Don Chocolate French Bulldog? The 118 Detailed Answer

Blue Frenchies get cold easily – Some owners have stated that blue Frenchies get cold easily, we’re not sure if this is just a myth or based on actual research. Either way, French bulldogs are not good at regulating their body temperature. Because of their short coat, having a Frenchie in cold climates is not ideal. If you live in a cold climate, there are ways you can keep your Frenchie warm. Always dress your French Bulldog in our hoodies, Frenchie pajamas, etc. specially tailored for Frenchies.

Thinning Alopecia in a Blue Frenchie – as mentioned above which can cause skin allergies/hair loss that may only appear on the blue affected areas prone to alopecia (if you have a solid blue French Bulldog their whole body may be affected) . The blue Frenchie skin condition can also impact your grooming regimen.

We didn’t have any of the above experiences with our blue Frenchie. We also know many standard color French people who suffer from skin diseases and allergies. We’re not trying to encourage or discourage the purchase of the standard or rare colors, we simply don’t discriminate across colors. We love all our French Bulldog friends who come in all colors of the rainbow.

French bulldog colors. The standard and the rare.

Standard colors brindle

cream

fawn

Black

Any mix of everything above + pied

Exotic colors blue

Merle

purple

Isabella

chocolate

Blue fawn

*furry

Any mix of everything above + tan

I get so many questions about French bulldog colors on a daily basis. I’ve been scrolling online to find an article covering all French Bulldog colors to show my clients as an example, but nothing extensive has turned up so I’ve decided it’s time to make my own write.

I’ll try to keep it as simple as possible and answer some basic pricing questions. Keep in mind that prices vary based on color, bloodlines, and breed rights. It will cost you more to get a specific dog with a full AKC registration than just getting them as a family pet.

Check out our available puppies

Standard French Bulldog colors and patterns

What are the Standard French Bulldog Colors and Patterns? Let’s start at the beginning..

In 1897 the only original breed standard was considered brindle. After the standard revision of 1911, they approved additional standard colors and patterns such as fawn, cream, piebald, etc. To this day, any deviation from the standard results in disqualification. The French Bulldog’s standard colors are the only ones allowed to compete in the ring.

Acceptable Colors – All brindle, fawn, white, brindle and white and all colors except those that constitute a disqualification. All colors are acceptable except solid black, mouse, liver, black and tan, black and white, and white with black, which will result in disqualification. Black means black without a trace of brindle.

Check out our available puppies

AKC, American Kennel Club

If you’re trying to invest in a full-color French Bulldog from a responsible breeder – as a pet only, you’ll typically see prices between $2,500 and $3,000.

However, a standard color price can still be as high as $5,000-$6,000 when purchased from a breeder with champion bloodlines and amazing quality French bulldogs.

French bulldog brindle pattern

Brindle is one of the most common French bulldog patterns.

Brindle French Bulldog has a base coat of fawn hair through which black hairs extend in bands to create a coat that ranges from a tiger brindle in which fawn hair predominates to the more common dark brindle in which the black hair predominates, can be enough. Also known as the “reverse brindle,” the light-colored version, with deer hair predominating, is generally rarer.

Check out our available puppies

piebald pattern

The check is not a French bulldog color, but a pattern. A piebald animal has a pattern of pigmented spots on an unpigmented (white) hair background.

The piebald French bulldog is available in several standard color variations. Brindle piebald, fawn piebald, reddish brown piebald, etc. Of course there are also piebalds in an exotic color variant, but we will go into more detail on that later.

Cream colored french bulldog

What is a Cream French Bulldog? Many light brown French Bulldogs are mistaken for a cream breed.

A true off-white Frenchie will appear slightly off-white throughout – one color. It is a recessive dilution of the deerskin.

They have no markings, they have black pigment, black noses, black eye rims, black paw pads and black lips. The DNA of a true cream French bulldog is different from that of the light-colored deer.

Click here to learn more about the differences between these French Bulldog colors.

Fawn colored french bulldog

The fawn colors of the French Bulldog come in a variety of shades, from very light, almost cream, to a deep red fawn. They can have a mask, like the one pictured above, or be maskless.

