Sable Frenchies: All You Need to Know

Sable Frenchies.

Are you looking for a dog with enchanting beauty?

You’ll love a Sable Frenchies with its unique coat color and pattern.

Never heard about it? No worries.

This guide will tell you everything about this stunning French Bulldog variation.

Let’s get started.

What Is a Sable Frenchies?

This is a unique color variation of the French Bulldog that appears similar to a regular fawn Frenchie at first view but reveals much more on a closer look. A sable Frenchie is marked by the presence of sporadic black hair or black tips on its head and body. 

The black hair is evenly spread and intermingled with fawn fur instead of spots or patches, giving them a distinctive appearance with a mix of darker and lighter hairs that create a unique coat pattern. The combination of black and brown hairs in the coat gives the sable French Bulldog a grizzled look. 

Breed Overview

The table below gives an overview of the platinum French Bulldog 

Sable French BulldogDescription
TypePurebred
PurposeCompanion dog
Recognition by the AKCNot recognized
SizeSmall
Height11-13 inches
Weight16-28 pounds
Coat colorFawn or reddish fawn base coat with black hairs
TemperamentCalm, easy-going, affectionate, playful, and loving
Friendly with kidsYes
Friendly with other dogs and petsYes
TrainabilityEasy to moderate
Intelligence LevelModerate
Grooming needsLow
Exercise needsModerate
Healthaverage
Life span10-12 years
Price$4000-$10,000

History

The history of the sable French Bulldog is similar to that of the regular French Bulldog. Bulldogs were initially bred in the UK for bloody sports such as bullbaiting. However, this sport was later banned, leaving these dogs without work. To save the breed, Bulldogs were bred with other smaller dogs like Terriers and Pugs to create a smaller version of the breed.

These dogs became popular with local lacemakers in England. However, the lacemakers were later forced to migrate from Nottingham and settle in Normandy, bringing along their Bulldogs. This is how these miniature dogs were introduced into France, where they quickly gained popularity. The breeders from the UK continued sending more and more of these dogs as they considered them less desirable.

In France, these dogs were crossed with local ratters creating the French Bulldog we know today. The bat-eared dogs quickly gained popularity as they were considered a fashion accessory for society women and creatives.

How Sable French Bulldogs Gained Popularity

Frenchies were later brought to America from France, where they gained popularity among the society’s women. They began competing in important dog shows. The French Bulldog Club of America, founded by society women, established the breed standards for French Bulldogs. In the early 20th century, the dogs gained popularity and fetched exorbitant prices with leading celebrities acquiring them.

With the overall popularity rising, so do all French Bulldogs varieties, including sable Frenchies. Being one of the scariest French Bulldogs colors, the demand for sable French Bulldogs is very high, making them among the most popular variety. 

Formal Recognition of Sable French Bulldogs

While the American Kennel Club officially recognizes the French Bulldog, the sable French Bulldog does not have the AKC recognition as they are considered undesirable for the show ring. It has, therefore, been registered as a fawn.

Top 5 Unique Facts About Sable Frenchies

These are some of the unique facts about Sable Frenchies that you should be aware of:

  • Sable Frenchies are very expensive: Due to their rarity and unique appearance, sable Frenchies are among the most expensive French Bulldog varieties available. Although the cost depends on factors such as the breeder and location, you can expect to pay between $4000-$10,000 to acquire a sable Frenchie. 
  • Blue sable is the most popular Sable French Bulldog variety: With their blue-tipped hair instead of black-tipped hair, the blue sample is considered one of the rarest and the most popular sable.
  • They are popular with influential people: Sable Frenchies are a favorite choice for celebrities and famous people like Madonna, David Beckham, and Hugh Jackman.
  • They are easily confused with Fawns: Sable Frenchies look like Fawn Frenchies at first glance. It calls for an individual who fully understands these dogs to differentiate them. A breeder can sell you a fawn and pay for a sable.
  • They can’t swim: Like all Frenchies, a sable Frenchie is not a good swimmer due to its body structure. Due to their large heads and short legs, sable Frenchies can easily drown. It’s thus important to keep an eye on them when near water.

