Beware of the White French Bulldog: The Many Secrets to Creating One!

Did you know what makes a White French Bulldog – is also what makes them controversial?

But first, what’s a White French Bulldog?

A White French Bulldog has a white coat or an almost (at least 90%) white coat. No exact genes are behind this type of Frenchie: several conditions cause white coats, and, at the same time, certain types of French Bulldogs may pass as white when they’re light-colored.

Luzy, my Piebald, has a few siblings with white coats and black heads. Noticing that was enough to send me down a rabbit hole about white coats and controversial breeding practices.

Are you ready for a controversy or two? The White Frenchie will help us out with that one!

What’s A White Frenchie?

A White French Bulldog has a completely white coat with little to no colored markings. A Frenchie with a coat that’s 90% white can be considered as such.

You could say this Frenchie is controversial to talk about. They’re lovely – but, unfortunately (and due to no fault of their own), they suffer from many issues.

Why are they controversial? Because they’re accepted by most organizations, even though breeding Whites can lead to Frenchies suffering from eyesight, hearing, and skin conditions, among other issues.

Another startling problem is that there’s no sure way to make a healthy White French Bulldog. 

Unlike other types of Frenchie (a Brindle, for example), there are no specific genes behind them: it often boils down to confusion or pigmentation issues.

More on that after we talk about pricing and rarity, though!

How Much Is A White French Bulldog?

A White Frenchie can cost anywhere between $2,500 and $5,000. I should warn you buying one is rather unethical and, in this case, I would recommend adopting one.

Remember that some Frenchies pass as Whites – but aren’t exactly so. When I talk about white coats, I mean French Bulldogs lacking pigmentation. 

Cream Frenchies, for example, look white but have pigmentation in their coats (so no issues buying one!). In contrast, Double Merles and albino Frenchies are true White Frenchies.

Unfortunately, White French Bulldogs often suffer from a lot of issues, sometimes right from birth. It has to do with their pigmentation and problematic genetic makeup. I’ll cover that in the second part of the article.

At the same time, I’ll also further explain why purchasing a White Frenchie is unethical. I encourage you to learn more about this type of French Bulldog if you’re considering buying one.

To sum it up, I stand behind doing business with reputable breeders alone – and breeding White Frenchies is reason enough to believe a breeder is taking shortcuts for money (at the expense of puppies).

Are White French Bulldogs Rare?

That depends! Frenchies with a completely white coat are somewhat rare. 

You have to consider there’s more than one way to make a White Frenchie, so you must think about that before discussing rarity.

For example, a very light Cream French Bulldog and an Extreme Piebald Frenchie may look the same to the eye – but are very different, genetically speaking.

Are Creams rarer than Piebalds – or is it the other way around? What about Albino Frenchies? Are they rarer? It’s tough to say when your eyes can’t tell the difference.

You can, however, tell each other by their genes! I’ll explain below.

What Makes A White French Bulldog?

There are no genes that create White Frenchies. Instead, pigmentation issues can cause a white coat, and certain Frenchies can pass as Whites under certain circumstances.

For example, a Piebald Frenchie can have white spots that take over their entire body. It’s a rare sight since Piebalds often have a 50-50 distribution between white patches and colored patterns.

A lack of melanin can also create white coats. Albinism and leucism prevent pigmentation from taking place. 

How can you tell them apart? You have to learn about the many types of White Frenchies!

Types Of White French Bulldogs

White Frenchies are often albino Frenchies, French Bulldogs with leucism, Extreme Pieds, Double Merles, and Creams.

A White Frenchie that’s actually an albino is not the same as a very light Cream, for example. 

Let’s break it down one by one to understand it better.

Does AKC Recognize White Frenchies?

The American Kennel Club recognizes White French Bulldogs as valid. These Frenchies belong to the exclusive club of valid colors under AKC guidelines, along with Fawns, Brindles, and Piebalds.

Wait! White Frenchies are valid – as long as they meet certain requirements. Or, better said, as long as they don’t have certain features that disqualify them. 

Blue eyes, for example, are enough reason to deem a White French Bulldog disqualified.

