This article is all about the brindle French Bulldog.
Brindle French Bulldogs have streaks or stripes of a second color in their coat. Typically, the base coat is dark while the streaks are light–but this can also be swapped in what’s called a “reverse brindle.”
In this article, we’ll talk about everything there is to know about this beautiful Frenchie coat color, from how the brindle French Bulldog looks to whether their coat impacts their health.
What is a Brindle French Bulldog?
Brindle is one of the most common French Bulldog coat colors. It’s also accepted under American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standards. These pups can have streaks or stripes in their fur. Typically, they have more dark-colored fur accompanied by fawn striping, but they can also have lighter base coats with darker markings.
What do Brindle French Bulldogs Look Like?
Brindle Frenchies have the same bodies as all French Bulldogs. They’re small dogs with squished faces, short tails, and large ears. Frenchies with brindle coats may have different coloring from one another–the only constant is that they have streaks or stripes in their fur.
Possible brindle coat combinations include:
- Black brindle: A black base coat with fawn stripes
- Blue brindle: A blue (dark grey) base coat with fawn stripes
- Chocolate brindle: A deep brown base coat with fawn stripes
- Lilac brindle: A light brown base coat with lighter stripes
- Fawn or reverse brindle: A fawn base coat with any of the above colors as stripes
- Brindle and white: A white base coat with brindle patches, which may be any of the above colors
Some “tiger striped” brindle Frenchies have very distinct and prevalent striping, while others may have smaller streaks that are less noticeable.
Brindle French Bulldogs may also have any of the markings accepted by the AKC, which include:
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- Black markings
- White markings
- Black mask
- Piebald (white with patches of brindle fur in one of the above colors)
Brindle French Bulldog Genetics
Brindle Frenchies are so rare because brindle fur is caused by a dominant gene called the K Locus. This means that puppies only have to inherit the gene from one parent.
French Bulldogs with two copies of the gene will always have either brindle or white puppies, with white being much rarer.
If a Frenchie has just one brindle gene, the puppies have a 50/50 chance of becoming brindle depending on which gene they inherit from that parent.
Blue and Lilac Brindle Genes
Blue and lilac are both recessive genes, with lilac being much rarer. This means that puppies must inherit two copies of what are called dilute genes, in order to make either their black or brown fur lighter.
Blue is a dilute black, while lilac is dilute brown. Unfortunately, dilute fur colors are linked to color dilution alopecia. This is a skin condition that is mostly aesthetic, causing fur loss, scaly skin, and small bumps on the skin. It can also cause itchiness and increase a Frenchie’s risk of skin infections.
Brindle Frenchie Markings
Brindle Frenchies may have white markings in their fur caused by the S Locus gene. Many brindle Frenchies have white spots on their chests, for instance.
The E Locus gene determines whether a Frenchie has a black mask, and the S Locus determines whether a brindle Frenchie is piebald, or has a white base coat with brindle patches. Piebald French Bulldogs may have any of the colors listed above in their brindle patches.
Brindle French Bulldog Health Issues
Brindle Frenchies don’t necessarily have health issues due to their coat color, but blue and lilac are both linked to color dilution alopecia. As we discussed above, this is a skin condition that causes fur loss, scaly skin, bumps on the skin, itchiness, and an increased risk of skin infections.
There is no cure for color dilution alopecia, though symptoms like itching can be managed with help from your veterinarian.
Although brindle French Bulldogs of other colors aren’t at risk of any specific health problems due to their fur color, they are still susceptible to the common health ailments of French Bulldogs in general.
Common French Bulldog health problems include:
- Difficulty breathing due to their short (brachycephalic) snouts
- Brachycephalic airway syndrome
- Eye problems
- Skin infections
- Ear infections
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Luxating patella
How Much is a Brindle French Bulldog?
Breeder Pricing
Brindle Frenchies are fairly common, so most of them will fall into the $2,000-$4,000 dollar range for a puppy from a breeder. Puppies with rarer brindle colors, such as lilac brindle, will likely cost more.
Please keep in mind that many Frenchies are not bred ethically. Purchasing from these types of breeders supports their unethical breeding practices – this is why I strongly recommend considering adoption.
Frenchies have short snouts, also known as brachycephalic. This leads to difficulties breathing in their day to day lives, and often difficulty exercising or tolerating the heat as well. Some dogs will have more extreme symptoms of brachycephalic syndrome, such as trachael or llaryngeal collapse.
In addition, French Bulldogs rarely conceive naturally–and it’s unsafe for them and their puppies to have a natural birth. So, Frenchies also need C-sections done by a veterinarian in order to have a safe, successful birth.
Rescuing a Frenchie
There are various ways you can rescue a French Bulldog, and they’ll typically all cost $500 or less. They include:
- Shelters
- Reputable rescues
- Rehoming
Remember to look into the place you adopt from first. Unfortunately, there are some breeding mills that call themselves “rescues” to seem more palatable–a big red flag is having only very young puppies to adopt out.
Make sure the rescue you adopt from is certified, meet where the animals are kept, and look for what other people are saying about the rescue online.
This is also true of rehoming situations–it’s important to really vet the person you’re adopting from, ask questions, and trust your gut.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are brindle French Bulldogs rare?
Not at all! Brindle French Bulldogs are one of the most common coat patterns since it’s caused by a dominant gene.
There are some variations of brindle that are rare, such as lilac brindle. However, a lilac coat is linked to an additional health problem in Frenchies called color dilution alopecia.
What are the characteristics of a brindle French Bulldog?
Brindle Frenchies have the same big eyes, large ears, and squished faces as any other French Bulldog. They stand 11-13 inches tall and weigh under 28 pounds.
Their coats have streaks or stripes. Typically, they have dark base coats with streaks of fawn. There are many possible brindle colors, including blue, black, chocolate, lilac, fawn, and piebald.
Some brindle Frenchies have very dramatic stripes, while others just have a few light streaks in their coat.
What is the difference between merle and brindle?
Merle Frenchies have light base coats with splotches of darker fur. They’re spotted, while brindle Frenchies are striped!
Some brindle Frenchies have just a few streaks in their coat, while others have “tiger stripes” that are much easier to identify.
Do brindle French Bulldogs shed?
Brindle French Bulldogs shed little, but you’ll still find fur around your house. If your Frenchie’s fur is very dark or very light, it’ll be easier to see on your furniture, carpeting, and clothes.
Brushing your Frenchie weekly will keep their coat healthy and reduce the amount they shed, as will bathing them every one to two months.
