The Blue French Bulldog is a special little puppy. Find out more facts and information about this adorable dog here.
The Blue French Bulldog is a color variation of the French Bulldog. Blue is the most popular coat color among the different coat variations that the French Bulldog can have. These Frenchies have the blue coat color because of a certain gene that they carry.
As you read on, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the Blue French Bulldog. First, you’ll learn about the history of the French Bulldog and how the breed was developed. You’ll also read about why Blue French Bulldogs have become particularly popular among the different French Bulldogs. Next, you’ll learn about the Blue French Bulldog’s appearance and personality. You’ll then read about what you need to know for taking care of your Blue French Bulldog. Finally, you’ll learn about the common health issues that the Blue French Bulldog faces.
Table of Contents
The History of the Blue French Bulldog
The Blue French Bulldog, also known as the Frenchie, was first developed in the 1800s. This breed was developed in Normandy, France to be the next best pet companion. Despite originating from breeds that were popularly used for bull-baiting and pit-fighting, the French Bulldog turned out to be a gentle and affectionate dog.
Thanks to a dilute gene, the Blue French Bulldog has a unique bluish-gray coat color. Some believe that this gene also leads to health issues, which is a common misconception. This misconception comes from a condition called Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA). CDA is a condition wherein a dog is prone to losing its fur and it is known to be prevalent among Blue French Bulldog.
However, the truth is that this condition only happens when the Blue French Bulldog is born from two unhealthy French Bulldog parents. Reputable French Bulldog breeders don’t breed French Bulldogs with this condition to avoid producing puppies that will have to live with the disease just to achieve the famous bluish-gray coat color.
According to the AKC, having a blue coat disqualifies a French Bulldog from competitive dog shows. This is because the only accepted standard colors for a French Bulldog are fawn, cream, black, and white. When a French Bulldog has a brindle or blue coat, it cannot enter dog shows but it will still classify as a purebred French Bulldog.
How Are Blue French Bulldogs Bred?
Generally speaking, French Bulldogs are difficult to breed. These dogs are special and often expensive because of all the costs and labor that it takes to produce them. Even the most reputable breeders recognize how hard it is to produce French Bulldogs.
But breeding Blue French Bulldogs is even harder. Here’s why Blue French Bulldogs are difficult to breed:
- French Bulldogs cannot physically mate on their own and can only achieve pregnancy through artificial insemination.
- Female French Bulldogs cannot give birth on their own because they have small birth canals and will have to undergo a cesarean section or C-section operation to deliver their puppies.
- Female French Bulldogs need utmost care during their pregnancy because carrying puppies takes a large toll on their health.
To produce a Blue French Bulldog a reputable breeder will have to breed two healthy French Bulldogs that carry the dilute gene and make sure that they overcome all the challenges of breeding a French Bulldog at the same time.
What do Blue French Bulldogs Look Like?
Appearance
Your Blue French Bulldog will have heavy bones and an inquisitive or curious expression. These dogs are small and stocky with a very squarish build and face. Blue French Bulldogs have large heads with medium-size round eyes that are far apart. The Blue French Bulldog also has famously large ears which are sometimes dubbed “bat ears” because they are long and have rounded tips. Those big ears are pointed upwards and face forward, making the Frenchie look like an adorable little bat.
Blue French Bulldogs have short and wide snouts with a black nose on the tip. Their jowls are thick and hang low on the sides of their mouths. They usually have a bit of an underbite that is square-shaped like the rest of their bodies. The Blue French Bulldog also has hind legs that are slightly longer than their forelegs that end with small and well-built feet. It has a tail that is short and can be rooted, but not curly, with a thick root and a fine tip.
Size
The Blue French Bulldog is definitely a small to medium-sized breed. These dogs grow up to just about 11-12 inches tall when fully grown. Male French Bulldogs will weigh about 17 to 28 lbs while female French Bulldogs are a little bit lighter, weighing just 16-24 lbs.
Blue French Bulldogs are perfectly sized for travel, living in a small space, and carrying in bag-type carriers. These pups are easy to bring around which is a bonus to the fact that they’re so fun to show off.
