Brindle French Bulldog: The dog with tiger stripes

French Bulldogs are adorable dogs. They are charming and cute. And have a lot of love to give. But, besides this, they also look irresistible too. You just can’t help but smile when you see their funny little faces. There are many kinds of French Bulldogs. But, one that strikes out the most is the Brindle French Bulldog.

The Brindle Frenchies have stripes on their bodies. Just like a tiger! But are they the classic Frenchie? Or are they different from their Frenchie brothers and sisters?

That’s what we’re going to find out! In this article, I’ll take a look at what makes the Brindle French Bulldog different. Is it only their coat, or is there something else? And also answer the question of what makes this breed a good canine companion for us humans!

Brindle French Bulldog – Complete guide to the rare Frenchie

First, let’s explain what brindle means. The brindle color is actually one of the oldest in the Frenchies. It looks like tiger stripes. It’s when Frenchies have irregular stripes and streaks in their coat. Usually, those streaks are lighter than their fur. So, they have light stripes that are almost a milky color, while their base coat is dark. Many people think that it’s vice versa but remember light stripes, milky color – dark base coat.

This pattern looks quite interesting. Whoever sees a Brindle Frenchie on the street they can’t take their eyes off of them.

But, where does the Brindle color come from? We know that a dog’s coat color is determined by the pigment they inherit. There are two pigments in dogs:

• eumelanin, which is the black color

• phaeomelanin, which is the red color

Even though there are so many coat colors in dogs, all of them are a result of one of those pigments. But, how is it possible to get so many different colors? It’s because of genes. Both of those pigments can get diluted and changed by a dilution gene. So, that dilution gene can turn black into grey or dark brown.

And it’s the same for the Brindle color. Genes and genetics are complicated topics, we don’t want to lie to you, but we’ll try to keep it simple.

So, a dog’s genes determine its color pattern. Those genes are lettered with the mutation found at the K locus, responsible. Now, there are three different gene variations at this locus gene. One of these gives a dog a black coat, so a dark coat. The second is a default option from one of the parents. And the third makes a dog brindle and the dog will get a Brindle coat.

Purebred dogs

Brindle Frenchies are purebred, unlike the Merle French Bulldog which we already talked about. So, they have all the characteristics of a French Bulldog and they are recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Just like every other Frenchie, the Brindle is between 11 and 12 inches tall. The males weigh around 20 to 28 pounds. But, the females weigh a little less with 16 to 24 pounds.

They have great personalities. They are loyal and loving. And a bit goofy. The Frenchie loves spending time with their family. Just cuddling and playing around.

So, there is no difference between classic Frenchies and the Brindle Frenchie! Well, except the coat color. But, let’s take a look at the Frenchie personality.

Personality

This wouldn’t be a complete guide to the Brindle French Bulldog if we didn’t talk about the personality of this breed.

French Bulldogs, which were bred primarily as companion dogs, need a lot of love and affection from their family. They like playing with children and other dogs just as much as they enjoy sitting on the couch. We’ll be honest, French bulldogs might not be the smartest beans out there, but they are clever in their own way. These dogs are also goofy and make an easygoing companion for any dog lover.

The Frenchie is extremely loving and devoted. This breed will thrive with an owner that spends a significant amount of time at home, such as if you work from home. They’ll be content simply laying next to your feet while you work.

Because Frenchies may be naughty, they require an owner who will be consistent, stern, and patient with them. Aside from that, they are quite intelligent and will learn rapidly.

This is a clever, affectionate dog who desires and requires a lot of time with his owners. The French Bulldog, a fun-loving freethinker, responds well to training when it is done in a positive manner with lots of food rewards, praise, and play. You should also know that they have high exercise needs, so long walks and play sessions are a must with this breed.

One important part of their personality is that they are a talkative breed. French bulldogs may not bark often, but they do like “talking.” The dogs can create the appearance of their own language by using a complicated system of yawns, yips, and gargles. They will occasionally sing along with you in the car. The best example of this is Walter the Frenchie.

