A French Bulldog is a class of a domestic dog, also known as “Frenchie,” they are the end product of a merger between the Toy bulldogs that were imported from England back in the 1800s, with the local ratters of Paris, France.
The breed is well-known for being an in house pet. Back in 2018, they were the first most prevalent canines registered in the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK). It became the fourth most American Kennel Club (AKC) – recognized and registered dog breed.
French Bulldogs are nowadays one of the most probable prospects for potential pet owners. With their big, pasta shell-like eyes, flat nose, and long bat ears, they give out a very adorable and desirable look.
They come in a variety of colors, but according to a lot of pet owners and breeders, it is tough to distinguish easily and textbook any particular shade of a French Bulldog.
They come in many colors oscillating from fawn French Bulldog to a blue French Bulldog, with or without patches and a price tag ranging from a few thousand to many.
Being a pedigree certified dog, French Bulldogs, like any other pedigreed dog, are high in demand.
French Bulldog Coat Types and Colors
French Bulldogs are respected and treasured as friends and companions for their love, loyalty, and smart character. When it comes to selecting a French Bulldog for yourself, the demand is always high for rarer, more unique colors, such as the blue French Bulldog or chocolate colored French.
Still, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC), these colors are not acceptable. They can be registered, but they are not allowed to present themselves on the stage.
They believe these colors are nothing but a fashion trend. It can be challenging to speculate and understand the color patters of a French Bulldog. And sometimes also hard to make out. But one would always question, why stress so much over the color, right?
That is due to a very delicate connection between the color of a French Bulldog’s coat and its health. Abrupt mating with random undomesticated dogs to create French Bulldogs made some of them prone to genetic health problems, which affects their growth and maturity.
All the possible colors a Frenchie could have:
Fawn: The shade has a wide range from dark to light. An actual fawn has a minor effect with a red cast in it.
Brindle: It is a color pattern made up of fawn and black hair patches. Depending on the color patterns of brindle, only then will one be able to decide and understand how a brindle coat appears to be.
Mouse: Mouse refers to the color “gray.” More like steel gray, blue-gray, and slate blue, according to the AKC policy and standards, none of these colors are allowed to show. The presence of a gray-colored hair leads to direct disqualification.
Liver: Refers to colors that revolve around the different ranges of the brown spectrum, a hint of red, or rust, mixed in with the shades of brown. This sort of tone can be tough to distinguish.
Chocolate: Surprisingly, another rare color of Frenchie that ranges from light milk to chocolate brown.
AKC French Bulldog Colors
Allowed colors and markings:
White
Cream
Fawn
Or any combination of fawn, cream, or white.
Ticked/ Registered
Brindle markings
Pie bald (pied)
White markings
Colors and markings that are not allowed:
Black and tan
Black and white
Blue
Blue and fawn
Liver
Merle
What is a Fawn French Bulldog?
Fawn stands amongst one of the accepted colors listed in most of the kennel club’s breeding standards, which includes fawn and fawn pied.
A fawn French Bulldog is known as one of the most official and registered breeds of the American Kennel Club (AKC) and by most of the other kennel clubs and breeders.
With many other shades of fawn, however, blue fawn and chocolate fawn were the two colors that were not acceptable as per most breeding standards. The AKC can register these two colors, but they are known to be a faulty description.
The fawn color itself resembles colors such as tan brown or beige.
Frenchies with a solid fawn coat’s coat ranges from cream to light tan, golden tan and reddish tan.
Fawn Pied/Piebald Spotting
Fawn Pied bulldogs range from a light color dog that covers with one or more dark color patches to fawn on white, on black, and so on.
While keeping all the other breeds in mind, the blue fawn French Bulldog is one of the rarest breeds of bulldogs, yet due to its legitimacy, although AKC approves of it, the race still isn’t allowed to represent itself.
Blue fawn, as mentioned before in AKC’s book of dog standards, is not an acceptable color.
Height: A fawn French Bulldog is generally about 11 to 12 inches tall.
Size: Males weigh 20 to 28 pounds, whereas a female weighs around 16 to 24 pounds.
Feeding: One and one and a half cups of high-quality, dry food, every-day daily twice.
Origin and History of French Bulldog
The breed of a French Bulldog in its present form derives directly from the dogs of Molossians, an ancient Greek clan.
The dogs were first brought in, throughout the ancient world, by Phoenician traders. British Molossian dogs bred with English Mastiffs, later a sub-breed of English Mastiff was then formed, called the Bullenbeisser.
They produced and survived for bull-baiting, a sports event that was set for dogs to harass bull, it was used as entertainment and theatre back in medieval Europe.