We’ll discuss the many issues with White French Bulldogs in the second part of the article. If you already know about them, you’re probably wondering why the AKC would consider this controversial type of Frenchie valid.

…Why?

I contacted the American Kennel Club to better understand why White French Bulldogs are considered valid while other Frenchies (such as Black ones) are not.

In their response, the AKC said they don’t choose breed standards but leave that to the parent club. In this case, that’s the French Bulldog Club of America.

So, what did I do? I sent a message to the FBDCA too!

The FBDCA explained to me they choose breed standards democratically. According to their constitution, any changes have to be brought up by their Board of Directors or 20% of their membership. After that, members cast a vote, which the AKC has to approve later.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t specify why white is a valid color. They encouraged me to become an FBDCA member to help build a better standard – and I invite you to do the same if you’re interested!

Should French Bulldogs Be White?

White French Bulldogs shouldn’t be a thing. They’re often the result of poor breeding practices, usually unethical ones that happen for money. This type of Frenchie is the product of recessive genes or skin conditions that cause a lot of problems.

Is this a call to go against White Frenchies? Not at all! You should do nothing but pet and treat French Bulldogs – but it’s important to understand that certain Frenchies suffer more than others because of their recessive genes.

For example, Frenchies with white coats are more likely to go deaf during their puppy years. Deafness is far from the only issue these light-colored dogs suffer from – learn more below.

Do White Frenchies Have Any Issues?

The sad part about White French Bulldogs is that they tend to have a lot of issues. White Frenchies are often prone to blindness, hearing loss, skin issues, and a few other things.

Why do White Frenchies suffer from so many issues? They have a problematic genetic makeup. At the same time, a lack of melanin (which prevents hair from being anything other than white) can cause a lot of trouble.

Here’s a list of common issues for White Frenchies:

• Blindness. Eyesight issues are common in White French Bulldogs, Double Merles especially. These issues could be anything from eyesight loss to eye malformation. Blue-eyed Frenchies often have a higher chance of going blind.
• Deafness. The inner ear and coat color of a dog is developed by the same group of cells, and certain genes affect these cells: lack of pigmentation often relates to deafness because of that – and that’s why White Frenchies have a higher chance of going deaf early on.
• Developmental Problems. Double Merle genes tend to affect organ development, causing puppies to be born with life-long ailments in certain cases.
• Skin Issues. White Frenchies have less melanin in their coats, making them more sensitive to sunlight. Excessive exposure to sunlight can cause anything from skin lesions to skin cancer. Certain organizations recommend dog-friendly sunscreen, while others recommend not using these products and avoiding the sun during peak hours instead.

On top of that, you have to worry about common French Bulldog health issues.

Are All White French Bulldogs Deaf?

White Frenchies have a higher chance of going deaf – but that doesn’t mean all of them are! Deafness often manifests early on, during the puppy stages, so you have nothing to worry about if your dog is grown.

Studies show White Frenchies tend to suffer from hearing loss: one in ten Double Merles tend to be deaf on one side, and 15% of them are completely deaf – but it’s not a sure thing!

Do you suspect your French Bulldog is deaf? Take a trip to the vet so that they can perform a BAER Test. It’s a simple procedure that will clear any doubts you have.

Is Adopting A White Frenchie A Good Idea?

Adopting a Frenchie is never a bad idea, no matter the color of their coat or issues they may have. I believe, however, that everyone should oppose breeders looking to bring more White Frenchies into the world for money.

In other words, you should adopt a White Frenchie if you want – but never pay for one, as you would be promoting unethical breeding practices by doing so.

Adopting (and purchasing) a dog is a huge commitment. It takes money, time, and energy to raise a pup. You have to think White French Bulldogs may have issues that will make it even harder to take care of your new bud.

You get a loyal friend in return, though. If you ask me, it’s a bargain – but a bargain you have to repay with the same kind of friendship (and, you know, money, pets, and toys).

What You Should Know

White Frenchies have white coats with little to no markings. No specific genes make a White Frenchie, but several things could create a white coat, such as Double Merle genes or albinism. Unfortunately, these Frenchies tend to have a lot of health issues (and some of them happen early on). Adopting this type of Frenchie is a good idea – but buying one is frowned upon for ethical reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions