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Blue Fawn French Bulldog and its health issues

Blue Fawn French Bulldog and its health issues

French Bulldogs are beautiful dogs. Wherever they go, someone will be looking at them. In fact, they are even the second most popular dog breed in the world! What’s also special about them is that they also come in many colors. There are many exotic French Bulldog colors such as the Cream French Bulldog, Pied French Bulldog, White French Bulldog… And one of the absolutely gorgeous and popular choices is the Blue Fawn French Bulldog.

If you are thinking about getting a Frenchie we would absolutely suggest to go for it. Well, if you will be able to provide for them, of course. But all in all the French Bulldog is a loving dog. They are kind, gentle, and a bit goofy. But, depending on the color, there are a few differences.

Now, there won’t be differences in their nature or build. But their difference can lie in their health and genetics. If you want to learn more about what makes the Blue Fawn French Bulldog so special, keep on reading. We have a complete guide prepared for you.

French Bulldog Breed History & Origins 

The French Bulldog originated in English cities as a toy-sized variant of the Bulldog. The breed was popular among Nottingham lace workers, and when many lace workers went to France for greater chances, they naturally brought their small bulldogs, their pet Bulldogs with them turning them into French imports.

After that, a small number of Bulldogs were brought to France and introduces as perfect dogs for catching mice. Soon, the rich and famous started to like these dogs, but they wanted a smaller version of them. That’s when other breeds such as Pugs and Terriers were crossbred with the Bulldog and the French Bulldog came to life. In 1836 the so-called “Toy Bulldog” or miniature Bulldog appeared for the first time at a dog show in London.

It was now so different from the English Bulldog that the French Bulldog or Bulldog Frances became a separate breed. The French Bulldog experienced an absolute peak of popularity around the turn of the 20th century when King Edward VII got one too! Back then they were mostly owned by the high society, specifically society ladies. They were also the ones who first displayed them at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in the nineteenth century!

The French Bulldog flourished in France and Europe, and his allure was quickly recognized by Americans. The first French Bulldog was seen in the United States in 1896 at the Westminster Kennel Club show. The breed was promptly given the moniker “Frenchie,” which is still used affectionately today.

While you’re here read more about the French Bulldog colors:

Blue Fawn French Bulldog – What to know

French Bulldogs can be many colors. Some of the most popular Frenchie colors are:

We also have a fluffy French Bulldogs or also called long-haired French Bulldogs. The American Kennel Club recognizes 11 colors of the Frenchie. The acceptable coat colors are:

  • Fawn
  • Fawn & White
  • Brindle Fawn
  • White & Fawn
  • Fawn Brindle & White
  • White
  • Brindle
  • Brindle & White
  • White & Brindle
  • Cream
  • Cream & White

In the recent years, the AKC also approved of some different patterns and white markings. Some black shadings can also be seen on the base color of this dog population.

But, to be honest, it doesn’t matter what color Frenchie you get. All of them have the same personality. But, if that’s true, what makes the Blue Fawn French Bulldog worth mentioning?

Well, there are many reasons why to talk about them. And we’re going to go over each and every one of them.

Physical Appearance of the Blue Fawn French Bulldog 

A Blue Fawn Frenchie has a fawn-colored coat with a blue mask. If you’re wondering what a mask is, it’s the fur on a dog’s face. So, their muzzle, the area around their eyes, their forehead, and ears have a blue color to them. Their eyes can be light brown, blue, or green.

But, we have to disappoint you, their face isn’t literary blue, it’s actually grey. It’s just called blue.

Now, before we go on, it’s important to state that there are fawn Frenchies that have a black mask. Keep that in mind, it’ll be important later on.

When it comes to the rest of their body, they look the same as every other Frenchie. They are muscular dogs with short coats. Usually, they are between 11 and 13 inches tall and weigh between 16 and 28 pounds.

blue fawn french bulldog
A Blue Fawn Frenchie has a fawn-colored coat with a blue mask

Colors and genetics

A dog’s coat color is created from two pigments: eumelanin and pheomelanin. Both of these pigments have a default color, but that color can be altered by genes.

Right now we’ll focus on the eumelanin pigment. That pigment is responsible for a black coat. But, when that pigment is altered by a dilution gene, the black color will turn into a lighter color. In this case, black turns into blue/grey.

This gene is a recessive gene. And for Frenchie’s black mask to turn into a blue mask, both of his parents need to be carrying that gene.

So, if two French Bulldogs carry that recessive gene, then their puppies won’t have a black mask, but a grey mask. Their mask color will get diluted.

Blue Fawn French Bulldog Temperament 

The Blue Fawn French Bulldog pretty much has the personality of a regular Frenchie. This dog adores his or her human family and makes an attempt to communicate with them on a daily basis.

The hue of a blue fawn has nothing to do with its temperament or behavior. Potential owners should be aware, however, that because Frenchies were bred to be companion dogs, they have a hard time adjusting to being alone. When left alone, they develop separation anxiety, which manifests itself in destructive behavior and barking.

This breed will thrive with an owner who spends a lot of time at home, for example, if you work from home. They’ll enjoy just lying next to your feet while you work. They will probably also follow you from room to room. That’s how much they love being around their owners!

Frenchies tend to be a bit mischievous, so they need an owner who will be consistent, firm, and be patient with them. While we´re talking about patience, training them will also require a little patience because the dogs tend to be stubborn. But compared to other dogs they are on the easier side to train.

Besides this, they are also very smart and will learn very quickly making them a great option for almost everyone! That is as long as you make it seem like a game and keep it fun! Even though they don’t need a lot of exercises, to keep their weight under control daily walks are advisable.

Health

French Bulldogs are not a very healthy breed. And when you add the color dilution, like with the Blue Fawn French Bulldog, to that the issues become even bigger.

Some of the health problems your French Bulldog can face are:

  • allergies – it can be allergies to food, enviromental allergies (polen and perfumes), skin allergies and so on
  • degenerative myelopathy – which is a neurological condition
  • elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia – a condition where the “ball and socket” joint of the hip does not properly form in puppies
  • different eye issues – this is because they have suc big eyes and because they protrude so much
  • issues with breathing – Frenchies are very prone to Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome

Besides these health issues, the Blue Fawn French Bulldog is also susceptible to a hereditary condition called Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA). Because of this condition, their coat can become itchy, flaky and they can even get bald spots. Sadly, this condition can’t be cured.

This is why it’s important to buy your puppy only from a reputable breeder. Someone who did gene testing on the parents and knows their puppies will be healthy. This additional cost could be crucial to know if your dog has any type of a genetic disorder. 

The most common Blue Fawn French health problems explained

Color Dilution Alopecia

Color dilution alopecia (CDA) is a hereditary recessive inherited disorder that causes thinning or loss of hair in spots, as well as flaky and itchy skin. The disorder is most typically found in dogs with a blue or fawn coat and is related with those who have “dilute” color.

While CDA cannot be cured, it is very easy to control. Your veterinarian will advise you on the best course of action. Shampoos, rinses, and/or ointments may be used to treat dry skin, scaling, and surface infections. To treat a more serious skin infection, your veterinarian may prescribe oral medicines.

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome is a collection of disorders caused by the body conformation of dogs with short noses.

Short-nosed breeds have a compressed skeleton, resulting in a variety of abnormalities in their nasal canals, spines, and tails, but typical quantities of skin and soft tissue. Because their soft tissue is too large for their skeleton, brachycephalic dogs have a lot of skin folds on their faces and bodies.

Inside the body, similar folds and extra soft tissues cause a variety of blockages, including in the airway. These skin folds frequently cause dermatological problems and may require surgical resection.

Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia

Canine hip dysplasia occurs when the hip joint becomes unstable as a result of both developmental and environmental factors. Dogs are prone to this bone and joint disorder. The femur does not meet the pelvic bone appropriately, causing the bones to wear out prematurely.

Later in life, your dog may develop arthritis, which can be excruciatingly painful. This ailment shows itself as a peculiar walk, shaky posture, or limping, all of which are plainly seen in your beautiful pup. To preserve your dog’s quality of life, discuss care with your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Patellar Luxation

This is a condition in which the kneecap isn’t properly anchored, which makes it slip out of position and mechanically lock the leg. After a few steps, the kneecap ‘unlocks’ allowing the dog to carry on. While mild cases can be managed with pain control, some dogs will require surgery.