Sable French Bulldog DNA

The sable coat coloration is caused by a specific gene called the Agaoti gene (A locus), which controls the distribution of black pigment in the hair. Depending on how this gene interacts with other genes, it can result in various coat color patterns. The A-Locus has four alleles as follows:

  • Ay- This is expressed in shades of yellow to red with some dorsal black-tipped hairs.
  • A-This is recessive black, which is expressed as all black
  • At-Black and tan black are expressed as dorsal hairs with tan hair on cheeks, eyebrows, and undersides.
  • Aw-This is expressed as yellow and black banded hairs.

A sable Frenchie is a result of ay. This controls the distribution of black hair pigment along the hair shaft resulting in a tipped appearance.

Sable French Bulldog Physical Appearance

The sable French Bulldog looks like the regular Frenchie. Besides the coat and coat color, the sable Frenchie shares similar physical attributes to the standard Frenchie. This dog has a muscular, compact body with a large square head and erect, bat-like ears.

In addition to their brachycephalic facial structure marked by a squished-in facial appearance, sable Frenchies also have short noses, loose jowls, a short, straight tail, powerful jaws, and a muscular neck. A cream Frenchie also has a straight back with a tucked-in appearance.  

Sable French Bulldog size, height, and weight

Like the standard French Bulldog, a sable Frenchie is considered a small dog. A fully grown sable French Bulldog stands 13 inches in height and weighs up to 28 pounds. There is no difference in size between a male and a female sable Frenchie.

Sable French Bulldog Coat Colors

The sable French Bulldog comes in various coat color variations. These include: 

Fawn Sable French Bulldog

A sable French Bulldog is also referred to as a Fawn sable Frenchie. A French Bulldog’s sable fawn hue implies that the Frenchie is both sable and fawn. As such, this dog has features of both the fawn and sable Frenchies.

Blue Sable French Bulldog

This rare breed of the sable Frenchie comes in blue-tipped hair and a blue mask rather than a blue one. Due to its rarity, a Frenchie with a dark blue sable coat can be extremely expensive. 

Blue Sable Merle French Bulldog 

Blue sable Merle Frenchies combine the merle and sable genes, producing a unique and stunning coat. Since merle is not natural for Frenchies, blue sable merle Frenchies are not purebred dogs. The presence of the Merle gene can also make Frenchies highly susceptible to disorders like blindness and deafness.

Blue Sable Pied French Bulldog

These Frenchies come in a white coat with fawn patches and blue-tipped hairs spread throughout their bodies. 

Blue Sable tri French Bulldog

The Blue sable tri Frenchie’s coat has three hues and blue sabling and hence must simultaneously express the genes for the tri-color, dilution, and sabling. These dogs are quite rare, which makes them very expensive.

Blue fawn Sable French Bulldog

Blue fawn sable French Bulldogs are similar to blue sable Frenchies, the only difference being that blue sable Frenchies have dark-tipped hair spread throughout their bodies.

Blue Sable and Tan French Bulldog

These Frenchies have a mixture of three genes: blue, sable, and tan, giving them an outstanding coat color.

Lilac Sable French Bulldog

Lilac sable Frenchies result from a combination of the chocolate dilution gene and the sable gene. Simply put, these Frenchies are lilac Frenchies with black-tipped hairs. 

Lilac fawn Sable French Bulldog.

The lilac fawn sable Frenchies are also called lilac sable Frenchies. They have a fawn color base coat with hints of light gray and black-tipped hair.

Red Sable French Bulldog

Reddish fawn is one of the many shades of fawn. A red sable Frenchie’s coat resembles a standard fawn’s but is more apricot-colored than yellow. A red sable French Bulldog is a sable French bulldog with an apricot coat color.

Red fawn Sable French Bulldog

A red fawn sable French Bulldog is a fawn sable Frenchie with a hint of orange on its coat. 

Chocolate Sable French Bulldog

A chocolate Frenchie can come in any coat color but has brown features instead of black around its lips, nose, eye rims, and paw pads.

Chocolate fawn Sable French Bulldog

A chocolate fawn sable Frenchie is a fawn sable Frenchie with a brown nose, paw pads, eye rims, and lips.

Sable tri French Bulldog

In addition to the black-tipped hairs, a sable tri Frenchie has three colors on its coat.

Sable Merle French Bulldog

Sable Merle Frenchies have a sable coat and merle gene, giving them blue eyes. These Frenchies have splotches of faded color on their coats. 

