The French Bulldog is one of the most popular dog breeds. They come in many different colors, some standard and some described as fad colors.
A Frenchie color that some people struggle to visualize has a name more commonly associated with a young deer than the shade of a dog’s coat!
The Fawn French Bulldog is a breed standard with a coat that varies in shade from light fawn to red fawn. Since the breed originated, Fawn French Bulldogs have been popular and many Frenchie patterns contain some fawn color. Fawn is not classed as one of the rare colors for this breed.
Types of Fawn French Bulldogs
Fawn describes several shades of French Bulldog coat. The color ranges from a pale fawn to a deeper color known as the Red Fawn French Bulldog.
Some are recognized by the American Kennel Club, and some are not.
According to official breed standards, the following Fawn coats deemed acceptable are:
- Fawn
- Fawn and white
- Fawn and cream
The following markings and patterns are also possible in any of the accepted Fawn coats:
- Brindle
- Piebald (Pied)
- Black mask
- Black shading
- White marking
- Ticking
Non-standard fawn combinations include:
- Blue Fawn
- Chocolate Fawn
- Fawn Merle
- Blue Fawn Merle
The solid Fawn French Bulldog
When a French Bulldog’s coat consists of one shade of fawn and no other colors, markings, or patterns, it is referred to as having a solid fawn coat. The color can vary in shade from light fawn to red fawn.
A true solid Fawn French Bulldog coat has no other markings at all and every individual hair of the dog is one shade from root to tip.
A pale solid Fawn Frenchie is not much darker than a cream Frenchie whereas a Red Fawn Frenchie has a dark tan colored coat.
The Fawn and White French Bulldog
A Fawn French Bulldog is mainly Fawn-colored with a flash of white on its chest. Again, the shade of fawn can vary from pale to dark.
The Fawn and Cream French Bulldog
This Frenchie is similar to the Fawn and White but instead of white fur, it has cream. Sometimes the cream and fawn are similar in color and sometimes there’s a more noticeable contrast.
The Fawn Brindle French Bulldog
Brindle is a pattern of irregular stripes of a darker color through a dog’s base coat color.
A Fawn Brindle French Bulldog has a shade of fawn fur with brindle striping. This pattern is also referred to as tiger-striped.
In Fawn Frenchies, these darker brindle patterns often only become noticeable once puppies reach 4 weeks of age.
The Fawn Pied French Bulldog
Pied or piebald is a term used to describe a Frenchie’s coat with blotches of two colors.
For a French Bulldog to be officially classed as Fawn pied or piebald, it must have at least 50% white or cream fur with patches of fawn fur across its face, head, neck, and body.
You might occasionally see a fawn pied Frenchie with a slightly lower percentage of white or cream background.
The Blue Fawn French Bulldog
A French Bulldog with mostly fawn fur and a mask of blue fur around its muzzle, eyes, and ears is referred to as Blue Fawn.
Blue Fawn French Bulldogs are very sought after and difficult to come by because they are relatively rare. This is because two copies of the a recessive gene that causes dilutiond must be inherited for blue fur to develop.
The dilution gene is responsible for grey coloring and a brindle gene causes the patchy appearance of the grey mask across this dog’s face.
The Chocolate Fawn French Bulldog
A Chocolate Fawn French Bulldog has fawn fur and a chocolate mask. The chocolate color ranges from milk chocolate to dark chocolate in color.
The Fawn Merle French Bulldog
The Fawn Merle French Bulldog has a speckled coat and is quite a rare find.
Fawn Merle French Bulldogs have what is known as a merle gene which removes pigment from random patches of their Fawn coats.
The result is a random patched pattern of paler fur among what otherwise would have been a solid Fawn coat color.
Variations include the Lilac Fawn Merle. To develop a Lilac Fawn Merle coat, a Frenchie pup must inherit two copies of the black gene, two copies of the dilution gene, two copies of the chocolate gene, and one copy of the merle gene.
Incidentally, the merle gene also affects a French Bulldog’s eyes, nose, and paw pad coloring.
Fawn French Bulldog health
French Bulldogs are prone to health conditions associated with brachycephalic breeds. What this actually means is their flat face and short nasal passages can lead to breathing problems.
One fawn color variation, the Blue Fawn Frenchie can develop Color Dilution Alopecia(CDA). This can vary in severity and often doesn’t manifest until Blue Fawn French Bulldog puppies reach about 6 months of age.
CDA is a recessive genetic condition that afflicts Frenchies who have two copies of the recessive dilution gene which is responsible for the blue fur in their coats. Symptoms include:
- hair thinning
- hair loss
- itchy, flaky, sore skin
- mangy, dull coat
Although it can’t be cured, CDA is not a fatal condition. It can be managed with prescribed products from your vets such as shampoo and skin lotion.
Fawn French Bulldogs can also develop any health conditions that other color Frenchies are prone to, including:
- Allergies – Often triggered by food or environmental factors.
- Brachycephalic-related problems – Caused by therir short muzzles.
- Cherry Eye – Related to the dog’s third eyelid moving out of position.
- Cleft Palate – Often genetic and manifests as a problem with the opening in the roof of the mouth.
- Deafness – A genetic condition more common in the white French Bulldog.
- Degenerative Myelopathy – A serious problem that affects their spine and tends to affect older dogs.
- Distichiasis – A genetic problem related to the eyelid, affecting how it grows.
- Entropion – Another hereditary problem affecting the eyelids.
- Heat Exhaustion – Occurs because the French Bulldog cannot regulate its temperature easily which can lead to serious health problems if not addressed quickly.
