An extensive guide of French Bulldog colors and patterns - TomKings Blog

30 Rare and Standard French Bulldog Colors

In our experience, there are two types of people looking to adopt a Frenchie puppy: those who just want a family member and don’t care about the looks and those who have their preferences and know exactly what they’re looking for. If you’ve just started out your research and don’t really have an idea yet, we’ve got your back! In this extensive guide we’ll explain all the important French Bulldog colors and patterns!

French Bulldog colors

If you’re a Frenchie fan, you probably know that this amazing breed comes in a variety of different colors and patterns. The first thing you need to know is that there’s a distinction between standard French Bulldog colors like fawn, black, cream and rare colors like blue and lilac that have become really popular in recent years. Some of these may look very similar or even identical to an untrained eye, but once you learn the subtle differences you’ll be able to tell the different colors apart. 

French Bulldogs with only one color are said to have a solid coat. However, in most Frenchies there’s at least another color present in the form of a pattern. So, in addition to colors there are also various patterns in French Bulldogs that make them even more unique looking. From traditional Frenchie patterns like brindle and pied to the more exotic tan and merle markings you can choose from a wide range of choices. And we haven’t even mentioned yet that combinations of these patterns are also possible! 

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Ultimate Frenchie Color Chart

It’s easy to get lost in the diverse world of French Bulldog colors, so first we’ll include a chart with the most important colors and patterns, then we’ll explain them in more detail later on in the article.

Color/PatternDescriptionStandard/Rare
BlackSolid black with no other colorRare
RedLight brown with a reddish shade, black maskStandard
Red fawnSame as red with an ashy shineStandard
BeigeLighter shade of fawn with black maskStandard
CreamWhite with a yellowish shadeStandard
BlueGrey with a bluish shineRare
Blue fawnLight fawn with blue maskRare
LilacLighter grey with an ashy shineRare
Lilac fawnLight fawn with lilac maskRare
Lilac sableSame as lilac fawn with darker fur on their backRare
PlatinumWhite with unique geneticsRare
IsabellaSimilar to lilac with brownish shade and unique geneticsRare
WhiteSolid white Standard
ChocolateLight or dark chocolate brownRare
BrindlePattern of random fawn streaksStandard
Black brindleBlack with light fawn streaksStandard
Blue BrindleBlue with light fawn streaksRare
PiedPattern of colored patches on white coatStandard
Black piedWhite with black patchesStandard
Red piedWhite with red patchesStandard
Blue piedWhite with blue patchesRare
MerlePattern of darker mottled patches on lighter coatRare
Black merleBlack mottled patchesRare
Blue merleBlue mottled patchesRare
Lilac merleLilac mottled patchesRare
TanPattern of fawn markings on paws, chest, cheek, eyebrowsRare
Black and tanBlack with tan pattern Rare
Blue and tanBlue with tan patternRare
Lilac and tanLilac with tan patternRare
Merle and tanMerle and tan patterns combinedRare
FluffyLong hairRare

The Best French Bulldog Colors

Black Frenchies

Pure black Frenchies are quite easy to recognize as they possess no traces of other colors. What we mean by that is that they have a solid black coat color with no brindle pattern (more about that later!); sometimes they have a white patch on their chest giving them a unique look. Pure black French Bulldogs are actually not as common as one would think, which makes them rather special. One thing is for sure, when you look at a black Frenchie, you immediately understand where the nickname ‘batpig’ comes from!

Black color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Red Frenchies

Like the name suggests, red French Bulldogs have a light brown coat with a reddish shade. These puppies usually have black markings around their muzzle (and eyes) called a mask, and they also tend to have a white patch on their chest. If you’re after a more traditional look, a red Frenchie is the one for you.

Red color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Red fawn Frenchies

Red fawn French Bulldogs are essentially the same as red Frenchies with a reddish shade of fawn color, but their coat has a sort of ashy shine. These puppies also tend to have a black mask and dark markings around their eyes and ears.

Red fawn color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Beige Frenchies

The color beige in Frenchies is also very similar to red, but it is a lighter shade of fawn. Beige French Bulldogs usually have a black mask but can also be maskless. Whether you end up choosing a red, red fawn or beige Frenchie, you can’t go wrong, they are all beautiful!

Beige color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Cream Frenchies

Cream Frenchies have a unique eggshell color. Their coat is distinctively different from even the lightest fawn colors, being almost white with a bit of yellow in it. Cream Frenchies have no markings on any part of their bodies, so it is considered a solid color. Their nose, lips and paw pads may be pink or a somewhat darker almost black color, and in rare cases they may have forever blue eyes.

Cream color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Blue Frenchies

Blue French Bulldogs are essentially grey whose color may vary from light grey to almost black. What makes them stand out is the bluish shine in their coat that is most visible when the light touches them. They often have a white chest which gives them an even more appealing look. These beauties definitely attract a lot of attention: blue has arguably become one of the most wanted Frenchie colors in the world.

