What is a Fawn Frenchie?
Fawn refers to a specific coloring found in French Bulldogs. The specific gene required for the Fawn coloring is located in the A Locus and can lead to three different effects. Fawn is the dominant gene making it the most common. The other two genes are Tan point and Recessive Black.
Fawn can come in a number of different shades meaning two different Fawn Frenchie’s could look very different in Color.
Tan point is the second most common gene in the Fawn Genetics and is recessive to the Fawn color. This means that if one of the parents pass on a Fawn gene then the Tan point will not be present. The only way to guarantee a puppy is not Fawn in color is for the parents to carry no Fawn genes and be fully Tan Point or Recessive Black.
Recessive Black is the rarest color linked to the Fawn genetics. It is highly unusual to see a Black Frenchie due to it being recessive to two different sets of more dominant genes.
Different types of Fawn Colors
Fawn covers a wide variety of shades but they all come from the same base genetics. Due to this it is difficult to tell exactly how a Fawn Frenchie will look. Below are some of the different types of Fawn French Bulldog’s that can be found.
Light Fawn French Bulldog
This is the typical shading that is pictured when people think about Fawn. It is light in color but more Brown in color than that of Cream. There isn’t any special genetic requirements for the color to appear and is what you should expect when breeding Fawn Frenchie’s.
Blue Fawn French Bulldog
To produce a Blue Fawn Frenchie it requires the presence of the dilution gene more commonly called Blue. This is a set of recessive genes making it rare to produce without targeted breeding. This in combination with the gene that produces Fawn combines to produce a Blue Fawn Frenchie. If Fawn isn’t present and is replace by the recessive Tan point gene this leads to a Blue Tri-Color Frenchie. This will display as Blue, Tan and white.
Red Fawn French Bulldog
Whilst Red Fawn would appear to have different genetics to a light fawn it is is in fact genetically the same. Fawn’s can come in a wide variety of shading from almost Cream in Color to some where appear a more Greyish/Black. Red Fawn however is rare and they often command a much higher price than their lighter counterparts.
Lilac Fawn French Bulldog
Lilac Fawn Frenchie’s combine the Fawn gene with that of Blue and Chocolate. Blue is a recessive gene that can also be referred to as the dilution gene. There are two different types of Chocolate genetics but only one is used to form Lilac. The Chocolate gene needed for Lilac is referred to as Cocoa. This is also a recessive gene making it rare to come across and in combination with Blue being rare Lilac Fawn puppies are incredibly valuable. When Fawn isn’t present it is likely Tan Point will be present in it’s place. This leads to the even rarer Lilac Tri-Color French Bulldog.
Isabella Fawn French Bulldog
Isabella Fawn is very similar to the Lilac Fawn in coloring. The difference between Isabella and Lilac relates to the genetics around the Chocolate coloring that needs to be present. Whilst Lilac requires the Cocoa gene, Isabella requires the Chocolate gene in the B Locus which is sometimes referred to as Brown or Testable Chocolate. This is a recessive gene and it is thought of Chocolate Frenchie’s 90% carry the Cocoa genetics and 10% the Brown/Testable Chocolate. In addition to this gene it will also require the Blue Gene known as the Dilution gene. All of this is required in combination with the Fawn genetics making this a very rare dog.
If Tan Point is present instead of Fawn then this would lead to an Isabella Tri-Color French Bulldog instead. This will have the Isabella base coat in addition to the tan points with white areas of fur.
Platinum Fawn French Bulldog
Platinum is one of the rarest colors found on a French Bulldog. This makes a Platinum Fawn very rare to come across and a Platinum Fawn puppy would be very expensive. Platinum is the combination of the recessive Blue gene, Cream gene and either the Cocoa or Brown/Testable Chocolate gene. These all need to be present in addition to the Fawn gene to produce a Platinum Fawn Frenchie.
Are Fawn French Bulldogs Rare?
Fawn is the second most common type of French Bulldog after Brindle. It is one of the colors that is accepted by the AKC under their standard color qualification. Light Fawn is the most commonly seen of all the different fawn colorings but there can be rarer subsections of Fawn. Red Fawn shares the same genetics as the more traditional light fawn but it is rare. There are also the other colorings such as Blue, Lilac, Isabella which also can be described as Fawn but are not the traditional Fawn color.
French Bulldog History
Surprisingly the first French Bulldogs weren’t bred in France but in England. They were originally bred from the English Bulldog breed and were referred to as Toy Bulldogs. It was the lace industry cantered around Nottingham where they were at the height of popularity.
They were largely migrated to France along with the lace industry itself where they were renamed Bouledogue Francais. From here they were popularised and often referred to in tandem with the nightlife of Paris at the turn of the 20th Century. There are many iconic images of women working in Parisian Brothels accompanied by their French Bulldogs and it was captured within postcards of the time.
Eventually the popularity of this breed began to spread worldwide and has been popular amongst a range of people. They were once the pet of choice of Tatiana Romanov of the Russian Royal Family and there is even one recorded as going down sadly on the titanic.
French Bulldog Health Issues
It is widely accepted that French Bulldogs have a large number of health concerns. Whilst good breeding can alleviate some of the issues below is a list of common health problems, how to spot them and manage them if possible.
Allergies
Whilst not unique to Frenchies they are known to suffer more than other breeds. This will usually display in red/raw patches often around their paws. Also it can show through watery eyes, ear infections or sneezing. If you suspect allergy issues it is best to discuss with a vet around possible treatments.
Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (BAS)
Due to their short snouts it can lead to issues around their breathing. This usually results in snoring and noisy breathing. It can however lead to retching, regurgitaion and vomiting and it certainly lowers their tolerance to heat. Due to this it’s best to ensure they are not over exposed to heat as this can quickly turn into heat stroke due to their inability to cool themselves quickly.
Skin Fold Dermatitis
Whilst we love their wrinkles and skinfolds it can lead to issues within these folds. It is important these areas are checked for redness and sores, you will usually see your Frenchie attempting to lick/scratch any irritated areas.
Ear Infections
Due to the shape of the French Bulldog they can have issues in keeping their ears clean. Often these areas become breeding grounds for bacteria. In order to clean them the first rule is not to put anything inside the ear, this often just compacts any dirt within the ear. It is best to use an ear cleaner to break down the dirt.
Corneal Ulcers
As a result of the eyes standing more predominately on their face they are at risk of eye issues. They can also be born with small amounts of tissue sticking out of their eye. If you notice this or any redness/lumps around the eye your best bet is a trip to the vet.
Back and Spine issues
Unfortunately it is more common in Frenchies for them to have issues around their back and necks. This often results in back pain and sometimes slipped discs. Often these issues will display themselves later in life and it is best to consult a vet.
