Lovely in Lilac – Everything You Need to Know about the Lilac French Bulldog

If you’re on the lookout for a new Frenchie puppy, or you’re visiting this page because you find them adorable, you may have noticed by now no two Frenchies look the same.

I found it exciting but also a little overwhelming! When I started exploring the Frenchie world for the first time. I couldn’t get over how beautiful these colors were, but to me, they didn’t make much sense.

‘Blue’ looked like a dark grey, and then, I came across ‘Lilac’, which certainly didn’t seem like a light purple… and don’t even get me started on Isabella!

But it doesn’t matter if you understand the labels or not. There’s no denying these rare colors are adorable, and it’s no surprise they have prospective owners forking out thousands! There’s just something about the shade and often their bright blue eyes, which have you gushing.

Now, I guess you could say I’m somewhat of an ‘expert’ on the matter, and I can explain it all for you too!

What Exactly Does a Lilac French Bulldog Look Like?

The Lilac color can be quite tricky to identify because it’s mixed with many rare color genes. Typically a Lilac Frenchie has a light to dark grey/blue coat with a hint of cream to give off that lovely ‘Lilac’ hue. 

It’s a unique color, in fact, it’s quite rare, and it can often be confused with Blue French Bulldogs, especially when they’re puppies! This is because the two popular, ‘rare’ color types use the same recessive gene, which creates the blue fur. 

But while a Lilac puppy may have a darker blue appearance when they’re little, it lightens into that creamy purple hue as they grow up. 

What Makes Lilac French Bulldogs So Rare?

Lilac Frenchies are hard to come by compared to other French Bulldogs, such as Fawn or Brindle. And because they are so gorgeous, their scarcity and popularity will likely have you paying top dollar! 

So what makes them more rare to find than other Frenchies? Well, it all comes down to their genetic makeup.

A Lilac Frenchie puppy needs to carry both the recessive color genes for blue (dd) and cocoa (coco), which are not as common in the overall bloodlines of French Bulldogs.

Also, both genes being recessive means they must carry two copies of each of these genes to qualify as Lilac. 

So let’s take, for example, two Fawn French Bulldogs (AyAy), both also carrying one copy of Blue (Dd) and one copy of Cocoa (coCo) each. If we breed them together, there is only a 6.25% chance of getting a Lilac Puppy versus a 56.25% chance of getting a Fawn Frenchie. That’s how rare they are!

A breeder eager to breed and sell Lilac French Bulldogs puppies will need to pay top dollar for stud and dam carrying the proper genes, which means fewer breeders are breeding Lilac puppies in a high-demand Frenchie market. 

What’s the Difference Between Lilac & Isabella French Bulldogs?

It wasn’t too long ago these two colors were considered to be the same in the Frenchie world, and often they’re still confused with each other! Think of them as a sibling pair in the Frenchie color wheel. 

Indeed it was not until 2020 that scientists identified the cocoa gene for French Bulldogs. Before that, French Bulldogs displaying a brown color despite not carrying the brow/chocolate gene in their DNA were considered to be non-testable chocolate; we could clearly see the chocolate color on them but couldn’t test it.

Thanks to this discovery, we can now differentiate the brown/chocolate gene from the cocoa gene, so we know Isabella’s genetic markup is “ddbb” while Lilac is “dd coco.”

The Isabella hue dilutes the brown/chocolate pigment, making it creamy and light brown – just like when you add milk to hot chocolate!

While the Lilac hue is a dilution of the cocoa pigment, which is a darker grey and results in a lighter dark grey coat with a purple tinge. 

Some Variations of a Lilac French Bulldog

Lilac Merle – The Lilac Merle French Bulldog is a beautiful combination of Lilac and white spotty and stripey mix. This is becoming a more common mix due to rising popularity.

Lilac Fawn – Your standard Lilac Frenchie mixed with Fawn! This is considered to be the most common Lilac variation. The Fawn color takes dominance here, and you end up with a creamy purple/blue puppy 

Lilac Pied – As with any Pied Frenchie, this pup is predominantly white with round Lilac patches.

Lilac Brindle – While Brindle is the original French Bulldog color, Lilac Brindle is incredibly rare and hardly ever seen. It looks like a Lilac French Bulldog with Brindle streaks and stripes.

How Much is a Lilac French Bulldog? 

Due to their rare gene composition, these little guys are so hard to track down! With fewer of them to go around and their soaring popularity, you can expect to pay top dollar from a quality, reputable breeder.

Expect anything in the $6,000 – $6,500 range for a classic Lilac Frenchie. Still, prices can go as high as $ 10,000 USD for some variations, including Lilac Merle French Bulldog.

As a comparison, more common colors, like Brindle or Fawn, typically go for around $5,000USD from a reputable breeder.

Check out our complete French Bulldog price guide for everything you need to know before making that big purchase.

Are There Any Health Concerns Associated with the Lilac Color?

Color Dilution Alopecia

While very uncommon, it is worth mentioning that similar to their siblings in Blue, the color Lilac is susceptible to Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA).

The condition can appear anywhere from 6 months to 2-3 years and causes dry, flaky skin, while thinning the fur and causing hair loss. 

Sadly, there is no cure, but it can be managed with moisturizers, dietary changes, and vitamins & supplements. 

Interestingly, it’s also observed in other dog breeds carrying the Blue gene, such as our friendly giant friend, the Doberman!

Other General Health Concerns Associated with the Frenchie Breed

Like all Frenchies, Lilac French Bulldogs are also at risk of developing the usual health concerns associated with the overall breed.

One of the major health concerns Frenchies may develop is Brachycephalic Respiratory Syndrome (BOAS) due to their short snouts and squashed bodies. This makes breathing a challenge and typically worsens with age. You can opt for a BOAS surgery which helps with this condition. 

My Frenchie Steven has gone through the surgery. He had his tonsils & saccules removed, his soft palate shortened and thinned, and a nose job! Which is better known as having his nares widened. It did make a massive difference, and he now runs around like a normal doggo!

Other common issues include skin and ear infections, allergies, and sometimes mobility issues, including intervertebral disc disease (IVDD).  

It’s worth noting not all Frenchies will develop any of these conditions, it’s just something to be aware of, and as an owner myself, I’m personally grateful for pet insurance!

It’s essential to ask the right questions and buy from a reputable breeder when considering a Frenchie to avoid complications for your little pup.

What Should You Look for in a New Little Puppy?

• Ask the breeder if their parent pups have been DNA tested
• Try to meet the parents too, are their nostrils open and wide, and do they show signs of struggling to breathe at rest?
• Always check their tail. All Frenchies have different tails, some short and some longer, but you’ll want to ensure they don’t ‘corkscrew’ into their bottom.

The Bottom Line

If you’re wondering how to track down one of these beautiful little pups – I don’t blame you! They are adorable and so rare, all at once.

My biggest piece of advice would be to not rush into it. Take your time looking for a breeder who has done the work to breed these complicated little beauties responsibly. And often, if the price is “too good to be true,” it usually is. 

Head to your country’s kennel club website for a list of approved breeders in your area and search for breeders who breed ‘Blue’, ‘Cocoa’, and ‘Lilac.’ They’ll know if their bloodlines have the lilac genes!

And, of course, you can also check out our Frenchie color guides if you want to learn more about the different colors. 

Frequently Asked Questions