Some French Bulldogs can turn out to be larger and fall closer to the medium end of the spectrum, especially if their parents are both medium-sized French Bulldogs. However, most of them turn out to be smaller because being small is part of what makes the French Bulldog so popular. Breeders often try to ensure that their French Bulldog puppies are small through selective breeding. However, reputable breeders will prioritize health over making sure that their puppies turn out to be a smaller size.
Coat
The Blue French Bulldog has a smooth, short, and fine coat. Your Blue French Bulldog will have a bluish-gray coat that covers its entire body in a single and solid shade. However, aside from the famous solid coat, there are other ways that a Blue French Bulldog can appear.
Below are the different color combinations that a Blue French Bulldog might have:
- Blue Brindle – A Blue Brindle French Bulldog will have a dominantly bluish-gray coat with traces of brindle markings. Brindle is a type of marking wherein the dog’s coat appears to have tiger-like stripes or strips of other colors in its fur. Your Blue Brindle French Bulldog can have several brindle markings on its body.
- Blue Fawn – Blue Fawn French Bulldogs have a sandy-looking coat color. They will have darker shades of blue around the ears and muzzle while the rest of the body will appear to be a fawn or light tan color.
- Blue Merle – The Blue Merle coat color is the most striking but also the rarest of the Blue French Bulldog variations. To achieve this coat color, a breeder will have to breed a Blue French Bulldog with a Merle French Bulldog. Since the Merle gene is recessive, there is only a 10% chance of producing a Blue Merle French Bulldog puppy.
- Blue Pied – The Blue Pied variation is arguably the most popular Blue French Bulldog variation. They are more common than solid Blue French Bulldogs. A Blue Pied French Bulldog will have a dominantly bluish-gray coat with lighter color markings on the forehead, chest, and paws.
The Blue French Bulldog’s Personality
Since the Blue French Bulldog was bred for companionship, this breed is highly affectionate and playful. They love to spend their time with people and easily feel lonely or anxious when left alone. The Blue French Bulldog is known to be especially affectionate towards kids, other dogs, and even strangers.
This breed is calm, easygoing, and patient. Your French Bulldog will hardly bark even if someone unfamiliar comes into your home, so don’t expect this pup to be your next guard dog. Your French Bulldog will only bark when it wants attention or needs food.
The French Bulldog is a low-energy breed that would rather laze around and take naps than play and exercise. These puppies love to cuddle and will happily join you for any chance to sleep. Their adorable personalities match their just-as-adorable looks.
Take Care of a Blue French Bulldog
Next, you’ll be reading all about what it’s like to take care of a Blue French Bulldog. This breed is relatively low-maintenance when it comes to grooming and exercise but it does have specific feeding and dental care needs. Since Blue French Bulldogs are prone to being low-energy while having big appetites, you should focus on providing your puppy with a high-protein and low-fat diet to prevent any chances of it putting on too much weight. You will also get to read about what dental care needs this special puppy has.
Grooming
Maintaining your Blue French Bulldog’s coat is a piece of cake. Brushing your Blue French Bulldog’s fur once a week should be enough to keep it smooth and shiny. You should start grooming your Frenchie by brushing it with a gentle pin brush. A pin brush will easily get through even the thickest parts of your Blue French Bulldog’s fur and get rid of any knots or dirt. You can finish things off with a bristle brush. This brush will get rid of any loose hair or dander that the pin brush missed.
Since this breed is prone to dermatitis, you should avoid bathing your Blue French Bulldog as much as possible. Too much bathing will get rid of necessary oils in your French Bulldog’s fur and make them prone to skin problems. You must check the winkles on your French Bulldog, especially around the face. These wrinkles can easily catch dirt if left ungroomed. You should only bathe your Blue French Bulldog if they get into a messy accident or get too dirty.
When bathing them, be sure to use a gentle organic shampoo. It’s best to use shampoo on its own because conditioners can contain unnecessary chemicals that can further irritate your French Bulldog’s sensitive skin.