Fawn can also be combined with an exotic color where the dilution affects the “black mask”, eyes, nose and paw pads (blue fawn, lilac fawn, chocolate fawn,..)

Black and black piebald french bulldog colors

A non-standard color in the price range of standard colors. These beauties deviate from the acceptable coat colors, but are still in the lower price segment.

A French bulldog is considered black when the coat color is solid and shows no signs of brindle, which is rare. Even if a puppy appears black, it may not be. A true black French bulldog has unique a/a DNA.

It will cost you around $3500 to $5000 to bring home a black or black piebald French bulldog.

Exotic French Bulldog colors and patterns

Exotic Colors and Patterns in the French Bulldog Breed _Accare are those that are not AKC approved and cannot compete in the ring. They can still be AKC registered and are 100% French Bulldogs but unfortunately cannot compete as their coat color is an immediate disqualification.

Blue french bulldog

The French Bulldog’s beautiful blue (grey) color is the result of a dilution gene. The dilution gene affects eumelanin (liver and black coat), in some cases also the red coat.

If a dog has two copies of the d allele (dd), a black dog will turn blue. The range of fur is wide – from very light gray to almost black, but even in this case it can be seen that the dog is dd by looking at the shade of its nose.

The blue French bulldog is in the rare or exotic color price bracket. It will cost you between $4000 and $6000 to get a blue dog companion.

All coat colors can come in a variation with one pattern (piebald, brindle, merle) + another color. The puppy picture above is a Blue Pied.

Click here to view our available blue french bulldog puppies

French bulldog purple colors

These rare lilacs are the result of the blue and chocolate DNA of their parents. The same dilution gene that causes a black dog to turn blue (as mentioned above) causes a chocolate/liver dog to turn purple.

Click here to learn more about this type of dilution

A purple French Bulldog dog has the genotype bbdd (homozygous for liver, homozygous for dilution). Purple dogs are usually very light blue, almost silver in appearance, with light eyes and a pink tinge to the muzzle.

Because of their unique looks, they are in the higher price range of $5000-7000.

chocolate/liver

In the case of the chocolate color, the dilution of the black color occurs at the B locus. It’s recessive, so b is liver and B is non-liver, and for a dog to be liver it must have genotype bb.

Merle pattern

The merle gene creates mottled patches of color in a solid or piebald coat and can also affect skin pigment. This pattern is very controversial in the French bulldog community as it can cause serious health problems if two merles are bred together.

A merle should only be bred to a dog with a solid coat color. The merle gene itself does not cause any health problems.

Merle dogs usually have light blue eyes or odd looking eyes (heterochromia iridum). Heterochromia Iridium is a difference in the coloring of the iris. Merle French Bulldog colors are rare and of course in the higher price range.

French bulldog in platinum

An exotic, off-white color is called platinum. Their coat color is cream, but you can see signs of thinning by looking at their nose, eyes, lips, and paw pads.

While a regular cream French Bulldog would have a black nose, dark eyes, and black foot pads, the Platinum French Bulldog will have a diluted version of these.

Fluffy french bulldog

Ok, Fluffy obviously isn’t a color or a pattern, but it’s becoming such a big part of the French Bulldog world that it just has to be included on this list.

Fluffy or also called Furry French Bulldog is a long-haired Frenchie. They are adorable and look like little teddy bears due to the rare L longhair gene.

There is much debate as to the origin of the L gene in the French bulldog breed. Some people believe it’s a rare gene that presented as a mutation, others believe another breed of dog was mixed in to make the introduction.

Nonetheless, they are becoming increasingly popular among French bulldog lovers.

You will spend between 8,000 and up to 50,000 for a fluffy French bulldog. The price range is of course large and what determines the price is the color and buying the dog only as a pet vs. with breeding rights.

Fluffy French Bulldogs tend to overheat faster than a regular French Bulldog because their hair is thicker and longer. We would not recommend getting a fluffy French Bulldog if you live in a hot and humid area.

The fluffy French bulldog comes in all colors mentioned on this blog. Anything from a blue fluffy french bulldog to a fluffy merle french bulldog, you name it, they’re out there and they’re taking over.