Around 1835, sports that inflicted pain and caused anything to bleed, such as bull-baiting was banned in England, leaving the bulldogs out of an actual purpose until people started using them as mating objects for business propositions and all non-sporting reasons.
However, around 1800, bulldogs had already been considered as pet dogs rather than sporting dogs.
For their size to reduce any further, bulldogs later mated with terriers and ratter dogs from the slums of England, and around 1850, Toy bulldogs had become such a trend in England that they started appearing in television shows and morning broadcasts.
When the Industrial Revolution began to settle in Normandy, France, the lace workers coming in from Nottingham, evacuated and entered into England and along with them brought in a variety of dogs, including Toy bulldogs.
The dogs became so popular and in a fashion that France ended up establishing a small trade in imported, miniature bulldogs with breeders in England, sending over bulldogs that they considered either too small or with genetic malfunctionings, such as tiny ears that stood up the whole time.
Eventually, the small bulldog was considered as a new breed and had received its name, Bouledogue Francais. The English version of this simply stands for a connection between a ball and a dog.
They were carried and sought after by high-end ladies of the society and Parisian prostitutes, as well as artists, writers, and fashion designers.
Edgar Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec, in their records, have been thought to have paintings of French Bulldogs.
Other Facts About French Bulldogs
The complete book for dogs “Official Breed Standards and All-New Profiles for 200 Breeds, 21st Edition” became the official publication of the American Kennel Club (AKC) and set forward, official breed standards for all canines that are recognized by the AKC.
The specifications for French Bulldogs declare that:
The breed should be muscular with loose and soft curls forming into wrinkles.
The maximum standard weight, according to the AKC for a French Bulldog, is considered to be 28 pounds.
The head should be prominent in size and square-shaped.
The ears should be the kind that resembles the ears of a bat, long and pointy.
AKC approved eyes for French Bulldogs are supposed to be dark or almost black.
The coat on a French Bulldog should be short, excellent cut, silky and smooth.
Acceptable colors, according to the AKC for a French breed, are different shades of brindle, cream, fawn, and white with patches of brindle, also known as pied.
Any other color patterns other than these are not AKC approved because some colors accompany a-long with them genetic health problems that you will not commonly find in the actual breed itself.
For a French Bulldog, such health problems also include:
Alopecia: Also known as “Blue Dog Coloration,” causes baldness or extreme hair loss. But due to its conflicted reputation, many organizations argue that the health, skin, and hair conditions of a French Bulldog are all the cause of melanin (color pigment) plodding in the hair shaft. Even though there are excellent chances that those dogs that are not blue have the possibility of being diagnosed with “Blue Dog Alopecia.”
Canine Follicular Dysplasia: This is the point where hair structure molecules are malfunctioning and behaving abnormally, causing alopecia or hair loss.
Hip Dysplasia: A transmissible condition, in which the femur doesn’t fit into the pelvic socket of the hip joint. This problem can occur with or without any sort of clinical signs. As a dog age, arthritis becomes one of the most prone diseases for their old age affecting one or both rear legs, causing fatigue, laziness, and pain.
Allergies: Three types of allergies are the most prevalent in dogs. Diet allergies, which are treated by refraining and cutting down on certain foods from the dog diet. Contact allergies; usually occurs due to a reaction caused by any sort of flea powders, dog shampoos, and other chemicals and inhalant allergies that are caused by mid-air allergens, such as mildew, dust, and pollen. The whole situation pretty much depends on the brutality of how severe the allergy is.
Hermivertebrae: The malformation for one on more vertebrae can cause pressure on the spinal cord leading towards pain, paralysis, and weakness. Vets believe in such a situation; there is no available treatment.
Patellar Luxation: A common health problem in small dogs, caused when the thigh bone, knee cap, and the calf are not properly fixated and keep getting out of its place, this can create an abnormal style of walking. It is an inborn disease present at birth. To fix, Patellar Luxation requires surgical repair.
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD): This occurs when the disc in one’s spinal cord ruptures or herniates and pushes upward into the spinal cord; this can happen due to age, stress, and trauma. It can lead to weakness and temporary to permanent paralysis.
Birth and Reproduction
To give birth, French Bulldogs often require Caesarean sections and artificial insemination; this is how they give birth to more than 80% of their litter.
A lot of French Bulldogs are incompetent when it comes to giving birth naturally; that’s because they are incapable of natural breeding.
Because of their body structures and very slim hips, the male dog is unable to come up to the potential of the female dog to reproduce naturally.
Temperament and Personality
Like every other dog breed, fawn French Bulldogs need to feel loved, cherished, and adored. For them, having close contact with human beings is as important as for any other canine.
If left alone for more than a few hours, there are chances a Frenchie may end up feeling depressed, resulting in separation anxiety, especially when they are young and moving forward towards maturity and life.
