are ideal for people who want a bit more flashiness and flair with their otherwise laid back four-legged companions.
5. Black
Black Frenchies have an entirely black coat. This is as a result of a recessive gene which you may expect makes the black variety of French Bulldogs very rare. The opposite is actually true.
The unique beauty and simplicity that the black French Bulldogs have makes them very popular. As a result, many breeders intentionally practice selective breeding so as to produce black Frenchie pups to meet the demand.
This is why Black Frenchies are not as rare as other all-black dog breeds despite the genes required for the trait being recessive.
4. Red
Red French Bulldogs are not actually blood red as many expect from the name. The coat is actually a dark shade of brown with reddish hues. The red coat may also vary in intensity and shade from one red French Bulldog to another.
Like most other solid, single-colored French Bulldog varieties, red Frenchies may also have the black mask marking. Other than that, there are no other markings expected on a red French Bulldog.
3. Blue
Blue French Bulldogs are another variation that is very popular for its unique yet subtle beauty. The fur in this variation has a powdery bluish-gray shade.
This coloring is as a result of the presence of a dilution gene in French Bulldogs that also carry genes for all black coats. Instead of the dog having an all-black coat, the dilution gene causes watering down to the paler blue that looks almost faded.
2. Isabella Or Lilac
Watering down of the black coat color on Frenchies occurs on a spectrum that includes more than just Blue French Bulldog varieties. The isabella or lilac French Bulldog is a great example of this.
Isabella Frenchies also have a dilution gene. However, the actual dilution is more extensive which leaves the dog with a much lighter and more faded silver-gray coat.
This lighter shade of blue is comparable to light purple shades like lilac which is where the isabella or lilac Frenchie gets its name.
1. Tricolor
Tricolor French Bulldogs are a true rarity. We are not talking about bicolor Frenchies with black mask markings. We mean true tricolor Frenchies in the strict sense of the term where three different colors occur all over the body.
The combinations typically include white as one color, different shades of brown including watered down versions like fawn as the second, and finally different shades of both solid and diluted black as the third color.
Related Questions
What Is The Most Common Color Of French Bulldog? Fawn is one of the most common colors of a French Bulldog. Other common and popular colors include blue, as well as the combination of fawn and white. When it comes to special patterns, brindle is the most commonly found in French Bulldogs and is also one of the most popular options.
What Is The Healthiest Color Of French Bulldog? Solid colors like fawn, black, or combinations of solid colors and white are the healthiest coats on French Bulldogs. This is because the genes associated with their expression are generally non-problematic. Some of the unhealthy coat colors and patterns include albino white, merle and piebald. These varieties of French Bulldogs have a high risk of suffering from skin issues, hearing difficulties, and visual impairment.
Do Frenchies Eyes Stay Blue? French Bulldog eyes do not always stay blue. When most Frenchies are born, their eyes are blue in color. This begins to change at around 10 weeks of age with the eyes getting darker and closer to adult brown shades. Frenchies that maintain blue eye colorations are either albino white Frenchies or Merle Frenchies.
