Frenchies are adorable dogs with a unique appearance. Because of their endearing and charming personalities, these cute little pups have become extremely popular among households worldwide.
These dogs come in different color variations and patterns, further contributing to their popularity.
But is there such a thing as a zebra French Bulldog?
Come with us as we find out more.
Zebra French Bulldog
On April 1, 2020, a French Bulldog-themed website posted a video of a dazzling Zebra Frenchie and claimed it was available for sale. This led to many people believing that this coat pattern variation is available.
Well, that was just a Fool’s Day prank meant to raise awareness of unethical breeding practices. Simply put, the whole Zebra Frenchie was just a hoax. There is no such thing as a tiger-stripped or Zebra-stripped Bulldog.
See a Zebra French Bulldog for Yourself
Check out this viral video originally shared in June 2019 showing what seemed like a real Zebra Frenchie.
The Story Behind the Zebra French Bulldog Video
The tiger-stripped Frenchie started after a video showing what appeared like a real Zebra Frenchie went viral in June 2019. According to iHeart radio, this make-up was an attempt to liven a family member who had just received disheartening medical news.
The tiger Frenchie shown in the video is a French Bulldog named Loki, owned by a professional make-up artist in Florida, US. To cheer up her sister following a scary medical report, the make-up artist painted Loki, giving him a zebra and tiger-stripped appearance inspired by a Siberian tiger. The whole episode was captured on video.
This is what the make-up artist had to say……..
‘’My sister had worrying news from the doctor, and I wanted to cheer her up. I’m a professional makeup artist and body painter, and since she loves Loki, we just teamed up to bring a smile to her face. The white Siberian tiger was my inspiration…’’.
Loki’s owner quickly stated that the body paint she used was organic, water-based, and dog safe, and it washed off immediately after the short video.
However, when the video was reposted as an April Fools joke the following year, many people believed the tiger-stripped Frenchie existed.
Why Did the Website Post the April Fools Joke?
When asked why they posted the rare Zebra French Bulldog video, the owner of the website that had shared, it stated that they did it to create awareness of unethical French Bulldog breeding practices by some unscrupulous breeders.
He further alleged that in a bid to make a quick buck, these unscrupulous breeders emphasized coat color rather than the health of their Frenchies. This is a worrying concern in the purebred dog world, affecting all dog breeds, not just Frenchies.
Untrained and unethical breeding practices by backyard breeders, puppy mill breeding operations, and even some recognized purebred dog breeders are harming a variety of purebred dog breeds.
For instance, some Frenchie breeders force their female Frenchies to have repeated pregnancies to get the most money out of them. This causes a significant negative impact on the female’s physical and mental health.
In 2008, a documentary called Pedigree Dogs Exposed was released, highlighting unethical breeding practices among breeders in the UK. However, this does not apply to the UK alone but to the whole world.
How Has the French Bulldog Breed Been Affected?
Unethical breeding exercises that mainly focus on the appearance of Frenchies, disregarding their health, have significantly and negatively impacted the longevity and health condition of the breed.
Based on the highlights of the Pedigree Dogs Exposed blog, the impact of breeding for conformation or looks rather than health has been very severe on French Bulldogs.
Consequently, the newer French Bulldog differs remarkably in appearance from the former AKC show champion Frenchie.
The following are some of the major health issues that the modern Frenchie faces:
- Overheating: Dogs don’t sweat through the skin like humans but rather through their paw pads and by panting. Being brachycephalic dogs, Frenchies are more prone to overheating due to their flat faces. These dogs cannot cool themselves and, thus, tend to overheat easily.
- Recurring dental issues: Because of their flat facial structure, the adult teeth of Frenchies do not fit in properly in their upper and lower jaws. This leads to overcrowding which can cause teeth to get impacted, occluded, grow on top of one another, or grow two or three teeth deep. This makes brushing and maintaining good oral hygiene difficult, frequently leading to severe gingivitis and periodontal disease.
- Chronic eye problems: Due to their flat faces and short muzzles, Frenchies are prone to various eye issues related to the eyelid’s form and function.