Isabella French bulldog coat color

Let us introduce you to the Isabella French Bulldog, this is the new shade of lilac also known as ‘true lilac’ or ‘double lilac’.

Just like the regular purple French Bulldog – the color is a combination of blue and chocolate, but in this case the chocolate is testable.

We won’t go into much detail if you are unfamiliar with coat color genetics, but this is currently the rarest French bulldog coat color.

And while she is still not very well known in the general French Bulldog community, she is definitely an extremely unique, beautiful and high on every French Bulldog breeder’s wish list.

An Isabella French Bulldog will cost you a pretty penny, anywhere from $15,000 to $40,000, if you buy the breed-licensed dog.

Blue Fawn French Bulldog

Blue fawn French Bulldogs or fawn French Bulldogs with any other color dilution such as lilac fawn French Bulldogs or chocolate fawn French Bulldogs are fawn French Bulldogs with the signs of dilution on their mask, nose, ears and paw pads.

They are easily distinguishable from the regular brown Frenchie with a black mask because of the lighter eye color and, as I mentioned, the different mask color.

Blue kitted French bulldog prices vary from breeder to breeder, but they can range from $4,000 to $10,000. Lilac Frenchies could go even further, again depending on your location and the quality of the bloodlines. Read here to learn more about Blue Fawn French Bulldogs.

Coat color combined with tan points

Another very beautiful and unique coloring. The price range is wide. You can expect to pay $7000 for a black and tan French bulldog, up to $9000-12000 for a lilac and tan or merle and tan.

Merle French Bulldog

What is a French Merle Bulldog?

The French Merle Bulldog has a gene that creates mottled patches of color in a solid or piebald coat, and it can also affect skin pigment. This pattern is very controversial in the French Bulldog community as it can cause serious health problems if two French Bulldogs of the Merles type are bred together. A Merle French Bulldog should only be bred to a dog with a solid coat color. The merle gene itself does not cause any health problems. Merle dogs usually, BUT NOT ALWAYS, have bright blue eyes or odd looking eyes (heterochromia iridium). Heterochromia Iridium is a difference in the coloring of the iris. Merle French Bulldog colors are rare and of course in the higher price range.

One of the most popular merle colors right now is the Blue Merle French Bulldogs?. Blue Merle Frenchie has a light gray base with darker gray patches. They also often have bright blue eyes that stay that way forever. Keep in mind that this is the only French bulldog gene that has the ability to create permanent blue eyes. If you’re looking for a blue-eyed French bulldog whose eyes don’t change as they grow and mature, then a merle is your only option. Above is our Blue merle Pied Frenchie, named Bronson. He is all white with small blue merle patches and beautiful baby blues. Merle French Bulldogs definitely don’t come cheap, especially when they are responsibly bred and come from excellent bloodlines. Read more about Merle French Bulldogs.

Buying a French Merle Bulldog is definitely an investment and can cost you anywhere from $6,000 to $15,000. Coat color, breeder investment, and genetics all play a big part in the final price.

Black and brown french bulldog

Black and Tan French Bulldog is a solid black Frenchie with tan points. Tan spots are markings that usually appear in the form of “eyebrows”, patches on the sides of the cheeks, paws and occasionally on the tail.

Have you ever seen a black and tan French bulldog in person? Let us know in the comments.

Blue and brown french bulldog

The blue and tan French Bulldog is a blue dog with brown spots. The same rule always applies to tan points. The dog has the ability to make marks on these specific parts of the body.

BUT tan spots can also be masked and overpowered by other coat colors and patterns, making them invisible. When a blue and tan French Bulldog is covered in cream, it will appear creamy on the outside.

However, the dog is still a tan spitz dog on DNA and can produce tan spitz offspring or pass on the gene and produce a pup that is a carrier

Lilac and Tan French Bulldog

Purple and tan French Bulldogs used to be very rare but started to gain popularity in 2018 and now we are definitely seeing more and more purple and tan French Bulldogs exploring the streets, especially here in NYC.

The next extremely rare coat color is the already mentioned Isabella, the “real lilac”, and the Isabella coat color can also be found with a tan-pointed combination, which is still very rare at the moment. Only a handful live in the US and are mostly owned by breeders.