The tension may end up causing your fawn French Bulldog to act destructive and aggressive just to seek the owner’s attention.
But the same way, there’s also a very calm and a collective side to them. They’re very patient and affectionate towards their owners and are extremely people-oriented.
They can vibe with any-one pretty quickly, which makes them easier to train in comparison to all the other breeds. Although they can be very stubborn at times, they are one of the most certain exceptions to rank 109th position representing the level of canine intelligence.
Back in 1934, a fawn French Bulldog, named Princess Jacqueline was known to understand 20 words with absolute perfection in terms of reacting towards them.
Specific Needs and Care
There are specific health- care situations where pet owners should keep in mind when buying a French Bulldog:
They need a minimal amount of exercise, yet do require short walks daily.
Due to their flat face structure, too vigorous amount of exercise can result in dizziness, nausea, and heavy breathing, especially in hot weather where one should refrain from it the most.
While taking care of a French Bulldog, one must take into account that regardless of their subtle yet calm, people-oriented nature, they are also under the habit of thinking for themselves. Which means they can be stubborn and pretty fixated at precisely what it wants and how it wants it. However, many different techniques work successfully with this breed, it is better to keep them distracted by all the right things life.
Obesity: try not to overfeed a French Bulldog, and refrain from feeding them foods with high cholesterol and fat intake. The owners should keep track of all the things a French Bulldog would eat, keeping their calorie diet in check. Daily walks and exercise is the best way to keep a French Bulldog healthy.
It should be necessary for one to know that because French Bulldogs are not capable of swimming because of their bodily structure, it is vital to keep them away from any sort of water body, preventing them from drowning.
French Bulldogs, like other dog breeds, need occasional baths and brushing where it is necessary to choose the right brush that doesn’t bruise or effect the wrinkles on their skin.
AKC believes that bulldogs must have health evaluation tests such as a cardiac exam, ophthalmologist evaluation, and hip dysplasia so one can diagnose, any French breed before buying it.
A Quick Dog Care Guide for Fawn French Bulldogs
In case you’re looking to buy a puppy, it’s your first time, and you don’t know what to do, make sure to go through the guidelines to help you understand them better:
Clean Frenchie’s folds: Because fawn French Bulldogs have massive rolls of dark and moist skin on their heads that collect dirt, dust, and leftovers. If not regularly cleaned and taken care of, a Frenchie may easily end-up developing an infection. The best way to clean a Frenchie’s folds is with the help of wet baby wipes or wet towels.
Keep them clean and chill: Since Frenchies have tiny nostrils, it gets challenging to inhale enough air to cool off. In case your Frenchies start to pant, drool, and stay at one end of the house due to extreme laziness and fatigue, you need to immediately splash his fur with cold water and check if he feels dehydrated. And always make sure to keep a clean bowl of water in-case he has to clean or drink fresh water during the day.
Clean your Frenchie’s ears: Since their ears are that big and long, things such as dirt, grass, and dust can find a place to reside. Therefore it is highly essential and indispensable to clean their ears with the use of a special ear ointment.
Regular bathing is a “must”: In many cases, most Frenchies have sensitive skin that is prone to diseases. That’s why one needs to keep paying attention when buying cosmetics for animals.
Tail pocket cleaning: Small dogs, with short tails, end up collecting dirt and feces that can cause all the little damage and a severe tail pocket infection.
Regular grooming: Fawn French Bulldogs, luckily, only need regular grooming, and the best way to do that is with the help of a grooming glove, which makes it possible for the owners to reach all the hard body parts.
Choose the right harness for your fawn French Bulldog: Dog harnesses cover almost the whole body of the dog and support them. Because puppies don’t know how to walk obediently on the leash and are at a higher chance of getting neck injuries from all the excessive pulling. French Bulldog’s harness made out of fantastic soft material that will not cause any skin irritations.
Be careful around water: Frenchies don’t know how to swim. Pretty much as soon as they go in, they sink like rocks.
Make sure to keep your Frenchie with you most of the time: Frenchies simply can’t live away from their humans, and so develop a condition called separation anxiety. They tend to follow their owners around and are always looking for ways to get their attention.
Prevent obesity: No matter what you feed the dogs, they will keep eating, simply because they love food, to stop that one should check with BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) for their dog’s diet.
Trim nails: Make sure you trim your dog’s nails now and then otherwise, he may experience some serious issues regarding nail infections and terrible planes while walking.
Food and dietary requirements:
For a Fawn French Bulldog, it is their instincts to love the outdoors and play with everyone that comes by.
Every canine comes with its specific level of energy, depending on the dog’s personality and how old it is.
When planning a dog’s nutrition, their health and age should be your priority to keep a check.
