Blue Brindle French Bulldogs have a distinctive striped pattern that makes them look something like a tiger however with blue and grey instead of orange and black. Their striking coat pattern paired with their affectionate temperament makes them highly sought after, fetching really high prices!
If you are interested in Blue Brindle French Bulldogs keep reading this article to find out the all the answers to your questions about this coat type!
Cover Image Credit: @frankandoliver2023
What Is A Blue Brindle French Bulldog?
A Blue Brindle French Bulldog has a diluted bluish-grey base coat with brindle stripes in a darker shade of grey. For a French Bulldog to have a blue brindle coat, they must carry the brindle gene on the K locus and the ‘blue dilution’ gene on the D locus. While Brindle Frenchies are generally quite common, Blue Brindle French Bulldogs are rare.
Blue Brindle French Bulldog DNA
The D locus affects the eumelanin pigment in a French Bulldog’s coat. Eumelanin is a pigment that is responsible for dark brown or black coats and when eumelanin is diluted, the result is a coat with a bluish-grey appearance, most commonly called a ‘blue’ coat. It is a recessive gene so they must inherit two copies of the dilute gene on the D-locus.
The K locus is in charge of the intensity and distribution of the brindle pattern. Within the K locus is the ‘kbr’ allele which is in charge of the brindle coat pattern and is dominant over the ‘ky’ gene. Frenchies that have one copy of the brindle allele and one copy of the non-brindle allele (kbr/ky) as well as ones that are homozygous for the brindle allele (kbr/kbr) will express the brindle coat pattern.
Are Blue Brindle French Bulldogs Rare?
Blue Brindle French Bulldogs are much rarer than other brindle coats. Brindle French Bulldogs with a fawn or cream base coat and darker stripes are actually a very common coat color. However, ones with a blue base coat are rare as ‘blue’ is not a recognized coat color by kennel clubs. As the coat color does not conform to breed standards, many breeders are not inclined to produce them.
On the flip side, some breeders will specifically breed this coat color because they know that there is demand for rare colors and that these Frenchies can be sold for a premium compared to standard coat colors. The blue brindle coat is quite alluring which means that they are often offered for sale.
However, be aware that these Frenchies may not have been bred ethically, especially if the breeder has bred specifically for coat color rather than prioritizing temperament and health.
Read Also: Brindle French Bulldogs (Blue, Black, Reverse, Lilac & More)
Kennel Club Recognition
Blue Brindle French Bulldogs are not recognized by kennel clubs unlike normal Brindle French Bulldogs. Blue is not an official color recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Kennel Club (UK) in the United Kingdom, the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) or the Federation Cynlogique Internationale (FCI) in Belgium.
The main reason why they are disqualified is because of the color dilution gene that causes the ‘blue’ coat. This is because there are some hereditary health risk surrounding the dilution gene, specifically color dilution alopecia (CDA).
Health Issues
Blue Brindle Frenchies are susceptible to a hereditary condition known as Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA). This condition can lead to the development of itchy and flaky bald patches in their coat. While it is not curable, it can be managed to prevent discomfort and potential infections on their exposed skin.
Unfortunately, there is currently no genetic testing for Frenchies to see if they carry the gene that causes this condition. This means that it is extremely difficult for breeders to minimize the hereditary risk of CDA when they choose dogs to breed together. Breeders can exclude Frenchies that they know are affected by this condition however you have to be very confident in your breeder that they take necessary steps like this.
Blue Brindle French Bulldog Price
How Much Is A Blue Brindle French Bulldog?
Blue Fawn French Bulldogs cost between $5000USD and $9000USD with most selling for prices around $6000USD. They are more expensive than Frenchies with common coat colors as the breeding process is much more complex, especially considering that ‘blue’ genes are recessive.
Overall, French Bulldogs are very expensive as there are many breeding challenges. They often have trouble with natural mating and have to be artificially inseminated due to their unique body structure. Female French Bulldogs often face issues with giving birth as well meaning that they have have to have caesarean sections which contributes to their overall cost. They also tend to only have two to four puppies in each litter which is tiny in comparison to other breeds that can have ten or more puppies per pregnancy.
Frenchies have also become extremely popular in recent years. According to the American Kennel Club, they are the most popular breed at the moment, surpassing Labradors and Golden Retrievers for the top position. Their demand often exceeds supply which has caused massive price increases.
Read Also: Blue Fawn French Bulldog Guide: Price, DNA, Names & More!
Blue vs Blue Brindle French Bulldog
Blue French Bulldogs have a solid blue coat while Blue Brindle French Bulldogs have a blue base coat with brindle markings. Blue Frenchies have charcoal grey fur which is the result of the dilution gene lightening their originally black coat. Blue Brindle Frenchies have the same colored base coat however it is covered in darker grey brindle markings making the blue color not as obvious.
| Blue Coat | Blue Brindle Coat |
| Diluted black coat. | Diluted black coat + brindle gene. |
| More common than blue brindle coat. | Rarer than a solid blue coat. |
Can Blue French Bulldogs Turn Brindle?
Blue French Bulldogs cannot turn into a Brindle Frenchie. Brindle Frenchies are born with the brindle pattern and it does not develop over time. Blue Brindle French Bulldogs develop the brindle pattern within the first few weeks of life so an adult Blue Frenchie could not turn into a Brindle French Bulldog.
Similar Coats
Reverse Blue Brindle French Bulldog
“Reverse Brindle” is an informal term used to describe a brindle pattern where the base color seems to be darker and the stripes are lighter – the opposite of a standard Brindle French Bulldog that has a light base coat with dark stripes.
In reality, there is no such thing as a true Reverse Brindle French Bulldog. They rather just have a different distribution of color intensity. Reverse Blue Brindle French Bulldogs appear to have a blue striped pattern on a darker background.
Blue French Bulldog
Blue French Bulldogs have a solid bluish-grey coat. They have a rare coat color but it is generally more common than Blue Brindle French Bulldogs.
Blue Fawn French Bulldog
A Blue Fawn French Bulldog has a fawn coat with a blue mask. The term “blue” refers to a diluted black color that is something like a soft grey, while “fawn” describes a light tan or beige color. The blue mask is present on their ears, muzzle and around their eyes. It is quite a rare coat color.
Blue Brindle French Bulldog Names
| Female Blue Brindle Frenchie Names | Male Blue Brindle Frenchie Names |
| Skye | Bluey |
| Coco | Smurf |
| Berry | Dory |
| Penny | Sonic |
| Hazel | Tiger |
| Poppy | Finn |
| Luna | Oscar |
| Mia | Charlie |
| Sadie | Leo |
| Frankie | Cooper |
| Matilda | Nicho |
| Roxy | Milo |
Further Reading
- Chocolate French Bulldog: Price, DNA, Name Ideas & More!
- Cream French Bulldog Guide: DNA, Price, Names & More!
- Brindle French Bulldogs (Blue, Black, Reverse, Lilac & More)
- Blue Fawn French Bulldog Guide: Price, DNA, Names & More!
- Lilac Fawn French Bulldog Guide: Price, Names, DNA & More!
- Black and White French Bulldogs – Everything To Know!
- Fawn French Bulldog Guide – Everything You Need To Know!