To keep their nails in check, you’ll have to use pet-friendly nail clippers. Blue French Bulldogs are low-energy so their nails can be quick to overgrow. It’s a good idea to clip your puppy’s nails once every two weeks to make sure that they’re not too long. Having long nails can make it uncomfortable for your Blue French Bulldog to walk around.
Feeding
Your Blue French Bulldog puppy will need to eat about 0.9 cups of food a day while your adult French Bulldog will need to eat 1.8 cups a day. French Bulldog puppies should have their food divided into 3 to 4 meals a day. Once they reach adulthood, you can divide their food into 2 meals a day. Dividing your dog’s food into smaller meals gives them a consistent and stable amount of energy throughout the day. It also prevents any choking hazards or bloating.
Below is a table that compares the price of the brands of dry puppy food that you can feed your Blue French Bulldog puppy:
Puppy Food Brand | Quantity per bag | Bags per year | Unit price | Price per year |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wellness Core | 10 lbs | 33 | $42.99 | $1,420 |
Nutro | 30 lbs | 11 | $59.49 | $655 |
Canidae | 24 lbs | 14 | $51.99 | $728 |
Royal Canin | 3 lbs | 110 | $29.99 | $3.284 |
Taste of the Wild | 8 lbs | 12 | $49.99 | $600 |
Below is a table that compares the price of the brands of dry dog food that you can feed your adult Blue French Bulldog:
Dog Food Brand | Quantity per bag | Bags per year | Unit price | Price per year |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wellness Core | 12 lbs | 55 | $71.99 | $3,960 |
Nutro | 8 lbs | 82 | $22.49 | $1,846 |
Canidae | 10 lbs | 66 | $19.13 | $1,846 |
Royal Canin | 17 lbs | 39 | $55.79 | $2,158 |
Taste of the Wild | 28 lbs | 23 | $48.99 | $1,150 |
Dental Care
The Blue French Bulldog is prone to mouth diseases. It’s recommended that you brush your Frenchie’s teeth at least three times a week to keep their mouth, teeth, and gums healthy. You will also need to take your puppy to the veterinarian for an annual dental hygiene visit.
When it comes to cleaning your Blue French Bulldog’s teeth, you will have to consult with your veterinarian on what tools will work best for dental care. Blue French Bulldogs have different dental care needs than most dogs so it’s best to find out what your Blue French Bulldog will specifically need.
Exercise
Blue French Bulldog puppies can be a little more energetic and playful than adult Blue French Bulldogs. They will be happy to go on short strolls or trips to the dog park to play and meet with other dogs. A walk once a day aside from their usual trips to the bathroom will be more than enough for your Blue French Bulldog puppy.
As they age, Blue French Bulldogs become less active. You will need to convince your Blue French Bulldog to exercise regularly to make sure that it doesn’t get overweight. It might take a while for your Blue French Bulldog to respond well to exercise but you can make it a more delightful experience by involving play and healthy treats.
Health Issues in Blue French Bulldogs
The next few sections will be about the common health issues that Blue French Bulldogs face. Note that these are all diseases and conditions that only occur to Blue French Bulldogs that are bred by reputable breeders. There are other conditions that Blue French Bulldogs can be prone to if they’re bred under inhumane conditions so be sure to only acquire your puppy from a reputable breeder.
It has become a common misconception that all Blue French Bulldogs are born with a long list of health issues. That’s because there are countless breeders that make French Bulldogs without considering the importance of breeding healthy puppies because they’re focused on making a profit. Reputable breeders will argue that French Bulldogs can be healthy dog as long as they’re bred in healthy circumstances.
Below are some of the health issues commonly found in Blue French Bulldogs:
- Ear infections
- Skin fold dermatitis
- Brachycephalic syndrome
Ear Infections
Your Blue French Bulldog can be prone to ear infections because it has large, forward-facing ears. This makes it prone to catching dirt which can lead to ear infections when they build up. If an ear infection is left untreated, it can lead to even more serious diseases in your dog’s skin.
