Looking to get a Merle French Bulldog and wondering if it’s the right choice for you?
Well, this is for you.
This article will give you everything you need about Merle French Bulldog.
Read on.
What Is A Merle French Bulldog?
This is a French Bulldog whose coat has a base color with mottled patches of various colors and patterns resulting from a merle gene. This gene affects the distribution and amount of melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color.
The merle gene also affects the color of the eyes as well as skin pigmentation on the dog’s nose and paws. The coat’s pattern can either be in solid or piebald form.
What Makes A Merle French Bulldog?
Merle is a hereditary coat pattern for French Bulldogs that causes random parts of the coat to fade to a lighter shade while leaving other patches of the original color intact. This occurs when a French Bulldog has both the ‘’M’’ Merle allele and a negative ‘’m’’ copy of the Merle allele. Merle Frenchies, therefore, have the genotype M/m, meaning they have one allele for merle (M) and one allele for non-merle (m).
What Does A Merle French Bulldog Look Like?
A Merle French Bulldog has blue or other unusual-colored eyes, a mottled pattern on its coat, and altered skin pigmentation on its nose and paws. The Merle coat comes in two major colors: blue and red.
Along with changing the coat color, the merle gene also alters the dark pigment in French Bulldogs’ eyes, causing them to turn partially or completely blue or have other unusual eye colors. The merle gene can interfere with skin pigmentation, causing French Bulldogs to have pale pink paws and noses.
What Is A Double Merle French Bulldog?
A double merle French Bulldog contains two copies of the dominant merle gene (MM). It’s created when two merle dogs are bred together. As a result of having the double Merle gene, the marbling or lightning effects in double Merle dogs are doubled, causing the coat to be predominantly white. Double merles are prone to being blind, deaf, or both due to the lack of pigment cells.
Are Merle French Bulldogs Purebred?
Merle French Bulldogs are not considered purebred since the merle gene does not occur naturally in this dog breed. These dogs are produced through selective breeding and created by breeding a French Bulldog with a dog with the Merle gene, usually a Chihuahua.
A dog must have parents of the same breed to be considered purebred, which isn’t the case for Merle Frenchies. Thus, the American Kennel Club does not recognize the Merle French Bulldog as a pure breed.
Are Merle French Bulldogs Unhealthy?
Yes, Merle Frenchies are prone to highly prone to health issues. The merle allele that these dogs have increased the likelihood of blindness and hearing problems. This risk is even more pronounced in Frenchies with two copies of the M allele, also called double merles.
Common Merle Health Problems
French Bulldogs have higher risks of health problems compared to other dog breeds. The risk is even higher for Merle French Bulldogs, especially double Merle Frenchies. The following are some of the common health problems found in Merle French Bulldogs:
- Deafness: This can be partial or complete, with double merles having a higher risk of deafness.
- Eye issues: Merles may be born with partial or complete blindness. Other eye problems in Merle Frenchies include iris hypoplasia, off-centered pupils, or small eyes.
- Skin issues: Due to impaired skin pigmentation, Merle Frenchies are prone to sun sensitivity and higher rates of skin cancer.
- Microphthalmia is a rare condition that results in Merle Frenchies having small and often non-functional eyeballs.
Deafness
As earlier stated, Merle Frenchies are likely to be born partially or completely deaf. The risk of deafness is higher in double merles. The table below shows the prevalence of deafness in Merle Frenchies according to a study published in Pubmed.
| Merle Type | Prevalence of unilateral deafness (affects one ear) | Prevalence of bilateral deafness (Both ears) |
| Single Merle | 2.7% | 0.9% |
| Double Merle | 10% | 15% |
How Long Do Merle French Bulldogs Live?
While how long merle Frenchies live is influenced by factors such as diet, exercise, and health conditions, these dogs have an expected life span of 10 years on average. However, merle Frenchies are genetically predisposed to vision and hearing impairment, especially for double merles.
Merle French Bulldog Breeders
If you decide to go for a Merle French Bulldog, looking for reputable breeders who practice responsible breeding is important. This will ensure you get a high-quality dog with no health problems. A good breeder possesses a deep understanding of the breed and can provide all information about the breed, including the health and temperament of the puppies. They will also be willing to answer all the questions that you may have regarding this dog breed.
Merle French Bulldog Colors
Merle Frenchies come in various colors. However, the most common colors for merles are red, blue, and Isabella. Merles come in rare shades such as Harlequin, black, lilac, and tweed.
Blue Merle French Bulldog
A blue merle French Bulldog, often called a blue-gene breed, has a diluted black base coat giving it a blue hue. Blue merles have bright blue eyes that they maintain throughout their lifetime.
