{"id":9546,"date":"2020-11-12T04:34:34","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T04:34:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/happyfrenchbulldog.com\/?p=9546"},"modified":"2023-03-09T20:44:42","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T01:44:42","slug":"merle-french-bulldog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happyfrenchbulldog.com\/merle-french-bulldog\/","title":{"rendered":"Merle French Bulldog Guide: Everything You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

French Bulldogs are one of the most interesting breeds out there, and one reason is the variety of colors<\/a> they come in. The merle French Bulldog is one of the most rare-colored Frenchies. If you\u2019ve ever seen one of these unique, patterned-coat pooches, you probably took a second glance. Their look is quite charming, and, as we all know, French Bulldogs are adorable as it is!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from its rarity, there is much to know about a merle French Bulldog. Today, all your questions will be answered, including how this special dog is bred, what they look like, what their health is like, how to purchase one, and if they are good pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Merle French Bulldog?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A merle French Bulldog is like your standard Frenchie in that it\u2019s small in size<\/a>, friendly, and one of the most loyal pets out there. What\u2019s different about a merle French Bulldog is its show-stopping coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While common Frenchies have a solid color coat, a merle French Bulldog\u2019s coat has a base color with patches of irregular or regular stripes and spots that can be several different colors (we\u2019ll get to that later). These special patterns are what make the merle Frenchie easily identifiable and highly sought after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where Does a Merle French Bulldog Come From?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Selective breeding is how a merle Frenchie comes to be. What many people don\u2019t know is that a merle French Bulldog is not a purebred Frenchie. As we know, a purebred dog has parents of the same breed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

French Bulldogs are bred with dogs that have the merle gene, usually a chihuahua, to create a merle French Bulldog. After this, two merle French Bulldogs can <\/em>be bred to create more, but, again, this would mean the puppies are not purebred since the parents aren\u2019t. Because of this, the American Kennel Club (AKC)<\/a> does not recognize the merle French Bulldog as a standard breed color.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Blue Merle Tan French Bulldog <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What Are Other Color Variations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The merle coat comes from a dominant gene that becomes diluted by other genes. When this happens, different merle colors occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lilac Merle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The lilac merle French Bulldog has a chocolate brown and blue base coat color and light-colored eyes. The blue fur is diluted, revealing the lilac color. This is the most uncommon of the merle Frenchies and could cost you up to a whopping $30,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black Merle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A black merle is created when a dominant gene is black; eventually, other coat colors appear. These colors are commonly black, tan, or fawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Merle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A blue merle French Bulldog is often called a blue-gene breed. However, it has a diluted black coat that appears to be blue. A neat thing about blue merles is that they have a bright blue eye color throughout their life and maintain a lighter colored eye than your regular Frenchie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Issues do Merle French Bulldogs Have?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

French Bulldogs, in general, are known to be prone to several medical issues<\/a>. As we mentioned before, the merle French Bulldogs are crossbred. This means that health problems are almost always certain, and even more so if two merles are bred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some possible complications to be aware of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n