Lilac Merle French Bulldog is one of the rarest and most popularly sought-after colors. It requires two pairs of black genes on the A locus, a chocolate gene on the B locus, two copies of diluted genes on the D locus, and one merle gene copy for the Bulldog offspring to be a Lilac Merle French Bulldog. These dogs are not registered by the American Kennel Club but are classified as a fad. In addition, Lilac Merle is not a standard color in French Bulldogs.
Lilac Merle French Bulldogs are great family pets who are gentle and loving. A drawback in breeding this color French Bulldog is he may have skin ailments owing to the presence of the blue gene. The Kennel Clubs also do not encourage breeding such colors.
French Bulldog Vs. Lilac Merle FrenchBulldog – A Comparison
Features
French Bulldog
Lilac Merle FrenchBulldog
Image
Image Source: dogtime.com
Image Source:thefrenchbulldog.com
Origin
France
France
Height
11 – 12 inches
11 – 12 inches
Weight
16 – 28 pounds
16 – 28 pounds
Size
Small to medium
Small to medium
Group
Companion dog
Companion dog
Children Compatibility
Medium to high
Medium to high
Family Compatibility
High
High
Pets Compatibility
Medium to high
Medium to high
Barking Level
Medium
Medium
Shedding Level
Medium
Medium
Hypoallergenic
No
No
Grooming Needs
Medium
Medium
Overall Health
Low to medium
Low to medium
Energy
Medium
Medium
Exercise Needs
Low to medium
Low to medium
Trainability
Medium
Medium
Activities
Ratters, family dogs
Ratters, family dogs
Complication in breeding
No
No
Litter Size
2 – 4 puppies
2 – 4 puppies
Lifespan
11 – 14 years
11 – 14 years
Other Names
Bouledogue Francais, Frenchie
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Lilac Merle French Bulldog Personality
Lilac Merle French Bulldogs require two pairs of recessive genes: The first gene, the blue gene or the diluted gene, is located in the “D” locus. The second gene is the chocolate gene or the cocoa gene. A combination of the cocoa and blue genes gives this dog a Lilac hue. Finally, the merle gene acts on the pattern of a French Bulldog, resulting in some darker patches on the coat. The patches are visible on all body parts, small patches on the face, and larger patches on the body.
Not all Lilac Merle Frenchies appear the same. However, the patches are typical, making them look distinctive. The merle gene requires one copy of a positive gene. Besides the features mentioned above, all other physical characteristics of the Lilac Merle French Bulldogs are the same as any other colored ones – they are 11 to 12 inches tall and weigh about 16 to 28 pounds. They have the characteristic large, square head with a brachycephalic face, big bulgy, light blue eyes, bat-like ears, short, brown nose, a compact, muscular body, short, smooth, glossy coat, a notable wrinkled and loose skin around their faces, short legs, and a short curly tail.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level
Medium to high
Family-friendly
High
Kid-friendly
Medium to high
Pet-friendly
Medium to high
Stranger -friendly
Medium to high
Adaptability Overview
Good for apartment living
High
Good to new owners
High
Sensitivity level
Medium
Tolerates being alone
Low
Cold-tolerance
Low to medium
Heat-tolerance
Low
Lilac Merle French Bulldog Temperament
Like any French Bulldogs, the Lilac Merle French Bulldogs are adorable companions who long for humans. They get along with all ages. Frenchies are lap dogs, fun-loving, independent, laid back, possessive, and territorial, especially with other pets. They are lovely watchdogs who alert when some stranger approaches. However, they are not great barkers.
Lilac Merle French Bulldog Training
Given the Lilac Merle French Bulldog’s intelligence and people-pleasing nature, they are highly trainable dogs. However, their independent nature can lead to a stubborn attitude. Hence puppy training is a must. He is suitable for almost all training, including agility and obedience but challenging to housetrain. Early socialization is also essential for the Lilac Merle French Bulldogs. While training, keep the sessions short since they may suffer from difficulty in breathing owing to their brachycephalic face, size and stamina. Their training should also include crate training.
Training for undesirable behaviors is also necessary as some may develop nipping or chewing instincts in their puppyhood. Thus, formal training is very vital, and their training should include the following:
Lilac Merle French Bulldogs are small dogs who would require minimum exercise. A maximum of 15 minutes of walking per day would keep them away from obesity. They are not highly energetic dogs suitable for exercising hard or playing outside for a longer duration under the sun. Thus they are compact for apartment living. It would be best to keep the Lilac Merle French Bulldogs in a cold atmosphere as they are prone to heat sensitivities. However, a Lilac Merle French Bulldog will need a daily walk to keep himself healthy and hearty.
Lilac Merle French Bulldogs bear a short, smooth, silky coat that sheds moderately and thus is relatively easy to groom. These dogs would require occasional brushing. Their coats may not have matting issues. The Lilac Merle Frenchies would have wrinkles and loose skin, a common feature in all French Bulldogs. Thus, checking for any lesions, rough or flaky skin, or infections in the folds is vital. Ensure his wrinkles and folds are kept clean and dry as dirt and bacteria may accumulate in these areas and cause infection. It is enough to bathe him once or twice a month or as required with a mild bath shampoo meant for dogs. Remember that excessive bathing can remove the natural oils from your canine’s skin.
