We all know French Bulldogs, and one of the reasons this dog breed has gained so much popularity is because of the available color varieties. Consequently, in this article, we’ll be taking a look at the Brindle French Bulldog.
Now, what is a Brindle French Bulldog? A Brindle Frenchie is a variant of the French Bulldog that carries the recessive K-Locus gene, thereby resulting in a brindle-patterned coat. And it is also safe to say that the Brindle pattern is, arguably, the most common French Bulldog coat variation.
Apart from the difference in coat colors, Brindle Frenchies are just like all other French Bulldogs out there. And this article contains everything you’ll need to know about this pooch’s temperament, dietary and physical needs, as well as common health issues. However, before we go into all that, let’s take a look at what we can expect from the Brindle Frenchie when it comes to physical appearance.
What Is A Brindle French Bulldog?
A Brindle French Bulldog is a purebred variation of the popular French Bulldog that carries the recessive K-Locus gene. And this recessive K-locus gene is mainly responsible for the formation of the brindle patterning that makes this pooch very popular among dog enthusiasts.
Physical Appearance
When it comes to physical appearance, the Brindle Frenchie doesn’t differ much from the regular French Bulldog – except, of course, in coat colors and pattern.
The Brindle Frenchie has a large, square-shaped head that is supported by a compact and muscular body structure. And additionally, the Brindle French Bulldog’s physical build is symmetrical, with body parts being in equal proportion to each other.
The Brindle French Bulldog retains the trademark erect Frenchie ears, and an extremely short nose located below heavy wrinkles contributes to this pooch’s unmistakable appearance.
Size
The Brindle French Bulldog is a small-sized pooch, and this is reflected in the fact that both males and females typically weigh less than 28 lbs when fully grown. And at maximum height, the Brindle Frenchie usually stands between 11 to 13 inches.
Coat Colors
As inferred by its name, the Brindle French Bulldog is popular for its unique brindle-patterned coat. This pooch doesn’t come in solid-colored coats, and its brindle coat can either be dark or light, depending on the predominant color.
That said, most Brindle Frenchies are typically dark with light stripes, but it is also possible to have variants with a white/cream-colored coat with patches of dark hair, blue brindle, chocolate brindle, or a tiger stripe pattern.
How Long Do Brindle French Bulldogs Live?
The life expectancy for a Brindle French Bulldog is 10 to 12 years.
Common Health Issues
French Bulldogs are rather predisposed to several health conditions, and this has to do with the pooch’s genetic and physical makeup.
Before making the decision to get a Brindle Frenchie, it is important that you get info on the potential health challenges you may face while raising this pooch, as this helps you make preparations to face such issues head-on.
That said, some of the health challenges you will most likely encounter when raising a Brindle Frenchie to include:
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IDD)
Also known as Degenerative Disc Disease, IDD in Brindle Frenchies occurs when the intervertebral discs protecting the pooch’s spinal cord are ruptured. This, in turn, impairs the dog’s neurological ability, causes the dog to be paralyzed, and brings severe pain to the pooch.
IDD is common among middle-aged to senior dogs, but breeds like the Brindle Frenchie may suffer this condition at earlier stages of their lives.
Cherry Eye
Cherry Eye in Brindle Frenchies (known medically as the prolapse of the third eyelid gland) refers to a condition in which the extra layer located within the pooch’s lower eyelid pops out.
Cherry eye in Brindle Frenchies is an inherited disorder, but it develops over time. If left unchecked, it can cause permanent damage to the pooch’s eye. Thankfully, cherry eye in Brindle Frenchies isn’t life-threatening and can be corrected with surgery, combined with the required medication.
Brachycephalic Syndrome
The Brindle Frenchie is a flat-faced dog, and this makes it predisposed to the brachycephalic syndrome, a medical issue that is characterized by several conditions that induce breathing difficulties.
As inferred earlier, the Brachycephalic syndrome is mostly caused by the Brindle Frenchie’s genetics, and it is triggered by the pooch’s overexcitement, intense exercising, and over-exposure to heat or humidity.
Other Health Issues
Brindle Frenchies are also at a higher risk of suffering from health conditions such as:
How To Take Care Of Brindle French Bulldogs?
Diet
The ideal meal for the Brindle French Bulldog is one that’s rich in high-quality animal protein, as well as a considerable amount of fats, for a concentrated source of energy and coat maintenance. Carbohydrates and vitamins are also key to a Frenchie’s physical development, and this should be included in the pooch’s meals.
If you’re at a loss for high-quality food to give to your Brindle Frenchie while achieving the nutritional requirements stated above, I’ll recommend you get the Pet Plate meal plan for dogs.
The Pet Plate diet is thoughtfully crafted to ensure the Brindle Frenchie gets the nutrients necessary for proper growth. And you can also share your Frenchie’s unique characteristics to get the perfect meal formulation for your pup.
Water is important for transporting nutrients around the Brindle Frenchie’s body. Hence, unrestricted access to clean, fresh water is a must for this pooch.
