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15 French Bulldog Colors & Patterns (With Pictures)

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By Nicole Cosgrove

French Bulldog

Taking over the Labrador Retriever’s 31-year reign as the most popular breed in the U.S. was certainly no simple feat, but it’s finally happened. French Bulldogs have been growing in popularity over the last decade, so much so that they’ve dethroned the Lab as the most beloved breed in America, and it’s not hard to see why.

These sweet, mild-mannered pups are as playful as they are affectionate. They’re a laidback and chill breed, though they do have a mischievous side. The goofy yet highly intelligent Frenchie makes a great family pup, so we certainly can’t blame you if you’re considering adopting one. However, one of the most difficult parts of choosing a French Bulldog to add to your family is deciding which color your new pup should be. There are nine AKC-recognized Frenchie colors, but more than two handfuls exist. Read on to learn about the French Bulldog’s 15 color and coat patterns.

The Most Common French Bulldog Colors

dog fur colors french bulldog

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The 15 French Bulldog Colors and Coat Patterns

Some dogs only come in a limited number of colors. However, such is not the case for the French Bulldog. As a matter of fact, there are 9 Frenchie color combinations that are accepted by AKC standards for show dogs and so many other color combinations otherwise.

1. White French Bulldogs

white bulldog
Image Credit: Pxfuel

This color choice can be a bit misleading. Although they appear to be pure white, these pups are technically considered to be pied. Upon super-close inspection, you’ll find that the base coat for these dogs is actually fawn (a sandy brown) but has been completely overrun by white spots—which gives the dogs an illusion of being pure white. This is one of the accepted color standards for an AKC show dog.


2. Cream French Bulldog

french bulldog
Image Credit: VDB Photos, Shutterstock

These cream French Bulldogs are similar to white-coated Frenchies. However, instead of a bright snowy white, this color is more of an off-white or eggshell color. Like the white French Bulldog, there will be no other patches of color around the body. The Cream French Bulldog is another AKC-accepted color standard.


3. Fawn Frenchies

fawn bulldog
Image Credit: Pxfuel

In terms of color, Fawn is a brownish color for dog coats. And this isn’t just a single spot on the color palette. They range anywhere from a light sandy brown French Bulldog to an almost deep reddish-brown color. One thing to note is that Fawn colored pups often come with a black mask or a darker fawn (or black) stripe down their backs. These are another AKC standard breed color, though they’re often considered to be a brown French Bulldog.


4. Fawn and White Frenchies

Frenchie Pei Dog Breed Info
Image Credit: ElfinFox, Pixabay

This is an AKC qualifying color combination for the French Bulldog. It’s a coat in which the predominant color is fawn with white patches, spots, and accents.


5. White and Fawn French Bulldog

french bulldog
Image Credit: Vikafoto33, Shutterstock

In this particular color combination, the dominant color is white while the accenting color is fawn. Again, the fawn may range from dark to light in different shades. And just like its opposite, this color is an AKC-recognized combination.


6. Brindle French Bulldog

french bulldog
Image Credit: KPV89, Shutterstock

One of the most popular color patterns—not just on Frenchies, but other breeds, too—is the brindle French Bulldog. Brindle isn’t just a color, but more of a color pattern. It’s a pattern made up of different predominantly dark shades usually with one more pronounced than the other. Dogs with this color coat often have thin black stripes running throughout leading this particular pattern to be known as “tiger-striped” or “tiger-brindle”. The brindle Frenchie is another AKC-accepted coat.


7. Brindle and White French Bulldog

brindle and white french bulldog playing with a ball
Image Credit: Kossi007, Pixabay

In this color combination, Brindle is the predominant pattern with secondary white spots and patches. These patches are normally found on the dog’s chest and neck area. Brindle and white is another dog show certified color combination.


8. White and Brindle French Bulldog

french bulldog
Image Credit: Liliya Kulianionak, Shutterstock

This is the opposite color palette of the previous coat. This time it’s the white color being dominant with patches of Brindle found on the coat. The brindle patches are commonly located on the mask and neck area of the dog. However, brindle patches may be found along the body. This is yet another color combination accepted by the AKC.


9. Fawn Brindle French Bulldog

french bulldog
Image Credit: Wasitt Hemwarapornchai, Shutterstock

The last AKC recognized color pattern for the French Bulldog is Fawn Brindle. These pups have a predominantly fawn coat with secondary Brindle accents.


10. Black French Bulldog

black french bulldog
Image Credit: Jagodka, Shutterstock

The all-black French Bulldog is a highly sought-after variant. Their coats are solid black with no traces of any other colors or brindling.


11. Blue Frenchies

french bulldog
Image Credit: Angyalosi Beata, Shutterstock

Purely blue French Bulldogs are actually quite rare. And that’s because, for their coat to be pure blue, the dog must have been bred from two recessive blue gene parents. There is also speculation that this color has been linked to alopecia more so than other colors.


12. Blue Fawn French Bulldog

Blue fawn French Bulldogs are actually much more common than a pure blue. That’s because fawn comes from a more dominant gene. You’ll often see that these dogs have an underlying blue while the fawn takes up a more outward color appearance.


13. Blue Brindle French Bulldog

Another blue variant is the blue brindle. These however are quite rare and likewise more costly. They have a splendid blue base with a brindle pattern marking on top. Many of these pups have light-colored eyes as well.


14. Chocolate French Bulldog

This is perhaps the rarest of all French Bulldog colors. That’s because the color actually comes from two copies of a recessive gene—similar to the blue French Bulldog. However, you’ll need to be a bit careful when selecting a pure Chocolate French Bully.

That’s because there is no DNA test that can identify the chocolate gene. One good rule of thumb is this though: If the eyes look like chocolate, it’s probably a chocolate Frenchie. But this isn’t always the case. Chocolate French Bulldogs can have many different eye colors, but the chocolate-colored eyes and coat will often give it away.


15. Pied Frenchies

french bulldog
Image By: Lukas Maverick Greyson, Shutterstock

French Bulldogs of this variety are commonly confused with the Boston Terrier. And that’s because pied Frenchie coloring is most commonly white with black spots and patches. With similar body structures and ears, it’s easy to see the confusion. Either way, these pups are absolutely adorable and one of the more popular color combos for French Bulldog owners.

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Coat Grooming and Care

French Bulldogs are a short-haired breed and require much less brushing than many other dogs. Once a week brushing should suffice to keep their coats in check.

However, it really isn’t their fur you need to be concerned about when it comes to care and grooming. It’s their skin. French Bulldogs are prone to skin disorders. Many Frenchies have sensitive skin, which can produce rashes, infections, or lesions due to excessive scratching. While some French Bulldogs require medicated shampoos, we recommend using a shampoo specifically designed for sensitive and dry, itchy skin such as Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Dog Shampoo.

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Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a mild-mannered family dog, a French Bulldog may be just the breed you’re looking for. They’re wonderful little pups with big personalities and even bigger hearts. And if you’re also looking for a particular color coat, you’ve got some serious options when it comes to this breed.

The biggest thing you need to consider though is keeping their coats clear and clean with a non-irritating shampoo and grooming routine. This will ensure that whatever French Bulldog color you decide is best stays healthy and intact.

 

Featured Image Credit: ivanovgood, Pixabay

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