By 2023, the French Bulldog community will become more and more familiar with this rare and beautiful color combination – Isabella and tan French Bulldog.

For now, let’s give the purple and tan Frenchie his spotlight and recognition.

Merle and Tan French Bulldog

Merle is a pattern, not a color, so literally any of the above French Bulldog colors except cream and pied can be found with a merle pattern combination.

Merle Tan French Bulldogs are adorable and still quite rare. We may be expecting some Merle Tan French Bulldogs early next year. So if you prefer this color, don’t hesitate to get in touch and be put on the waiting list.

Have you ever seen a blue and tan Merle French Bulldog, purple and tan Merle French Bulldog or black and tan Merle French Bulldog like the one pictured below? Let us know in the comments.

Do you own an interesting colored Merle French Bulldog or are you curious about your Frenchie’s coat color? Send us a message via Instagram and we’ll help you determine your Doggos color combination. Click here to get in touch.

French Bulldog in Chocolate & Tan

Chocolate & Tan French Bulldogs are still fairly rare, even though the color has been around for quite a while. And of course Chocolate can be combined with Tan Points like any other color = Chocolate and Tan French Bulldog.

Pictured above is our chocolate brown Frenchie cutie named Indi. She lives in Brooklyn and is very happy to say hello if you meet her on a walk.

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Frenchies are known to have very sensitive stomachs. As any French Bulldog owner will tell you, nausea and vomiting are far more common than in most breeds. While it can’t be stopped entirely, you can reduce the chance of contracting an illness by avoiding the foods that are bad for French bulldogs.

Some of the foods to avoid that I’ll list here aren’t just bad for the French. Many of these will even be foods that are toxic to French bulldogs. They could lead to poisoning and possibly even death…

With that in mind, I’ve first listed the most toxic foods for the French, including why they’re toxic, how much they might need to take before problems arise, and when to call your vet.

So if you want to know what French bulldogs can’t eat and why, and some poisonous plants they should also avoid, then read on.

Poisonous food for French bulldogs

French people want to eat everything in sight. While most human foods that you accidentally drop on the floor are fine in moderation, there are some that are toxic and unsafe to eat. To keep your dog healthy, it’s important to understand what French bulldogs can’t eat.

Here are the most dangerous foods for the French, followed by some that aren’t toxic but can still be bad for them.

1. Chocolate

Chocolate contains a toxic substance called theobromine, which can cause a number of health problems in Frenchies when eaten in large quantities. This can include abnormal heartbeats, tremors, seizures, and even death.

Our own Frenchman Claude devoured a portion of chocolate cake that had fallen on the floor once and was very ill for about 3 days. He didn’t have to go to the vet, but he ran out of food and vomited a lot.

Dark chocolate is considered the most toxic to Frenchies, and you can learn just how much could be toxic to them in my guide to chocolate and French bulldogs.

2. Onions, garlic, leeks and chives

All of these are part of the Allium family and are toxic foods for French Bulldogs. It also doesn’t matter how they are cooked; whether dry, raw or cooked.

Any of these foods can cause an upset stomach and, in large amounts, can damage red blood cells. You will not always see symptoms of poisoning immediately, as it can take a few days for the toxic effects to become apparent.

3. Artificial sweetener (xylitol) in chewing gum and breath mints

Another ingredient that is toxic to Frenchies is found in sugar-free gum or breath mints. It’s called xylitol and is even more toxic than chocolate. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it is the most dangerous food for French bulldogs in the entire world!

According to research (see study on MSU.edu), xylitol is 100 times more toxic to dogs than chocolate. If they just eat a piece of gum with xylitol, a small dog could see their blood sugar drop significantly.

If the little dog eats a whole pack of chewing gum containing 10 sticks of toxic xylitol, it can irreparably damage his liver and possibly even kill him.

Other foods and household items that may contain xylitol include:

toothpaste

mouthwash

peanut butter

Sugar free sweets

Sugar-free mints

fruit drinks

jellies and jams

Grain

Bakery products

Sugar-free puddings and jello

Over-the-counter vitamin supplements

Handy tip: you should never clean your Frenchman’s teeth with human toothpaste as it could make them very sick. Instead, please check out what I now recommend as Frenchie-friendly dog ​​toothpastes that clean teeth and keep breath fresh.