Blue color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Blue fawn Frenchies

Blue fawn in French Bulldogs is a combination of a light fawn color and blue. More specifically, these puppies have blue parts around their muzzle and eyes instead of black, and their light coat has a beautiful bluish shine. Similarly to blue, this rare French bulldog color has become one of the most popular among our adopters in recent years.

Blue fawn color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Lilac Frenchies

Lilac French Bulldogs are often mistaken for blue Frenchies, but they are much more unique and harder to come by. Lilac Frenchies have a very light, almost ashy or silver color which gets lighter and lighter as they age. To produce this rare and beautiful color, the parents have to be blue and chocolate or at least a chocolate carrier. Lilac French Bulldogs usually have light-colored eyes such as yellow, light brown and blue which are glowing red.

Lilac color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Lilac fawn Frenchies

Lilac fawn Frenchies look very similar to blue fawn Frenchies, but they are much rarer! Lilac fawn French Bulldogs have a light fawn coat color with an ashy or silver shine rather than blue, and their mask is also of a lighter, ashier grey. They have light eyes that are glowing red, and similarly to lilac Frenchies, both of the parents need to carry blue or chocolate to produce this unique color.

Lilac fawn color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Lilac sable Frenchies

Lilac sable French Bulldogs are almost the same as lilac fawn Frenchies, but these puppies have black fur growing evenly all over their bodies, especially on their back. This gives their coat a bit of a darker shade rather than being ashy.

Lilac sable color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Platinum Frenchies

The platinum color in Frenchies is optically similar to albino but retains some luster in their coat as opposed to the pure white seen in albino. It is also similar to a light cream color but it is off-white or sort of silver-looking. What makes them special and highly valuable for breeding purposes is that they carry the most colors in French bulldogs: whichever color a platinum Frenchie is mixed with, the puppies will be of that color. They are certainly very rare and unique dogs.

Platinum color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Isabella Frenchies

Isabella French Bulldogs are considered the rarest in the Frenchie world. Similarly to lilac Frenchies, they are the combination of blue and chocolate but they have a much more unique greyish liver coat color. Isabella Frenchies are extremely hard to come by, which makes them incredibly valuable for breeding purposes.

Isabella color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

13. White French Bulldog

Even though white is considered a standard French Bulldog color, an all-white Frenchie is still very rare. They are not to be confused with cream Frenchies who have a more yellowish shade of white. Sometimes pied Frenchies (more about that below!) may appear all-white, having only a small patch of another color somewhere on their body.

14. Chocolate Frenchies

You have probably guessed already that chocolate French Bulldogs have a chocolate brown base coat, which may vary from a light to a really dark brown. The chocolate gene is considered rare in the Frenchie world so these puppies are quite unique. Like with most colors, chocolate Frenchies’ coat may be solid brown or have some patterns like tan or brindle.

The Most Stunning Frenchie color patterns

If you think that by now we’ve covered most of the variations of Frenchie colors, you’ll be surprised that the best is actually yet to come! In addition to all the colors we’ve introduced above, there are also various patterns in French Bulldogs that make them even more unique looking. From traditional Frenchie patterns like brindle and pied to the more exotic tan and merle markings, you’ll certainly find one that steals your heart!

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Brindle Frenchies

The brindle pattern is by far the most common in French Bulldogs. Brindle Frenchies have a base coat color like black or blue and have fawn hairs all over their bodies resulting in light streaks. Depending on the mixture of black or blue and fawn hairs, these Frenchies can range from very dark to very light. ​Brindle Frenchie puppies may also have a white chest or other small areas of white. They usually have a black nose and dark colored eyes.

Black brindle Frenchies

Black brindle color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Blue brindle Frenchies

Blue brindle color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Pied Frenchies

Pied French bulldogs’ coat color is predominantly white, with clearly marked patches of another color like black, red or blue covering parts of their head and body. The way the pattern is distributed and the proportion of the white and the other color on the coat can be quite variable from Frenchie to Frenchie, making them really unique and beautiful! Pied is considered a traditional pattern but is also quite rare at the same time.

Black pied Frenchies

Black pied color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Red pied Frenchies

Red pied color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Blue pied Frenchies

Blue pied color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Merle Frenchies

Merle French Bulldogs are probably one of the most distinct and unique looking dogs in the Frenchie world! They have mottled patches around their bodies which can be of various colors ranging from blue, black or even lilac in rarer cases. Merle is quite a dominant gene so it is passed down easily, and if you’re thinking about breeding your Frenchie one day, it’s important to know that they should never be bred with another merle bulldog.

Since the merle gene affects the skin pigment as well, when a merle patch crosses the eye area the Frenchie will have bright forever blue eyes. Sometimes only one of the eyes will remain blue, which is a phenomenon called heterochromia. If you’re after a truly special Frenchie, a merle might be the one for you!

Black merle Frenchies

Black merle color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Blue merle Frenchies

Blue merle color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Lilac merle Frenchies

Lilac merle color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Tan Frenchies

French Bulldogs with a tan pattern have a solid base color with red or beige markings on their paws, chest, bottom, cheek and eyebrows. Usually the more distinct the color difference is, the more beautiful these Frenchies look! The range of different color variations is quite broad from black, blue, lilac, chocolate, and combinations with other patterns like merle is also possible. People love these Frenchies because they are simply adorable!

