Out of all the merle French Bulldogs, the blue merle French Bulldog or blue merle Frenchie (whichever name you choose is OK) is the most popular. For some reason, it always stands out next to the lilac merle French Bulldog.
If this Frenchie has one distinct feature, it has to be the eyes and the coat color. The eyes are usually sky blue, but not in all cases. Still, it remains a selling point for many breeders.
Since June 2021, the interest in blue merle Frenchies has sparked across the US, with Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, and Missouri leading as the top destinations for new owners of this breed of Frenchie. Nevertheless, in the French Bulldog breeding community, this type of French Bulldog is controversial, and this is due to ethical reasons.
The AKC does not recognize it like so many variations of the French bulldog. This brings about the question of ethical breeding. Don’t go for it if you are not comfortable buying a breed outside what the American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends.
Going for what you are comfortable with makes having a relationship with your Frenchie better and doesn’t make it seem “forced.” There are instances whereby a buyer gets “cold feet” after buying a Frenchie, and this is an awkward situation you don’t want to be in. French Bulldogs aren’t cheap, and these animals require adequate attention.
Another downside of getting a Frenchie that isn’t AKC recognized is the breeders. This is the biggest issue, and it causes a lot of problems. Accessing good breeders isn’t a problem when a particular dog is with the AKC or CKC. Experienced breeders are registered with the clubs.
Now, for breeds that the AKC does not recognize, the “quality of the breeders” becomes an issue due to the breeding process. If the breeding process is not done correctly, the French bulldog can later develop health issues (this can be severe), which would come at a tremendous financial cost.
What is a Blue Merle French Bulldog?
The blue merle is a variation of the merle French bulldog and is easily identified with the bluish coat color. Just like every other merle, it has the genotype Mm. The Mm means they have an allele for merle and another for non-merle. We explained what an allele is in this guide here.
Having a merle gene means that there would be apparent modifications in different areas of the dog, such as paws, coat, eyes, and so on, through pigment removal. The blue eyes they have is as a result of the dilution in the pigmentation of their eyes. This is called heterochromia iridis.
As we stated earlier, the breeding process is controversial and unethical according to some breeders in the community and the AKC. If not done correctly, the dog can face health issues, including being blind and deaf.
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Why Do People Buy the Blue Merle French Bulldog?
People have different reasons for a specific type of Frenchie, be it brindle, white, black, merle, or any other kind. Here are some reasons people opt to get a blue merle French bulldog.
Color
The coat color is a significant pulling force for many potential blue merle French Bulldog owners. It is the coat color that drives new owners into people buying the blue merle Frenchie. This reason is quite understandable as the coat color distinguishes this merle French Bulldog.
Eyes
Have you seen the eye of a blue merle French bulldog? They are nothing short of gorgeous. This makes it a top choice amongst other types of French Bulldogs.
Size
Not just the merle Frenchie but all Frenchies are small in general, and the mini French Bulldogs are smaller than regular ones. Size is a known reason why people love Frenchies.
Trend
As stated earlier, the blue merle French bulldog has been in high demand since 2021, and since then, everyone has wanted to get one as a pet. People are ready to buy it if it keeps being a trend and looks good.
Cost
Yes, Frenchies are expensive to buy, but they are also moderately cheap to maintain, just like any other dog. The only area where they are costly is medical; if you have pet insurance, you are covered.
What Does a Blue Merle Frenchie Look Like?
Identifying a typical blue merle Frenchie is relatively easy as this can be done by looking at their eyes and coat. They have sky-bluish eyeballs and patches of different colors on their coat. These colors vary but are usually:
- Light Gray
- Blue or Light Blue
- Black
The average weight size of the average merle french bulldog (blue) is between 20 to 28 pounds, while they are usually 11/12 inches tall.
Are Blue Merle French Bulldogs rare?
Yes, they are. In general, Merle, the parent breed of the blue merle Frenchie is rare, and getting blue French bulldogs takes a lot of time as you’d need to check in with multiple breeders across the United States to get what you are looking for.
Blue Merle French Bulldog Price (2022)
Buying a French bulldog puppy varies based on its type and rare. The blue merle is not easy to find, thereby contributing to the high cost of the Frenchie. The blue merle French bulldog price on the market in the US range from $7,000 to $20,000.
How much is a Blue Merle French Bulldog?
The blue merle French Bulldog price in 2022 starts from as low as $7,000 to as high as $20,000.
Why Are Blue Merle French Bulldogs so expensive?
There are so many factors that can contribute to this, and they include the following:
Location
Suppose the breeder’s location is in a state like California. In that case, you can expect his/her/their price to be on the high side, unlike states such as Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, or New Mexico. The reason for this is that the income of people living in places like California, Mayland, or Massachusetts is higher than in these states, according to public statistics published on Wikipedia.
This also goes for the buyer and not just the breeder. A high-income potential buyer would be willing to drop as much as $20,000 to get a blue merle Frenchie, and such a buyer would probably be living in a state on the top of the list.
Rare
It is not easy to find a merle Frenchie generally, and harder to find a blue merle. It might take a while for the buyer to get his/her/their hands on one. This could be a factor contributing to why there would be a price increase.
Breeding Process
The breeding process of a blue merle Frenchie is unethical, as we previously stated, and it is what one experienced breeder must do. Buying from a breeder who is knowledgeable about the entire breeding process and good at it would cost you more than a less experienced breeder.
Common Health Issues Associated With Blue Merle French Bulldogs
Any merle French bulldog’s most common health issues usually come from the breeder’s end. The breeding process contributes a lot to how healthy the dog is. Yes, your dog can develop health issues, but here we are talking about avoidable health problems.
If the French bulldog becomes a double merle due to the “Mm” gene presence, that would be the breeder’s fault, and the most common health issues associated with a double merle are blindness and deafness.
Are Blue Merle French Bulldogs healthy?
Yes, they are if bred well. One common health issue with properly bred blue merle Frenchies is dermatitis, which means skin inflammation. If not properly managed, this could lead to death. But outside that, blue merle French bulldogs are healthy dogs.
Summary
Getting yourself a blue merle French bulldog depends on you. With this article, you have learned what there is to learn about having this breed of the French bulldog, including the pros and the cons.
If you still want to go ahead and buy it, make sure you get a good breeder. That would go a long way in ensuring your blue merle Frenchie has a beautiful life without burdening you or your finances.