4. Sweets and sweets

Not only the foods mentioned above contain toxic xylitol. Some candy brands do this too, so always check the labeling.

In all honesty, you shouldn’t let your dog eat candy anyway, even if it’s free of toxic xylitol. Why? This is due to the sugar content, and there is also a risk of choking or blockages in your Frenchie’s digestive tract, or broken teeth.

5. Some brands of peanut butter

Our French bulldog loves peanut butter. It’s one of his favorite treats, especially when we put it in a Kong toy (see the best toys for French here).

However, you need to be very careful as xylitol is also found in some brands of peanut butter. You can find out which ones are toxic in my guide to the French eating peanut butter.

6. Corn on the cob

I didn’t even know about it until I researched toxic foods for French bulldogs – while the cob part isn’t toxic, it can get stuck in your dog’s gut, so never let him have the whole cob.

Sweetcorn is fine as it is easy to digest.

7. Cooked Bones

It’s a common misconception that bones are great food for dogs, but unfortunately real life isn’t like Tom and Jerry. When bones are cooked, they can become brittle and easily splinter when chewed.

Given the strong Frenchie jaws, this cooked bone could break into small pieces that could poke a hole in them or get stuck and cause injury.

I would also advise against letting your Frenchie chew rawhide as these can also get stuck and cause choking. You can read more about this in my warnings about rawhide.

8. Avocado

Many owners mistakenly believe that any fruit and vegetable will be healthy for their Frenchie. However, this is not the case with avocado as it can be bad for a French bulldog, but only in certain circumstances…

Avocados contain a toxic toxin called persin, which in large amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea. However, persin is mainly concentrated in the skin and pit of the avocado and not in the fleshy part.

In most cases, if your French Bulldog eats avocado, it will probably be fine. But you should definitely avoid letting your Frenchie eat the venomous skin and stone.

9. Grapes and Raisins

Another group of fruits that can be toxic to your French bulldog are grapes and raisins. They are a toxic food for French bulldogs and in large quantities can cause kidney failure.

For how many grapes could poison your Frenchie, check out my guide to how poisonous this fruit is.

10. Macadamia nuts and walnuts

In general, I would not recommend any type of nuts in your Frenchies diet as they are associated with a major risk of choking. But there are two here that are particularly strong, and with good reason.

When these nuts are consumed in large amounts, the fat they contain can lead to diarrhea, nausea, and possibly even pancreatitis in dogs.

Macadamia nuts are a particularly toxic food for French bulldogs as they can cause uncomfortable side effects such as hyperthermia, tremors, vomiting and lethargy. The poisoning can last for several days.

You can see the most toxic nuts for the French in this additional guide I wrote.

11. Cherry, peach and plum stones

Speaking of those hard-to-digest food ingredients, how about kernels, kernels, and seeds? This is such a dangerous food for French bulldogs that any type of seed can cause serious problems with your dog’s digestive system.

Any type of pit can get stuck in Frenchies’ small intestines and possibly even block them, especially in younger and smaller puppies.

Some pips found in fruits like peaches and plums even contain levels of cyanide. Yes, you read it right. While it would take a lot of pits to poison your Frenchie, it’s bad food however you look at it.

12. Mustard Seeds

Mustard causes so much vomiting in the French that vets sometimes use it to sicken dogs for medicinal purposes. The seeds in particular are very toxic as they contain elements toxic to dogs.

13. Coconuts and coconut oil

Small amounts of coconut food are unlikely to cause any serious harm to your Frenchie, but the pulp and milk of the coconut can cause an upset stomach in the Frenchie.

Coconut water can also be a bad drink for French bulldogs as it is very high in potassium.

14. Yeast dough

While I can’t imagine anyone intentionally letting their Frenchman eat yeast dough, that doesn’t mean they won’t chew it up if it falls on the floor. In this case, contact your veterinarian.