French Bulldogs rely on food that is easily digestible, filled with lean animal proteins, carbohydrates and contains all kinds of varieties of fruits and vegetables.
French Bulldogs require protein that comes from muscle meat, but nothing processed. The meals must contain protein that has a nutritional value because that is the only way your pet will ever have the energy or the nutritional value that it desires and benefits him in terms of a better life and better health.
For the sugar levels to stay stable, it is crucial to make complex carbohydrates a part of your dog’s nutritional intake. Feeding your dog sweets, and unnecessary carbs will burn them as soon it tries to give away this energy towards fun and games, causing the sugar levels to drop way before their actual time. Due to this, you must provide your dog with foods like potatoes, fruits and vegetables, and brown rice that maintains his strength and energy.
An un-balanced nutritional diet, after some time, starts to show on the coat of your pet dog. Other than carbs and protein, one should consider feeding their pets a well-balanced diet that includes healthy fats, minerals, and vitamins, keeping in mind that your dog should be healthy and beautiful, especially happy.
Fawn French Bulldogs have a variety of health-related problems that sometimes can be quite challenging. One of them being allergies, both airborne and food-related, that when it comes to an adverse reaction from food, the first most common symptoms to take note are rashes, skin irritation, itchiness, diarrhea, and vomiting.
The perfect way to keep your dog safe from such sufferance is to avoid anything that is either processed or injected with steroids that also create a fat mass in foods so people can buy them more. The best source is to provide your pet with whole food meals.
Hypothyroidism is another issue that occurs in Frenchies where the thyroid stops producing enough hormones, not any different from the case of people. The condition results in low levels of energy. Any canine with a case of hypothyroidism would be less active and more disposed to gaining weight. Obesity is a common problem in small breed dogs because of their petite bodily structure and compact built.
One needs to remember that because all French Bulldogs are “brachiocephalic snouts,” they have a hard time trying to breathe and cool themselves down in such hot weather. Which is why French Bulldogs have limited workout options. That’s why it is the potential owner’s duty and responsibility to refrain from feeding their dog anything that can affect their health negatively.
Pros and Cons of Keeping a Fawn French Bulldog
Pros
Minimal barking: Where Frenchies tend to make all sorts of other noises that dogs do, such as snoring, grunting, and talking, one thing a fawn French Bulldog doesn’t do much, is bark. They bark under certain circumstances, especially when people confront them, the ones they haven’t seen or heard of before, or in times when they are scared.
Temperament: Fawn French Bulldogs, with their friendly and subtle demeanor, make amazing companion dogs that are suitable for all sorts of families. They are incredibly well-behaved in nature, around visitors and other animals. All they ever look for is an open lap to cuddle and sleep. Being a tiny breed, they’re pretty easy to handle and to take care of, easily adjustable and flexible to its surroundings.
Low maintenance grooming: Frenchie requires a short, silky coat that only extends to a minimal amount of grooming to keep their skin healthy and shining. A little brush helps remove any loose hair and divides natural oils equally all over and around the coat, maintaining its beautiful shine. They shed less because of their elegant cut coat.
Minimal exercise: If you’re naturally a lazy person and wish to have a pet at home, the fawn French Bulldog is the ideal choice for you. It is a breed that doesn’t need a lot of exercises to stay healthy, however a lot of cuddles and comfort when lying next to their owner. Basic walking, or just roaming around the house would be sufficient enough for a Frenchie to keep active and healthy.
Cons
Health complications: The biggest, most major issue in owning a bulldog are their complicated health issues such as breathing problems. Not being able to cool themselves down, aggressive, disruptive behavior in hot weather and humid temperatures, eye conditions, and also skin and food allergies.
Drooling: A lot of different breeds of dogs tend to drool, and Frenchies are no exception. The drooling is a way for French Bulldogs to cool themselves down when their bodies heat up
Expensive: To own and cater to a dog like Frenchie; has its demands and is highly costly. To buy one from a reputable breeder could cost you anywhere from $1400 to $8500. You should also keep in mind the cost of vaccinations, grooming, food, and appliances.
Stubborn tendencies: Where some fawn French Bulldogs are kind and loving, some are extraordinarily stubborn and rigid, especially when it comes to trying to train them for basic commands, leash training, and potty training. To prepare your dog, it takes a lot of patience, and the will power to keep going.
Final Thoughts
After keeping both the pros and cons in mind, the risks and factors associated with owning a fawn French Bulldog signify that whoever is willing to hold this specific breed has to keep in mind the number of health risks that come along with it.
I believe owning a fawn French Bulldog sounds more expensive than one could have thought.
People don’t buy pets, so all they could do all day was watch after them, but instead, they buy them for their comfort and emotional support.
They need to be loved and cherished the same way anyone would want to expect for themselves.
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