Red Merle French Bulldog
Red Merle Frenchies have a liver-brown base coat speckled with other colors to create a Merle pattern. The difference between a red Merle and a Blue Merle is just the base color, with the former being liver brown while the latter is diluted black.
Isabella Merle French Bulldog
This is the rarest of all merle patterns making Isabella or Lilac merles among the hardest to find and most expensive dogs. The isabella color is essentially a combination of the blue base coat and chocolate. The blue color is diluted, making it lilac. The Isabella merles also have light-colored eyes that last through their entire lifetime.
What Is A Harlequin Merle French Bulldog?
A harlequin French Bulldog has the Merle gene plus a co-dominant modifying gene for harlequin. Harlequin merles have a primarily white base coat with sizable, fully pigmented black spots. Due to this genetic sequence, nearly all the grey or marbled spots of the conventional Merle coat are replaced with white.
What Is A Tweed Merle French Bulldog?
A Tweed Merle Frenchie has a Tweed Merle modifier that changes the grey of a blue merle or the light brown color of a red merle into various grey, brown, and tan hues. While some breeders think that the Tweed and Harlequin merles have the same pattern, others believe there is a genuine tween gene with no white patches on the coat. Nonetheless, tweed merles are a highly unique color variation for French Bulldogs.
What Is A Cryptic Merle French Bulldog?
Also referred to as a phantom merle, a cryptic merle is a French Bulldog with just a few little or no patches of merle at all. While cryptic merles appear to be non-merles, they carry the merle genotype and produce merle offspring.
Cryptic merle Frenchies can either have a single copy of the cryptic allele and a negative copy of the merle allele (m/CR) or double cryptic (CR/CR) with two copies of the cryptic allele.
Read more on Standard and Exotic French Bulldogs Colors Explained + PRICE BREAKDOWN.
How Much Does A Merle French Bulldog Cost?
Merle Frenchies are rare and extremely expensive, with the prices going for more than double the regular French Bulldogs’ price. While the price depends on the breeder, it can range between $ 6,000 to $20,000.
Why Are Merle French Bulldogs So Expensive?
Merle Frenchies do not occur naturally but are selectively bred. Birthing these dogs requires artificial insemination and a caesarian section. These factors are majorly the reasons why Merle Frenchies are so expensive. The practice of safe and ethical breeding by breeders also contributes to the dogs’ high prices.
Are Merle French Bulldogs Rare?
Yes, Merle French Bulldogs are rare. This is because the Merle gene does not occur naturally in Frenchies. Merle Frenchies result from crossbreeding between French Bulldogs and other dogs with the merle gene, usually Chihuahuas, to introduce the merle gene-gene into the breed. These dogs are genetically predisposed to various health issues contributing to their rarity.
Can You AKC Register A Merle French Bulldog?
No, Merle Frenchies are not considered purebred and are not among the official colors recognized by the AKC for the breed. Therefore, you cannot register a Merle French Bulldog with AKC or participate in AKC confirmation shows.
Merle Frenchies Names Ideas
The following are some of the names that are commonly used for Merle French Bulldogs:
- Luna
- Comet
- Smudge
- Sonic
- Stormy
- Freckles
- Topaz
- Comet
- Smurf
- Dusty
French Bulldog Vs. Merle French Bulldog – A Comparison
The table below gives a comparison between French Bulldogs and Merle French Bulldogs:
| Feature | French Bulldog | Merle French Bulldog |
| Weight | Up to 30 pounds | Up to 30 pounds |
| Height | Up to 13 inches | Up to 13 inches |
| Size | Small | Small |
| Group | Companion | Companion |
| Compatibility with family | High | High |
| Compatibility with kids | Medium to High | Medium to High |
| Compatibility with other animals | Medium to High | Medium to high |
| Shedding level | Medium | Medium |
| Grooming needs | Low | Low |
| Barking level | Low | Low |
| Overall health | Medium | Low |
| Energy level | Medium | Medium |
| Trainability level | Medium to High | Medium to High |
| Exercise needs | Low to medium | Low to medium |
| Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Average Lifespan | 10-15 years | 10-15 years |
Final Thoughts
With their outstanding coat patterns and striking eyes, Merle French Bulldogs are undoubtedly among the most spectacular dog breeds available. In addition to their beautiful looks, Merle Frenchies are great companion dogs that can be a perfect fit for families.
However, due to genetics, Merle Frenchies are prone to a higher risk of serious health issues. They are additionally very expensive as they are difficult to find. It’s, therefore, important to consider these factors before acquiring one. You’ll also need to purchase from a reputable and responsible breeder to ensure you get a healthy and high-quality pup.
Well, here’s everything you need to know about Merle Frenchies.
Happy Parenting