The reason this is a bad food for French bulldogs is that yeast dough can rise and create gas in your dog’s digestive system. This will be very painful for them, leading to bloating and even possible torsion of the intestines – this could kill them.

Then there’s the way yeast converts to ethanol, a highly potent alcohol. Your Frenchie could get drunk and put themselves in danger.

15. Alcohol

This is a good time to start talking about the dangers of alcohol and how dangerous this drink can be for dogs.

Alcohol consumption can cause your Frenchie to have diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, tremors, lack of coordination, abnormal blood acidity, central nervous system depression, and even a possible coma or death.

Giving alcohol to your dog isn’t fun and can kill him.

16. Hops

On a related subject, the hops used in home brew kits are also a dangerous ingredient for French bulldogs. There are compounds in hops that lead to malignant hyperthermia.

This means your Frenchie’s temperature can rise quickly, potentially causing permanent damage to their organs and brain, or even death.

17. Coffee, caffeine and tea

Another group of drinks that are bad for French bulldogs would be anything that contains caffeine, including coffee and tea. These drinks contain methylxanthines and can cause reactions similar to eating chocolate.

A few sips of coffee are unlikely to poison your Frenchie, but if there were loose tea and coffee beans to eat I’d contact your vet.

18. Nutmeg

Nutmeg contains a toxic substance called myristicin. This is bad for Frenchies causing extreme reactions like abdominal pain, increased heart rate, seizures and even possible hallucinations.

Luckily, these symptoms should pass within a few days, but it’s certainly not something you want to inflict on your beloved pooch.

19. Moldy food

If your dog has access to litter, be very careful. Moldy food is bad for Frenchies as it can contain mycotoxins. Mycotoxins grow on moldy food and make it toxic when ingested.

20. Blue Cheese

Dairy products are generally a poor food option for any dog, but blue cheese can be particularly dangerous. Cheeses like Stilton and Roquefort contain roquefortin C, which if consumed in large amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and possibly tremors, twitching, and seizures.

Bad food for French bulldogs

There are also other types of foods that, while not toxic or poisonous, should be considered bad because of the other side effects they have. For example, some human foods will cause your Frenchie to gain weight and develop future health problems.

21. Milk and dairy products

Milk and dairy products can wreak havoc on the French Bulldog’s interior. Dogs find it difficult to break down the lactose in milk and dairy products, leading to problems with runny stools!

While French people are mostly lactose intolerant, you can buy special dog-friendly milk for puppies – you can read more in my guide to milk and water drink alternatives.

22. Uncooked meat and eggs

While some owners swear by raw food, there isn’t yet enough scientific evidence to say if it’s as good as it’s made out to be for dogs. However, there is evidence that raw meat can lead to bacterial infections from salmonella and E. coli.

23. Greasy food

Fatty foods like sausage, bacon, burgers, and fried foods can cause an upset stomach. Giving your Frenchie these tasty snacks over a long period of time can even lead to pancreatitis.

Yes, it’s hard to say no to those pleading eyes when they’re begging for your food, but often the tastiest food is the worst for French bulldogs.

24. Sugary foods and drinks

Just like us, some of the worst foods for the French are sugary treats. Dogs can also suffer from diabetes, weight gain and tooth decay. Sugar can cause a bad tummy even in small portions – try a decent dog treat instead!

25. Salt and salty food

High sodium levels can fatally poison French bulldogs but will most likely result in excessive thirst and urination. If your Frenchie eats a lot of salt, he could show signs of vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, high body temperature and seizures.

What Plants Are Poisonous to French Bulldogs?

Along with a number of foods that are toxic to French bulldogs, there are also some toxic plants that should be avoided. These include:

aconite

Amaryllis bulbs

asparagus

azalea

citrus

cyclamen

daffodil bulbs

daylilies

delphinium

Dog Mercury (Mercurialis perennis)

thimble

hemlock

hyacinth

hydrangea

ivy

laburnum

lily of the valley

lupins

winch

fungal plants

nightshade

oleander

rhododendron

rhubarb leaves

Sweet Pea

tomato leaves and stems

tulip bulbs

umbrella plant

wisteria

yew

This list includes only the most common plants that are poisonous to Frenchies. For a more comprehensive list please download this printable from the Dogs Trust.