Symptoms of an ear infection include redness, excessive scratching of the ears, pus in the ears, and odor coming from the ears. Diagnosing an ear infection is normally part of a dog’s regular physical exam at the vet.
To treat your Blue French Bulldog’s ear infection, you will need to use a prescribed topical treatment that will be applied to the affected areas. Luckily, you can easily prevent ear infections by keeping your French Bulldog’s ears clean. To prevent ear infections, you can simply use an ear cleaning solution or ear wipes.
If you’re using ear wipes, simply wipe them through your dog’s ears once a day. If you’re using an ear cleaning solution, dampen a cotton pad with the solution then wipe that across your puppy’s ear once a day.
Skin Fold Dermatitis
Skin Fold Dermatitis is a disease wherein an infection forms in a pocket between wrinkles in your Blue French Bulldog’s skin. This is common among dogs with wrinkly skin including the Blue French Bulldog. These pockets can get moist and warm which is why they’re prone to bacteria forming and developing infections.
The symptoms of skin fold dermatitis include odors coming from the skin folds, redness between the folds, swelling, and excessive itching. It’s perfectly fine for a dog to have yeast and bacteria in its skin, but it becomes a problem when the bacteria overgrows.
Diagnosing skin fold dermatitis will involve doing a thorough check-up of your dog’s skin. If your dog’s skin appears to have dermatitis, your veterinarian will have to determine if your dog’s dermatitis can be treated with cleaning or if it needs medication.
Treating your Blue French Bulldog’s skin fold dermatitis will depend on its severity. If it is a mild case, your veterinarian will clean the skin using a special solution for skin fold dermatitis. They will probably also recommend that you use anti-microbial shampoo or saltwater when bathing your dog.
You can prevent skin fold dermatitis from happening to your dog by keeping it clean and cool. Your French Bulldog becomes more prone to skin fold dermatitis during the hotter seasons and you can help by making sure your dog is always in a cool place or stays in an airconditioned space. You can also keep their fur clean by keeping them away from dirt and washing them with treatment shampoo.
Brachycephalic Syndrome
Brachycephalic Syndrome is a condition wherein a dog experiences difficulty breathing because of the anatomy of its head and muzzle. This is common in dog breeds with short muzzles and flatter heads and this includes the Blue French Bulldog.
The symptoms of Bracnycephalic Syndrome include noisy breathing, gagging, low energy, blue tongue, and collapsing. You can tell that your Blue French Bulldog has this condition if it has difficulty breathing or shows signs of being overly lethargic even when not exerting much physical effort.
Diagnosing Brachycephalic will involve conducting a physical exam. Your veterinarian should be able to tell that your dog has Brachycephalic Syndrome based on the structure of its palate and nose. During this physical exam, your dog will have to be administered anesthesia to make sure it’s asleep during the procedure. This will allow your veterinarian to get a good look at its facial anatomy.
Treating this syndrome will involve surgery to correct the abnormalities in your dog’s airways. Your veterinarian will stretch out its palate and remove any excess tissue that’s making it hard for your dog to breathe.
Final Thoughts
Despite not being its own breed, the Blue French Bulldog is still a special puppy. Despite being a color variation of an already existing and certified breed, the Blue French Bulldog deserves some credit for getting as popular as it is now.
The Blue French Bulldog is the perfect companion pet because of its small size, low-maintenance grooming needs, and friendly personality. This puppy is relatively easy to take care of and will treat you like you are the light of their life. However, whether or not it’s humane for the breed to exist is often brought into question because of how difficult it is to reproduce French Bulldogs.
You should and must have a Blue French Bulldog puppy that comes from a reputable breeder because this will ensure that your puppy lives a long and healthy life. If you’re looking into getting a Blue French Bulldog, you should do research and see if you’re prepared to have this wonderful dog in your life.
Hey there! I’m Matt and I’m a content writer from the Philippines. I’ve raised over 10 dogs and 5 cats. I love taking care of my rescue dog Kewpie and my two rescue cats, Misty and Rosy.