Frenchie puppies will typically need to eat more than the adults, but whichever feeding routine you craft for your furry friend, make sure to avoid overfeeding the pooch.
Exercise
Brindle Frenchies are prone to gaining unhealthy weight; Hence, regular exercising is needed to keep this pooch in shape.
30 to 45 minutes of exercising is sufficient for this pooch, and this can be in the form of short walks or outdoor play sessions involving games such as fetch and chase. However, due to this Frenchie’s flat-shaped face, they will suffer breathing difficulties when overexerted.
Therefore, you should take care to avoid over-exercising this pooch and also limit exercise and playtime to periods when the weather condition is neither too humid nor too hot. It can also help to break exercise sessions into smaller, shorter segments.
Can Brindle French Bulldog Be Left Alone? Temperaments Of Brindle French Bulldogs
Brindle Frenchies are popular for having a cool, laid-back personality, but they absolutely enjoy and crave human company and don’t do well when being left alone for long periods. Due to their small size, Brindle Frenchies don’t need a lot of room and are perfect for small apartment dwellers.
The Brindle Frenchie is loyal to a fault, and if showered with love and attention, will not hesitate to reciprocate such displays of affection. Additionally, the Brindle Frenchie is content with laying at your feet and following you around all day, and it is this quality that makes this pooch an excellent companion dog.
With proper socialization, the Brindle Frenchie can get along well with other pets and humans. You should also note that the Brindle French Bulldog has a mischievous side; hence, it is important that you always keep a close eye on this pooch.
Training
The Brindle French Bulldog is an agreeable and intelligent pooch that is easy to train, but early socialization and puppy training classes are recommended to get the best out of this dog.
The Brindle Frenchie can be free-willed at times, thereby resulting in stubbornness, which in turn, makes training sessions considerably more difficult. However, with patience and determination, coupled with the use of positive reinforcement to reward acts of obedience, this pooch can be trained to use a potty, obey basic doggie commands and walk on a leash, just to mention a few.
Security
Brindle French Bulldogs are generally very alert and don’t hesitate to alert their owners to the presence of strangers; Hence, these pooches will make for excellent watchdogs.
Some Brindle Frenchies may also attempt to defend their home and family with their lives, but this pooch’s relatively small stature means it’s not the best suited for a protective task.
Do Brindle French Bulldogs Shed? Grooming Tips For Brindle French Bulldogs
Brindle Frenchies have a short coat that is typically easy to groom, and they certainly don’t shed as much as other high-shedding dogs. However, you can expect this pooch to shed its coat twice a year.
Brindle French Bulldogs are by no means hypoallergenic. Contrary to certain opinions, Brindle French Bulldogs don’t also change coat color as they grow.
Brushing
Grooming a Brindle Frenchie is significantly easy, and this is largely due to this pooch’s short hair.
Regular brushing of a Brindle French Bulldog’s coat, particularly during the heavy shedding season, is important to get rid of excess hair and keep the pooch’s coat from becoming matted. And when you’re to brush your pooch’s hair, it is recommended that you do so with a well-crafted grooming tool like the FURminator Undercoat Tool.
Furthermore, apart from being adept at getting rid of loose undercoat hair, the FURminator tool’s curved edge design and skin guard ensure you don’t hurt your pooch while brushing its coat.
Bathing
The Brindle Frenchie is an indoor pooch that doesn’t come in contact with a lot of dirt, so you do not need to frequently bathe this dog. Also, frequent bathing causes the oils that keep the Brindle Frenchie’s skin polished to dry up; hence it is recommended that you limit bathing this pooch to once a month.
And to prevent your Brindle Frenchie’s skin from becoming irritated after bathing, it is recommended that you bathe the pooch with a dog-friendly conditioner like the Mighty Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo And Conditioner.
The Mighty Petz shampoo and conditioner were specially formulated to retain the natural oils present on the Frenchie’s skin after bathing. And the active oatmeal ingredient in the conditioner is effective at tackling skin irritation in Brindle Frenchies.
Related Questions
Is A Blue Brindle French Bulldog Rare? Brindle is one of the most common French Bulldog patterns. But a Blue Brindle French Bulldog is quite rare and such a pooch is considered to be exotic. Apart from blue, other rare French Bulldog colors include Merle, Lilac, Chocolate, Blue Fawn or any combination of the aforementioned colors.
How Much Is A Brindle French Bulldog? A Brindle French Bulldog is typically more expensive, compared to other dog breeds, because this is a difficult pooch to breed. That said, the cost of owning one of these pooches typically ranges between $1,500 to $3,000. But this price can be as high as $8,000 if you are purchasing one of the exotic-colored Brindle Frenchies.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy A French Bulldog? Due to their Brachycephalic skulls, French Bulldogs are quite susceptible to respiratory problems, and it may be challenging to keep the temperature at an optimal level for this pooch. Also, a Frenchie has quite a high demand for human attention, hence if you’re going to be away most of the time, this isn’t the pooch for you.