- Long-term Respiratory problems: Unethical breeding practices can enhance respiratory issues in Frenchies. This may produce Frenchies with severely flattened faces hence more serious breathing issues. Correcting this condition may require several surgeries, leading to huge medical bills.
What Will Fix the French Bulldog Breed Health Issues?
The French Bulldog is prone to various health issues that can worsen due to unethical breeding practices. Fortunately, French Bulldogs enthusiasts are now more aware of these issues.
Even though it faces a lot of resistance and criticism, changing how they look is the best way to give French Bulldogs better health and quality of life. You can contribute to this by ensuring that you purchase your Frenchie from ethical breeders who pay more attention to health rather than conformity to old-fashioned and dangerous breed standards.
There Is No Zebra French Bulldog
Source: Twitter
The tiger-stripped French Bulldog video is a total hoax. Although it was a real Frenchie, it had makeup applied to make it look like it had a zebra coat. Zebra is not among the coat color variants for Frenchies. Unfortunately, some people believed this amazing artwork to be real. As such, there’s nothing like a Zebra French Bulldog for sale.
Why Would People Believe Such A Thing As A Tiger Striped French Bulldog?
French Bulldogs’ popularity has continued to rise sharply over the years, with more and more people desiring unique variations of the breed. This high demand has resulted in many unscrupulous breeders using unethical practices to produce Frenchies with features and coat colors that customers want.
The people’s ignorance of unethical breeding practices such as inbreeding and line breeding encourages such practices. With the demand for unique features, coat colors, and luxury breeds, many breeders would gladly jump at the opportunity to create a tiger-striped French Bulldog and fetch a higher price. The more people believe in the existence of a zebra Frenchie, the more breeders would want to create one.
Will There Ever Be Such A Thing As A Zebra Frenchie?
No, there will never be a Frenchie with a unique tiger-striped coat color. The tiger stripe French Bulldog remains a myth. Finding a brindle Frenchie may be the closest you’ll ever come to having a zebra Frenchie. A brindle-coated Frenchie is characterized by light stripes on a dark background and vice versa. However, these stripes are light and far from the highly-prized tiger stripes.
Are Any Alternatives to the Zebra French Bulldog?
If you desire a zebra French Bulldog, the best you can do is to get a brindle Frenchie. This coat pattern is pretty close to the tiger stripes that many people love. However, due to their unique coat pattern, brindle Frenchies can be quite expensive, with some variations costing as much as $3000.
Is There Such a Thing as a Tiger Stripe French Bulldog?
No, there is no such thing as a tiger-striped French Bulldog. The zebra is simply a myth that started as a fun video which, unfortunately, some people believed. The tiger stripe coat pattern is not among the actual color variation for French Bulldogs. Ignore any breeder claiming to have the tiger-striped Frenchie for sale, as these are scammers or extreme jokers.
How much do zebra French Bulldogs cost?
Zebra French Bulldogs don’t exist. As such, if you come across any breeder claiming to have these Frenchies for sale, run away. The closest you can come to a zebra Frenchie is a brindle French Bulldog.
Are zebra Frenchies real?
No, zebra Frenchies aren’t real. Tiger-striped Frenchies are just a myth that started as a fun video and was not intended to be taken seriously.
Who is the most famous Frenchie in the world?
Source: @/manny_the_frenchie/
The 11-year Manny, owned by Amber and Jon, is the most Frenchie in the world, with over 1 million followers on Facebook and 1.6 million on Instagram.
What two breeds make a French Bulldog?
A French Bulldog is a result of crossbreeding a toy Bulldog with Parisian ratter dogs.
Final Thoughts
As earlier stated, a zebra or tiger-striped French Bulldog does not exist. The whole thing is a hoax and was just intended to be a funny video by a makeup artist who wanted to cheer up a downcast sibling. It shouldn’t have been taken seriously from the start.
However, there are various unique variations for Frenchies. If you want a Frenchie that stands out, ensure you do thorough research and find a reputable breeder who does compromise health for looks.