Signs of food poisoning

What are the signs to look out for if your Frenchie has eaten toxic foods? Well, according to the PetMD.com website, here’s what to look out for:

“Symptoms of food poisoning in dogs include a combination of vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, lethargy, and dehydration. Some animals may show some neurological signs such as incoordination, tremors and in severe cases even seizures and collapse. Depending on what your dog has eaten, how much, and how sensitive he is, the signs and severity can vary. Probably the most common symptoms of food poisoning in dogs are vomiting and diarrhea.”

Conclusion

I don’t want to upset you too much. In truth, if your Frenchie has eaten a small amount of any of the bad foods listed on this page, chances are they are fine, with maybe just a minor upset stomach.

Most of these toxic foods reach dangerous levels when consumed in large quantities.

However, please do not be complacent.

If your dog eats any of these foods, always go with your gut and call the vet if you have even the slightest concern.

And remember, I’m not a vet, just a Frenchie owner – everything in this guide is what I learned and can never replace professional veterinary advice.

You May Also Like …

Now you know what foods are toxic to French bulldogs. How about a list of foods they are safe to eat? Here’s everything you need to know:

French bulldog with the coat color cocoa. Credit: Linda Paulsen

The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory is pleased to announce the launch of a new dog coat color test for a visually distinct color seen in French bulldogs: cacao. The cocoa phenotype is described as a brown coat color that is slightly darker than the other identified brown color in dogs.

This color was previously called “untestable chocolate” – but we’re happy to announce that it’s now testable!

The genetic variant associated with cocoa coat color is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that two copies must be present for the phenotype to be apparent, and both sexes are equally affected.

There is still much to be learned about the newly identified cacao variant. The cacao variant (designated “co”) is found in a different gene than the other known variants that produce the classic brown phenotype in dogs (designated “b”). At this point, the interaction of cacao and the other brown allele is not understood, so it is not yet possible to predict the phenotype of a dog with two copies of cacao (co) and two copies of brown (b). It is also not known whether the cacao variant occurs in other dog breeds besides the French bulldog.

more details

There are several known variants that lead to the brown phenotype in dogs. All are located in tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1). However, these known variants do not account for all brown phenotypes in dogs. The cacao variant is in a different gene and is therefore not another allele of TYRP1. This has important breeding implications, as in some cases the alleles of both genes would need to be considered when selecting a mate. In French Bulldogs in particular, a variant has been identified in the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome 3 (HPS3) gene that is associated with a visually distinct chocolate phenotype. Dogs with the HPS3 gene variant are visibly darker brown than the phenotypes associated with the previously described brown TYRP1 allele (b).

The canine cocoa variant is a single base change in the HPS3 gene. The single nucleotide change (c.2420G>A) causes a premature protein stop codon in the gene product (p.Trp807*). This results in a loss of almost 19% of the end of the protein. In humans and mice, changes within this gene have pleiotropic effects, meaning additional effects of the variant are observed beyond a difference in hair/skin pigmentation. In humans and mice, additional symptoms include: visual disturbances, nystagmus (uncontrolled eye movements), abnormal eye pigmentation, and bleeding due to platelet dysfunction. These additional effects were not reported in dogs homozygous for the cacao variant. Therefore, it is not known whether the cocoa variant (co) has pleiotropic effects in dogs.

The variant associated with the cacao phenotype is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Thus, two copies must be present for the phenotype to be observed and for both sexes to be equally affected. The data suggest that one copy of cacao (carrier) and one copy of one of the previously described gene variants (carrier) for brown does not result in a brown phenotype. Dogs with two copies of the cacao variant can be cacao, but the dog’s final phenotype depends on the alleles at other coat color loci.

At this point, the interaction of cacao and the other brown allele is not understood. Therefore, it is not yet possible to predict the phenotype of a dog with two copies of cocoa (co) and two copies of TYRP1 Brown (b).

It is also not currently known whether the cacao variant occurs in other dog breeds.

Note: This test is specific to the autosomal recessive variant that cacao causes in French bulldogs and is different from the other known variants that result in a brown phenotype.