- Hemivertebrae – A deformity of the spine present at birth.
- Hip Dysplasia – A hip condition that causes mobility problems and can require surgery.
- Patellar Luxation – A painful condition where the kneecap dislocates or develops in an abnormal position.
- Stenotic Nares – A narrowing of the nostrils.
- Tracheal Collapse – . A respiratory disease related to the windpipe.
- Von Willebrand’s Disease – A bleeding disorder, similar toHemophilia.
Do Fawn French Bulldogs shed?
All dogs shed, even the short-haired French Bulldog. Blue Fawn Frenchies are prone to CDA so can lose more hair than other colors.
Regular grooming removes loose hair at minimizes the amount shed around your home. Correct treatment of CDA will help to prevent excess shedding.
What makes a French Bulldog fawn?
Having a coat that’s very light tan color through to a reddish tan makes a French Bulldog fawn. Picture the color of a baby deer (also known as a fawn) and then imagine that in lighter and darker shades to get an idea of the fawn coloring.
Some Fawn shades are almost yellow looking.
Are Fawn French Bulldogs popular?
Although plain Fawn Frenchies are not as popular as Brindle or Pied versions, they are still quite common in different shades.
How much is a Fawn French Bulldog?
It is not easy to give an exact price for a Fawn French Bulldog because it depends on several variables such as availability, bloodlines, and demand.
The French Bulldog is a popular breed and on average, United States breeders charge $2,800. But prices can range from $1,700 to $5,000.
In the UK, a French Bulldog puppy costs an average of £3,000.
Why are Fawn French bulldogs so expensive?
French Bulldogs are not straightforward to breed which means they are expensive.
People whose hearts are set on owning a Fawn Frenchie are willing to pay extra if necessary to secure one and so breeders are able to command high prices.
If a Fawn Merle French Bulldog has blue eyes it is often one of the most expensive. Such a dog could cost up to $5,000.
Do Fawn French Bulldogs have blue eyes?
Adult Fawn French Bulldogs generally have brown eyes.
When they are born, Fawn French Bulldogs have blue eyes. This is actually an optical illusion caused by the absence of melanin (the color pigment) at birth. Though their eyes appear blue, they have no color at all.
French Bulldog puppies will not open their eyes until they are about 1 or 2 weeks old and this is when you’ll first notice their blue color.
From this point, melanin will start to develop, and over the coming weeks, the dog’s adult eye color will develop.
Most Fawn French Bulldogs develop brown eyes but Fawn Merle Frenchies can have pale blue or green eyes.
Other useful Fawn French Bulldog facts
Lifespan
The life expectancy of a Fawn French bulldog is 10 to 12 years, the same as for any other color. However, Frenchie owners must keep a close watch for health problems.
Annual vaccinations and health checks are recommended, as is a healthy diet and the correct level of exercise.
Air travel is not recommended for dogs with short muzzles because of associated breathing difficulties.
Also, Fawn Frenchies (like any other color) cannot swim verty well because of their large head and short muzzle, so keep them away from water or always use a doggie life jacket.
Size
Like other colors, Fawn French Bulldogs can weigh up to 28 lbs and grow to a height of 11 to 13 inches.
Frenchies can easily become overweight so ensure you feed one the correct amount of qulaity food to prevent it from developing weight-related illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.
Characteristics
A Fawn French Bulldog has a square head, a short muzzle, wrinkly face, and the Frenchie trademark bat ears. Its body is compact and muscular.
In general, Frenchies have smooth, short coats that are easy to care for and require minimum grooming.
Because of its short muzzle, this breed tends to be a mouth breather and consequently drools more than the average dog!
Frenchies can also be a bit smelly but there are definitely ways to combat this feature.
Temperament
A Fawn French bulldog has the same gentle, friendly temperament as those with other coat colors. They are idal dogs to have around children because of their playful, outgoing natures.
Being a sociable breed, the Frenchie prefers someone to be in the compnay of people and does not like to be left alone.
Some Frenchies are quite stubborn and wilful at time but if one chooses not to go where you want, you can simply pick it up and carry it!
Ideal for
A Fawn Frenchie can fit into various lifestyles. It’s robust enough to live with energetic children and gentle enough to reside with a senior owner.
Because it’s a small dog, a Frenchie doesn’t require a great deal of walking which makes it ideal for someone with low fitness levels.
It’s fine to have a French bulldog in an apartment as long as you have access to a fenced outside space or are able to take it for a couple of walks a day.
Fawn French Bulldog: in summary
Most Fawn French Bulldog variations are a recognized color with governing bodies such as the American Kennel Club (AKC).
There are three acceptable Fawn coats and 6 differerent patterns or markings that can occur in each. This makes a possible 21 variations of Fawn. There are also at least 4 non-standard Fawn coats.
Frenchies Fawn coats are prone to the health conditions that affect other colors. If they have blue in their coats, they may develop CDA in those areas.
You may find Fawn French Bulldogs are more expensive at times when there are not so many available to meet the demands of would-be owners.
The Fawn French Bulldog is a sweet dog but when you are buying one, its overall health should be your top priority rather than its color.
A responsible breeder should always put breeding healthy dogs above producing specific colors and patterns.
Bear this in mind when searching for a Fawn Frenchie. After all, there’s no point in owning a Frenchie with the color of your choice if it has an miserable, short life blighted by health issues.
My advice is to always choose a reputable breeder, and always compromise on color in return for a happy, healthy French Bulldog.