Black and tan Frenchies

Black and tan color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Blue and tan Frenchies

Blue and tan color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Lilac and tan Frenchies

Lilac and tan color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Choco and tan Frenchies

Choco and tan color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Merle and tan Frenchies

Merle and tan color French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

Fluffy Frenchies

The demand for fluffy French Bulldogs has largely increased during recent years (as we explained in this article by the New York Post). The long hair gene responsible for their amazing furry look is also known as the Fibroblast growth factor, and can be found with all the color combinations of black, blue, chocolate or lilac. Despite the huge demand, fluffy Frenchies are still very rare and we usually have only a couple of litters a year.

Fluffy French Bulldog TomKings Puppies

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Frenchie colors accepted by the AKC

From all the color variations discussed above, you might be surprised that the American Kennel Club only recognizes nine standard colors (rare colors can still be registered with the AKC under a standard color). Some of them have different names than the ones mentioned, let’s see what these are:

ColorExplanation
Brindle Black with light fawn streaks
Brindle & WhitePredominantly brindle with white patches
CreamSolid yellowish white
FawnLight brown
Fawn & WhitePredominantly fawn with white patches
Fawn Brindle & WhiteFawn with brindle pattern and white patches
WhiteSolid white
White & BrindlePredominantly white with brindle patches
White & FawnPredominantly white with fawn patches

If you’re planning on competing with your Frenchie in dog shows, you’ll need to choose a one of these official colors as all rare colors are disqualified unfortunately.

Summary

You’ve seen that there are about 30 different color variations in Frenchies. That is considered quite a large number in the canine world as not many dog breeds have such a wide range of different colors. That means that any Frenchie lover will definitely find their favorite when looking for a new puppy, but one should be aware that rare colors are always in a higher price range. Make sure to read our Ultimate French Bulldog Price List to learn more about the factors affecting a Frenchie’s price.

FAQ

What are standard French Bulldog colors?

The standard French Bulldog colors are cream, white, brindle, fawn, and combinations of the last three.

What are rare French Bulldog colors?

Rare French Bulldog colors include solid black, blue, lilac, platinum, Isabella and chocolate together with patterns like tan, merle plus the long-haired fluffy.

Ultimate Guide
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What is the most expensive Frenchie color?

The most expensive Frenchies are fluffies with a price range of 6,000 USD to 12,000 USD. Usually the rarer the color of a Frenchie, the more expensive they are. 

What are the most popular Frenchie colors?

Some of the most popular French Bulldog colors and patterns include brindle, fawn, blue and merle.

Which Frenchie color is your favorite? Tell us in the comments! 🙂

If you can’t get enough of our Frenchies, join our Facebook group called TomKings Frenchie Family to see our puppies in their forever homes!

The article is based on the expert knowledge of the TomKings Puppies team who have been breeding French Bulldogs for 10 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and their customers, and show puppies from their breed. Check their available French Bulldog puppies, or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article.

Comments

14 thoughts on “30 Rare and Standard French Bulldog Colors”

  1. Thank you for pointing out all the styles. My red fawn is coming in July and i can hardly wait🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

  2. Your Frenchie puppies are beautiful AND built so well! 😍
    I am looking forward to having one of your pups when our beloved Frenchie is no longer with us. (Sadly, her days are numbered becsuse of her serious heart condition.)

    1. Thank you so much, Vicky! I’m sorry to hear that your sweet Frenchie is unwell! We will be here for you if you need help.

    1. Hi Lisa,

      These colors are absolutely beautiful, I can’t wait to find the puppy of your dreams for you. We have sent you an email, please check your spam folder too. 🙂

    1. Hi Debbie!

      As platinums carry all colors, you can breed them with a color you want for the puppies to be. 🙂

  3. I have a lilac tan point merle. Is it true that I can only breed him to solid color? No pie, Merle’s or brindle?

    1. Hi Megan,

      It’s true that you cannot breed him to merle because it can result in health problems but you can do it to pied or brindle without any problems. 🙂

  4. Does the color around a puppy’s nose fill in? I notice puppies having spotted noses, but most of the adults I’ve seen online have noses that are almost all one color

    1. Hi Robin,

      No, they not always fill in entirely. Sometimes as they grow, there are some changes but they usually keep their patterns. 🙂

  5. A very informative and knowledgeable article. It has made it very hard to choose as what color to get. Will need your guidance when necessary.
    Sajjad Mahdi
    Member Managing Committee
    Kennel Club of Pakistan

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Available
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Peterson, the cheerful

Lilac and tan

, French Bulldog,

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01.14.2024.

Thomas, the gentleman

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Oisin, the charismatic

Blue merle and tan

, French Bulldog,

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Jana, the joyful

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Girl,

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Kaia, the keen

Blue

, French Bulldog,

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Ayanna, the amazing

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