Allergies

Allergies to pollen, mold, and dust cause people to sneeze. Instead of sneezing, allergies in dogs produce itching. Atopy is a name used to describe a common skin allergy in these puppies. The feet, tummy, skin wrinkles, and ears are the most commonly affected locations. Symptoms normally emerge between the ages of one and three, and they can get worse as time goes on. Licking the paws, stroking the face, and recurring ear infections are the most prevalent allergy symptoms. The good news is that these diseases can be treated in a number of different ways.

Cataracts

In older canines, cataracts are a common cause of blindness. The lenses of his eyes become more opaque—in other words, hazy rather than clear. Many dogs adapt well to losing their vision and live happily ever after. Surgical removal of cataracts and restoration of vision may also be a possibility.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy is an eye ailment that might have a negative impact on the quality of life of your dog. This usually happens later in life as a result of retinal degeneration. Retinal dysplasia is the name for the early-onset type, which is observed in puppies. This is when the retinal cells do not mature properly.

The dog becomes partially or completely blind in both cases. While the disease isn’t unpleasant, it can have a significant influence on your dog’s quality of life. Consult your veterinarian about your dog’s alternatives, as well as what to do if he becomes blind.

Heart Problems

All dogs are susceptible to heart disease, which should be treated properly even if it is moderate. Dogs, like humans, are susceptible to heart disease if they have a bad genetic history as well as unhealthy habits such as obesity, lack of exercise, and insufficient socialization.

Dogs can avoid heart disease by eating well-balanced meals, exercising regularly, and getting regular exams.

Obesity

The greatest approaches to keep your dog from acquiring too much weight are a well-balanced, whole-food based diet and regular exercise. You can assist prevent further strain on your dog’s spine by keeping them fit and healthy. Any sudden weight gain should be taken seriously because it could suggest a more serious health problem, such as hypothyroidism. Consult your veterinarian as soon as possible if your dog begins to gain weight, appears lethargic, or becomes easily fatigued.

Are Blue Fawn French Bulldogs rare?

Now that you know all of that info you can’t help but wonder: Is the blue fawn Frenchie rare to find? In theory, the Blue Fawn French Bulldog should be pretty rare to find. But is that really true?

Well, let’s go back to the scientific talk. They’re the outcome of a recessive genetic combination that’s usually hidden by other, more dominant genes.

Breeders that desire to produce blue fawn puppies can readily ‘engineer’ their litters. However, it’s unusual for breeders to purposefully make dogs that violate their own breed standard.

Blue fawn Frenchies, on the other hand, have gotten a lot of attention from pet owners who want something a bit different and unique. Like we already said, the Frenchie is very popular worldwide. So if you want your dog to stand out, the easiest thing to do would be choose a rare color.

The demand for this unusual color combination made morally corrupt breeders realize that they could get an easy cash grab by focusing on the Fawn color. Unscrupulous breeders and puppy farms will seek to profit wherever they can. And these pups are no exception.

As a result, blue fawn French Bulldog puppies are often more expensive than ‘regular’ Frenchies. Unfortunately, because the breeder bred for color and profit rather than health, these dogs are frequently even sicker than the normal Frenchie.

To avoid making their puppies more tempting to profiteering puppy farmers, good breeders generally refuse to charge more for unusually colored puppies on principle.

Should I get a Blue Fawn French Bulldog?

We can’t say either yes or no to this question. Like we already explained, the French Bulldog is one of the most popular dog breeds. People all around the world love them, and this color combination is especially sought after because they aren’t as common as other colors.

However, as unique and adorable as these pups might be, know that they come with a lot of potential problems. First of all, the French Bulldog in general is a dog breed known to have very poor health. They are a brachiocephalic dog breed, which means that their snout is smaller than usual. This is causing a lot of breathing problems, which on the other hand is also causing a lot of other health problems as well.

All of these health problems can affect your blue fawn Frenchies, with the extra danger of developing color dilution alopecia. As a result, we are unable to encourage the breeding of these puppies and do not propose that you assist breeding by purchasing one puppy for yourself.