Cost of a Brindle French Bulldog

The Brindle French Bulldog is a rare breed. So, does that mean they are more expensive? Yes! If you want a Brindle French Bulldog, you will have to pay more money. In fact, a lot more money.

The average price of a Frenchie puppy is somewhere around $2000. But, for a Brindle Frenchie puppy, which comes from a good breeder, the average price will be between $5000 and $9000.

Yes, a very hefty price! But why is that? Why do they cost so much?

This is because for Frenchies having puppies isn’t easy. French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed. Brachycephalic short-skulled dog breeds have usually very small litters.

Generally speaking, French bulldogs will have on average around two or three puppies at a time. The instances where a French Bulldog had more than 5 puppies are very, very unusual. How little this is you’ll understand when we tell you that large breeds, a Golden retriever for example, usually have eight puppies in a litter.

When they are giving birth, it usually happens with a c-section which can cost anywhere between $500 and $2,000. Breeders will take that into account too. Another reason why Frenchies are generally expensive is that most of them are born through artificial insemination.

The dogs have difficulty copulating due to their odd dimensions. Males have a difficult time contacting females, and they frequently become hot and fatigued when attempting to initiate contact. As a result, artificial insemination is used to produce the vast majority of French bulldogs. While this step raises the cost of each litter of puppies, it also allows breeders to screen for any abnormalities throughout the breeding process.

Health

Brindle French Bulldogs cost more. But are they healthier than ordinary Frenchies? Given that they cost so much more, they should also be healthier, right?

No, sadly Frenchies are known to have many health issues. And their price has nothing to do with that.

Before you get a Frenchie you should know that they can get very sick. I don’t want to scare you. Your pooch might not get sick. But, you should be aware of these problems. That way you can recognize the symptoms. If your dog has any, of course.

The reason why the French Bulldog is not the healthiest breed is that they are a Brachycephalic dog breed. Because of the way their skull is shaped, they are prone to more health issues than other breeds.

If you don’t know what Brachycephalic means, it literally means “short-headed,” and it refers to the fact that their nose is shorter than it should be. This on the other hand makes them prone to difficult, obstructive breathing. That condition is also known as Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome.

Some of the health problems Frenchies can have:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Brachycephalic Syndrome
• Obstructive Airway Syndrome
• Hemivertebrae
• Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
• Von Willebrand’s Disease
• Cleft Palate
• Elongated Soft Palate

Health issues in detail

Let’s go more into detail when it comes to the most common conditions of French Bulldogs. Other than respiratory problems, Frenchies can suffer from a variety of other health issues:

• Allergies – Frenchies can be allergic to a variety of things. Diet allergies (due to food), contact allergies (due to shampoos or other chemicals), inhalant allergies (pollen, dust, mildew), or skin allergies are examples.

• Canine Follicular Dysplasia – It occurs when the hair structure molecules fail and behave improperly. This results in alopecia, or hair loss.

• Hermivertebrae – A deformity of one or more vertebrae can put pressure on the spinal cord, resulting in pain, paralysis, and weakness.

• Elbow and hip dysplasia – A disorder in which the “ball and socket” joint of the hip does not develop properly in puppies

• Eye problems – since their eyes are so large and protrude so much. The most common conditions that affect a Frenchie’s eyes is Cherry eye. Cherry eye will make the eyes of your dog irritated, reddish, and with a tissue protruding on the corner of the eyes.

• Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) – occurs when a disc in a dog’s spinal cord ruptures or herniates and pushes upward into the spinal cord. This illness is dangerous since it can result in paralysis.

• Skin fold dermatitis – Skin fold dermatitis is an infection in a pocket between two folds of skin. It happens because skin fold pockets are warm and moist, providing a perfect place for bacteria and yeast to grow.

• Color dilution alopecia – Is a serious condition that affects dogs with a “diluted” coat color. It’s a genetic recessive inherited condition that causes patches of hair thinning or loss, and may also include flaky and/or itchy skin. There isn’t a known cure.