Trim their nails, check and clean their eyes and ears, and maintain their dental hygiene as a part of regular grooming. Some online buy suggestions for your pet:
Lilac Merle French Bulldogs are relatively healthy breeds. However, like any other breeds, they are prone to health conditions stemming from their lineage. Thus, to keep them healthy, it is vital to take your dog to the veterinarian for regular health checkups and ensure that he is updated with vaccinations. The lifespan of Lilac Merle French Bulldogs is 11 – 14 years. Some inherited health problems are listed below:
Hip Dysplasia: A disorder that affects canines in their growing phase. It leads the hip joint to relax, resulting in discomfort and dysfunction. In addition, the cartilage and bones in the dog’s hip start to wear away as he develops. This leads to arthritis, muscular atrophy, and decreased mobility over time.
Brachycephalic Syndrome: A condition prevalent in canines with short muzzles. It will tighten the nostrils, and the airways will be blocked, varying from complications in breathing to a noisy or total obstacle to breathing.
Allergies: Some mixed breeds can be allergic to various substances, ranging from food to pollen. If your dog licks his paws or rubs his face a great deal, get him checked by your veterinarian.
Deafness: The black genes affect the ear part responsible for hearing speech sounds. As a result, they cannot sense sound, which causes deafness in canines. Some of the other difficulties include:
Brachycephalic Obstructive Syndrome (BOS)
Intertrigo
Perineal Hernia
Luxating Patella
Atopic Dermatitis (Atopy)
Epilepsy
Cleft Lip or Palate: A cleft palate is called countless names in canines. It is a birth abnormality known as oronasal genetic fistula, oronasal fistula, harelip, cleft lip, primary cleft, and secondary cleft—a cleft palate forms when the jaw and lips tissue does not come along entirely.
Skinfold Dermatitis: Bulldogs may have wrinkles or skinfolds prone to some skin infections like redness or soreness. Dogs may lick or scratch the affected areas due to irritation.
Corneal Ulcers: Due to their bulgy eyes, their eyes are susceptible to eye issues and should be immediately taken to the vet for investigation.
Eye Defects
Deformed Eyes (Small Microphthalmia): Animals suffering from this deformation develop smaller eyes as the nictitating membranes cover their eye socket or sockets. For this reason, they may be confined to an eye or both.
Missing Eye or Eyes (Anophthalmia): This congenital disability occurs when one or both eyes are missing. At times, the eyes may have been formed but exist so deep inside the eye socket that the nictitating membrane covers them.
Wandering Eye: This condition is characterized by eye degeneration which causes the lens to be liquefied.
Cataracts: The condition causes cloudiness on the eye lens, which can lead to blindness.
Starburst Pupil (Coloboma): This deformation may be associated with deafness and blindness. It is similar to an eye cleft. This condition may also lead to cataracts in dogs.
Jagged Pupils: Dogs suffering from this defect are sensitive to light as their pupils have irregular edges.
Blindness: Lack of eyesight in one or both the eyes
Corectopia: This condition doesn’t affect the dogs severely but may get associated with other issues. In this condition, the pupils of the eye droop below their normal position.
Cherry Eye: When the glands under your canine’s eyelid protrude, it appears like cherry and has to be removed surgically.
Dry Eye: This painful condition dries the affected eye or creates a blue haze due to the insufficient production of tears. It can be treated with proper medication or teardrops.
Occasional Diagnosis
Epilepsy
Hemivertebra
Spina Bifida
Hydrocephalus
Von Willebrand’s Disease
Retinal Dysplasia
Pannus
Health Overview
Overall health
Low to medium
Weight gain tendencies
Medium to high
Size
Low
Lilac Merle French Bulldog Diet and Nutrition
Lilac Merle French Bulldogs would require around one to one and a half cups of high-quality dry dog food as their daily diet requirement, which can be divided into two times per day or as per your vet’s suggestions.
Lilac Merle French Bulldog Living Condition
If you are adding a Lilac Merle French Bulldog, ensure that you provide him with the following living conditions:
A family that spends time with dogs.
Weather conditions that are neither too cold nor too hot.
Suitable for both new and experienced pet owners.
He can be suitable for both apartment living and houses with backyards.
Not ideal for a home that has large dogs bred together.
A devoted pet owner who spends on grooming and caring.
Adding a Lilac Merle French Bulldog to Your Family
Things to Remember Before Adding a Lilac Merle French Bulldog
Adding Lilac Merle French Bulldogs to your family will need proper research about their parent breeds, cost, breeders, health, and certificates. Then, get your Lilac Merle French Bulldogs from a reputable breeder who will provide you with vaccination and gene testing certificates. Also, ensure the health of the puppy’s parent breeds.
Cost of a Lilac Merle French Bulldog Puppy
The cost of a Lilac Merle French Bulldog Puppy is $7000 – $15,000