Sable pied French Bulldog

A sable pied French Bulldog has a mostly white coat with sporadic patches of sable fawn.

Sable tan French Bulldog

This Frenchie has a predominantly fawn coat with tan patches throughout its body.

Black Sable French Bulldog

These are Frenchies that seem nearly black due to their having so much black-tipped hair.

Dark Sable French Bulldog

A black sable French Bulldog has a higher ratio of black-tipped hair to regular fawn hair than a regular sable French. 

Sable vs. Fawn French Bulldog

Sable and fawn Frenchies are very similar in appearance. However, they still have some differences that set them apart. The following table gives a comparison of these dogs.

Sable French BulldogFawn French Bulldog
Has black-tipped hair Has no black-tipped hair
Has denser black hair on dorsal areas and maskHas denser black hair on the mask only
Comes in a yellowish or reddish-tan color Has a yellowish or reddish-tan color
Sable Frenchies are rareFawn Frenchies are common
The AKC does not recognize Sable Frenchies. They are registered as fawns.Fawn Frenchies have AKC recognition.

Blue Sable vs. blue fawn French Bulldog

Black-tipped hair mainly distinguishes a blue Sable from a blue-fawn French Bulldog.

The table below gives a summary of the differences between blue sables and blue fawns:

Blue sable French BulldogBlue Fawn French Bulldog
The AKC does not recognize blue sable Frenchies.Blue fawn Frenchies also don’t have AKC recognition.
A blue sable Frenchie has a fawn base coatBlue fawn Frenchies also have a fawn base coat
Blue sables are extremely rare FrenchiesBlue fawns are not as rare as blue sable Frenchies
They have black-tipped hairThese dogs lack black-tipped hair
The blue hair on a blue sable Frenchie is denser on the dorsal area and maskThe Frenchies have denser blue hair only on the mask

Sable French Bulldog Temperament and Personality

Sable French Bulldogs are highly loyal dogs who love forming strong bonds with their families. These dogs are gentle and calm and relate well with children and other pets. This makes them perfect family companions, even for families with small children. 

These Frenchies are also highly adaptable and can adjust to their owners’ living conditions. Their quiet nature and low-barking tendencies make them suitable for apartment living. Additionally, sable French Bulldogs are smart dogs that are easy to train using positive reinforcement techniques. These dogs can quickly grasp basic commands and respond well to words of encouragement and reward-based training. 

Do Sable French Bulldogs make great family pets?

Yes, sable Frenchies make excellent family pets. These dogs are loving, affectionate, and loyal. These dogs love spending time with their families. They are also calm and even-tempered, making them great with children.

Sable French Bulldog Training

Sable Frenchies are intelligent and easy to train. These dogs respond best to positive reinforcement training techniques such as reward-based training. It’s best to keep the training sessions short and exciting to keep the Frenchies from being bored. Like all other Frenchies, sable Frenchies have a short concentration span and can quickly get bored. It’s thus crucial to conclude training sessions before they get bored.

Sable French Bulldog Grooming

Sable Frenchies have a short, smooth coat that does not easily tangle, making them easy to groom. This makes them relatively low-maintenance dogs in terms of grooming needs.

Weekly brushing and occasional bathing are enough to keep your Frenchie’s coat in top condition. Frequent brushing will help keep loose hairs at bay and aid in distributing body oils throughout your dog’s coat hence keeping it shiny. While they don’t shed heavily, sable Frenchies will shed their undercoat twice a year during the spring and fall. You can increase brushing frequency during these times.

While these Frenchies will not need frequent bathing, you must regularly clean their wrinkles and skin folds to prevent bacterial infections. Ensure you keep these areas completely dry, as moisture provides a breeding area for bacteria. You can use a damp towel or dog wipes between baths to keep your dog clean.

Sable French Bulldog Food and Diet 

Like all other French Bulldogs, Sable Frenchies love food and will eat anything; they come across. This makes them prone to unhealthy weight gain and obesity. It’s thus crucial to control your dog’s food intake to prevent them from becoming obese.

You should ensure that your Frenchie gets the right amount and kind of food for optimal health. Usually, 2-3 cups of food divided into two meals daily is enough for these tiny dogs.