Pet insurance

You have to take the best care of your Frenchie. But, because of all the very common conditions, the Frenchie can suffer from, it also means the vet bills will be very high. So, we always advise dog owners to get pet insurance for their canine companions.

Pet insurance is similar to health insurance policies that you would get for yourself or your family. It basically helps to lessen the overall costs of expensive veterinary bills of your pet. Of course, there are different types of pet insurance, for example, pet insurance that entirely covers vet procedures or pet insurance that partly covers expensive veterinary procedures.

Types of brindle

There isn’t only one brindle color. There are many types of Brindle French Bulldogs or Brindle coat variations. All of them have distinct features.

1. Reverse Brindle French Bulldogs

The rarest kind of Frenchie is the Reverse Brindle. These dogs have a white or cream color coat with dark patches. So, these dogs have a Brindle and white coat. In my opinion, they are also the most interesting-looking Frenchies.

2. Brindle Blue French Bulldog

Next, we have the Blue Brindle French Bulldogs. These Frenchies have a blue grayish color coat with a light brindle pattern.

3. Pied Brindle French Bulldog

Pied Brindles are very similar to reverse Brindles. They also have white or cream color coats. But, there is one big difference. They have at least one patch around their blue eyes.

4, Chocolate Brindle French Bulldogs

We also have the Chocolate Brindle Bulldogs. They have milk chocolate brown color coats. They also have brown noses and nails, but they usually have blue eyes.

5. Tiger Brindle French Bulldogs

Tiger Brindles, just like their name suggests, look like tigers! This is because they have a dark-colored coat with white stripes.

6. Seal Brindle French Bulldogs

Lastly, we have the Seal Brindle Frenchies! These Frenchies usually have a darker coat with a few lighter colors mixed in. But pay close attention. Their stripes are light, so they can sometimes go unnoticed. Don’t mistake them for one color Frenchies.

Conclusion – Brindle French Bulldog

The French Bulldog is a great dog. Especially the Brindle Frenchie. Their nature is very interesting. They are playful and have a lot of energy. But, they are also loyal and lovable. They are the full package.

But, Merles cost a fortune! And besides this, they tend to get sick a lot and require the best care. So there are many pros and cons to this breed. If you really want one, then accept their health issues too. There is no way around it. Sadly.

But there are many good things and interesting facts about this breed too! For example, they were bred to be canine companions for us humans. So you can rely on your Frenchie to be always with you and give you all his or her love and affection.

These dogs even make great babysitters! You read that right. A French Bulldog makes a great babysitter for kids! The best proof of this is the story of Malone the orangutan and Bugsy the French Bulldog.

When a newborn orangutan named Malone was abandoned by his mother, the Twycross Zoo in England wasn’t sure if he’d survive. Fortunately, Bugsy, a 9-year-old French bulldog, stepped in and took care of the little man. The two became fast friends, even falling asleep together. Malone joined the other orangutans at the zoo when he was old enough.

So, as you can see there is so much about these dogs to appreciate and love, but just like any other living being, they require a lot of care and love to thrive. So, if you can’t give that to your dog, please don’t get one in the first place. Don’t get us wrong, but there are so many people who just get a dog to show them around, and that is not the right reason.

Heads up

Lastly, we also want to give you a heads up. There are many websites and online platforms where different people are offering all kinds of dog breeds for peanuts. But, just because you can buy a dog for cheaper, doesn’t mean you should. There are so many questionable breeders out there who are just interested in making money and don’t care if they are selling you a healthy puppy. Believe us when we tell you that they will sell you a sick puppy without any second thought, without caring for the poor animal.

So please, when you’re buying a puppy, make sure you’re buying from a reputable breeder, not sketchy online platforms. Someone you can really trust. If you don’t know where to buy, you can check out AKC’s website and get a list of reputable breeders. Another option is to ask your vet for recommendations on good breeders. And, if one of your friends or acquaintances has a Brindle French Bulldog, you can ask them from whom they bought the dog. Maybe they can give you a name or contact. It’s much safer for you and better for the poor dogs in puppy mills.

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