Casa Bulldog · English Bulldog
English Bulldog colours: standard and risks
English Bulldogs come in more colours than most people expect, from pure white to deep brindle. The breed standard describes which colours are typical of the breed; some colours sold as rare or exotic are not part of it, and a few are linked to health problems. This guide explains the difference.
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Colours in the breed standard
The FCI standard describes the Bulldog as a whole colour or smut, meaning a whole colour with a black mask or muzzle. The colours it lists are brindle, red in its various shades, fawn, fallow, white and pied, which is white combined with any of these. Colours should be clear and pure of their kind.
Black, blue, merle and “exotic” colours
The FCI standard calls black, black and tan and a dudley (liver-coloured) nose highly undesirable. Blue, lilac, chocolate and merle are not standard colours; they are often sold as “exotic” at higher prices. The Bulldog Club of America notes that merle is associated with deafness and eye disease, and that in other breeds dilute colours such as blue have been linked to skin problems.
Continue reading →White and pied Bulldogs
White and pied are standard colours and among the most familiar. Pale skin can burn more easily, so give a white Bulldog shade in summer and ask your vet about sun protection for the nose and thin-haired areas. As with any colour, check the parents’ breathing, movement and records rather than the coat.
Choose the dog, not the colour
A colour premium pays for scarcity, not for health or temperament. If a breeder’s main selling point is a rare colour, ask how the parents were chosen and which health assessments they had. A puppy in a standard colour from healthy, well-raised parents is a better choice than an expensive colour from parents nobody can show you.
Continue reading →From the kennel photo archive
Photographs of earlier Casa Bulldog litters and adults. They are not a list of puppies currently available.
See the full photo gallery →Your questions, answered
What is the rarest English Bulldog colour?
Colours sold as rare, such as blue, lilac, chocolate or merle, are not part of the FCI breed standard. Rarity raises the price but says nothing about health; merle in particular is associated with deafness and eye disease.
Are black English Bulldogs allowed?
They exist, but the FCI standard calls black and black and tan highly undesirable. A black Bulldog can still be a healthy pet; judge it by its parents and records, as with any colour.