Sable Frenchies need a high-quality and completely balanced diet. The ideal food for these dogs should be high in protein and fiber but low in carbohydrates, salts, and fats. Avoid free feeding and giving your dog table scraps as they may contain toxic ingredients.

Read more on 10 Best Foods for French Bulldogs and what Frenchies can eat

Is Sable French Bulldog hypoallergic?

No, Sable Frenchies are not hypoallergenic. Their saliva, dander, and fur can cause allergic reactions in individuals sensitive to dogs.

Sable Frenchies Common Health Issues 

French Bulldogs, sable Frenchies included, are generally prone to various health issues. These are some of the health issues that sable Frenchies may face:

  • Brachycephalic issues: Like the regular Frenchie, sable Frenchies have flat faces and short snouts. This unique facial structure creates a congested and constrained respiratory airway leading to breathing issues.
  • Patella luxation: Sable Frenchies are prone to patellar luxation, which involves kneecap dislocation. This condition causes pain, instability, immobility, and lameness. This condition limits mobility.
  • Tracheal collapse is when the windpipe weakens and collapses during inhalation. Symptoms of this condition include breathing problems, coughing, fatigue, and stress.
  • Allergies: Frenchies are generally more prone to allergies and sensitivities from food and environmental factors. This happens when a dog’s immune system negatively reacts to environmental substances triggering symptoms like itching, redness, skin irritation, and digestive issues.
  • Heat stroke: Frenchies cannot regulate their body temperatures due to short snouts. They are thus incapable of cooling down during summer, which can result in heat stroke. It’s thus important to keep your dog well-hydrated and away from hot environments.

How much do sable Frenchies cost?

Sable Frenchies are among the rarest French Bulldog varieties. This also means that they come at a high price. You can expect to pay between $4000-$10,000 for a sable French Bulldog puppy.

Sable French Bulldog Breeders

The following are some of the major sable Frenchie breeders available:

BreederContacts
Bluehaven French Bulldogs( Northern Utah, USA)Website: www.bluehavenfrenchbulldogs.com
Manhattan Puppies and Kittens (New York)Website: www.manhattan-puppies.com
Forever Puppy (UK)Website: www.foreverpuppy.co.uk
Woodland Frenchies (Texas)Website: woodlandfrenchies.com
TomKings Kennel (UK)Website:www.tomkingskennel.com
Ocean Crest French Bulldogs (Australia)Email:oceancrestfrenchies@gmail.com
Perreux French BulldogWebsite: www.perreux.com

Sable Frenchies Puppy

Finding a reputable and responsible breeder is important when buying a sable Frenchie. Any responsible breeder will not hesitate to share useful information regarding the breeding process and health of sable Frenchies. They will also be willing to provide proof of the good health of their puppies.

Are sable French Bulldogs rare? 

While the sable/fawn gene is not rare, sable Frenchies are hard to find. This is because breeders are yet to understand their genetics fully, and they often use trial and error to produce them.

What makes a blue sable Frenchie? 

A blue sable Frenchie has a fawn coloration on the head and lower legs, but rather than black-tipped hairs on the body and mask, it has blue-tipped hair with a blue mask.

How can you tell if a dog is sable? 

A sable French Bulldog is marked by sporadic black hair or black tips on its head and body. A DNA test is the best way to tell if a dog is sable.

What is a blue sable fawn French Bulldog? 

Blue fawn sable French Bulldogs are similar to blue sable Frenchies, the only difference being that blue sable Frenchies have dark-tipped hair spread throughout their bodies.

Is sable a recessive gene?

No, sable is not a recessive gene. Sable is a dominant gene in the agouti series, meaning that one allele of sable (ay)is enough for the gene to be expressed. If one of the parents has the sable gene, the offspring will be sable.

Is the Sable French Bulldog Right for Me?

Sable Frenchies make incredible family pets. They are friendly, lively, affectionate, and loyal, making them a great choice if you are looking for a delightful and dedicated canine companion. Sable Frenchies love spending time with their owners. 

However, despite their desirable personality, these pups may not be for everyone.  These Frenchies are susceptible to separation anxiety because they can’t handle being alone for long periods. They are also heavy on the pockets as they need extra care due to the many health issues they are prone to.

With proper care and training, sable Frenchies make amazing pets.

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