Some countries have even banned the breeding of all brachiocephalic dog breeds, because they believe that the health issues these dogs go through are way to sever. So you will have to decide for yourself if you still want to support the breeding of French Bulldogs. If you really want a Frenchie, rehoming an older dog from a shelter is a better option.

Their poor health is also the reason why so many Frenchies are left in shelters. When their family realize they can’t afford the veterinary expenses involved with their care, Frenchies are one of the most common breeds surrendered to shelters. There are even rescue, fostering, and adoption organizations dedicated solely to French Bulldogs in some areas.

Conclusion

Like we already explained, the Blue Fawn French Bulldogs are in theory very rare. And nature would want it that way. What are the chances breeders will breed two parent dogs with the same genetic issue? Very slim. But, many people want an unusual dog. So, breeders turn to questionable means and will do whatever it takes to get a litter of Blue Fawn Frenchies.

But, the problem is that breeders know of all the health issues that can come up and all the risks. But they don’t care. All they are interested in is the profit. That’s why they will even ask for more money for an unusual colored puppy.

So, if you want to buy a Blue Fawn French Bulldog, just remember how those puppies came to life. And don’t support bad breeders.

Blue Fawn French Bulldog FAQ

What is a Blue Fawn French Bulldog?

You’ve probably heard of a Blue or Fawn French Bulldog, but what exactly is a Blue Fawn French Bulldog? A Blue Fawn French Bulldog has a primarily fawn body with a mask-like blue tint on the face. Because the Blue Fawn Frenchie isn’t very common, they can be fairly expensive to buy.

Does the AKC recognize Blue Fawn Frenchies?

You won’t find blue-fawn among the AKC-approved Frenchie colors. That’s because Blue isn’t a common French Bulldog hue, and having a Blue Fawn coat disqualifies your dog from dog shows.

Although owners of Blue Fawn Frenchies are unable to register their dogs with the AKC, this does not imply that their pets are inferior to regular French Bulldogs.

What is the difference between a Blue French Bulldog and a Blue Fawn French Bulldog?

The fundamental difference between a Blue French Bulldog and a Blue Fawn French Bulldog is that Blue Frenchies have a fawn coat with a charcoal grey or diluted black mask, whereas Blue Fawns have a fawn coat with a charcoal grey or diluted black mask. This is due to recessive dilute genes that the Blue Frenchie does not have. Instead, their coat is in darker blues and they have markings of different shapes. 

Is a French Bulldog Blue Fawn hypoallergenic?

The Blue Fawn Frenchie is not allergy-friendly. They produce a lot of dander, which can cause allergies in certain people. It is advised to avoid owning a French Bulldog if you are allergic to dogs.

Is the Blue Fawn French Bulldog a good family dog?

The Blue Fawn Frenchie is a wonderful family pet. Their maintenance needs aren’t high at all, and all they need is a loving home and a cool place to lay in, to keep their body temperature regulated. They are quite friendly and playful, and they like being in the company of others. Frenchies also know how to behave in the presence of children. They are vulnerable to larger, more aggressive dogs due to their size, although they get along nicely with smaller pets.

Do Blue Fawn French Bulldogs need a lot of exercise?

Blue Fawn Frenchies, like all French Bulldogs, do not require much exercise at all. They can keep themselves happy and healthy with a 20-minute walk around the block. They do, however, require daily walks to maintain their bodies in condition. Avoid overexertion since the Blue Fawn Frenchie is prone to overheating.

Are they good apartment dogs?

The Blue Fawn Frenchie is a very versatile breed that can thrive in almost any environment. He’s ideal for folks who live in apartments because he doesn’t take up a lot of room. They also enjoy being in human companionship and prefer family settings.

What is the Blue Fawn French Bulldog grooming like?

Basically the same as with any other French Bulldog. The blue gene will not change how much your dog sheds or how often you have to bathe him. The average Frenchie has short hair that needs to be brushed only a couple times a week. These dogs need bathing every three to four weeks. However one important step in grooming is making sure you brush their teeth at least a couple times a week. They are prone to dental infections like all other brachiocephalic dog breeds. 

My name is Jackie and I am a veterinarian with a degree in veterinary medicine. With extensive experience in treating various animals, I am known for my compassionate and personalized approach to animal care.