There are a lot of English Bulldog colors and markings you can choose from if you plan on purchasing this loving breed! Whether you plan on joining shows or getting a companion, there’s a perfect hue for you.
In this blog, we list all possible colors of the English Bulldog breed, including the standard and non-standard. We also look into coat color genetics, health, behavior, and color changes.
Read the rest of this blog and be ready to get torn as to which English Bulldog color is the best!
How Many English Bulldog Colors Are There?
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the English Bulldog comes in 10 standard colors, with brindle, fawn, red, and white being the most basic. But aside from these English Bulldog colors, there are eight non-standard hues that are as equally stunning as the standard.
Here’s a list of all the possible English Bulldog colors from standard to non-standard:
- Brindle
- Fawn or Fallow
- Fawn & Brindle
- Fawn & White
- Fawn Brindle & White
- Red
- Red & White
- Red Brindle
- Red Brindle & White
- White or Platinum
- Black
- Blue
- Lilac
- Lilac Sable
- Chocolate
- Tri-color
- Seal
- Merle
This wide variety of English Bulldog colors makes choosing a puppy very exciting for a first-time owner. To help you weigh all your English Bulldog color options, head over to the next section!
18 English Bulldog Colors
Here’s a detailed list of all standard and non-standard AKC English Bulldog colors. We’ve thrown in some pictures, too, to help you visualize your next pet!
1. Brindle English Bulldog
The brindle coloration or tiger coat is pretty prevalent and popular among English Bulldogs. Brindle English Bulldogs exhibit stripes of a different color within the main color of their coat.
In most cases, the stripe pattern on brindle English Bulldogs is darker, and the primary coat is lighter. This highlights the stripes even further, making the dog look like it’s the cousin of a tiger.
Generally, the brindle-striped pattern is caused by the interaction of the Agouti gene with other gene varieties.
It is a traditional coat pattern that typically appears in standard English Bulldog colors. However, you can also see a brown or chocolate brindle English Bulldog from time to time.
Check out this video of a blue brindle Bulldog with great conformation:
2. Fawn or Fallow English Bulldog
Similar to the brindle English Bulldog, fawn English Bulldogs are considered among the most common and popular color variations of the breed.
Fawn English Bulldogs have a light tannish yellow color, which comes in various shades, from pale tan to deep deer red.
Interestingly, the first recorded usage of the word fawn was in England — the exact country where the English Bulldog originated.
But in recent years, though, the term fallow became more frequently used in addressing the fawn English Bulldog.
3. Fawn & Brindle English Bulldog
As the name suggests, the fawn and brindle English Bulldog color exhibits a fawn base coat with a dark brindle stripe.
The fawn English Bulldog’s coat can range from a pale tannish color to a deep red hue, while the brindle stripes are in a darker shade.
Similar to the solid fawn coat, this color combination is pretty common and cheaper than other English Bulldog varieties.
4. Fawn & White English Bulldog
The fawn and white English Bulldog is another standard variety of the breed. Dogs with this coat color have a fawn base coat and patches of white distributed all over their body.
The white patches are typically seen on their face, neck, legs, feet, and stomachs. Note that the fawn or light brown coat is still more dominant despite the presence of the large white patches.
As an experienced breeder of English Bulldogs for more than seven years now, the fawn and white English Bulldog has been the easiest color for me to produce. Many of the litter I come up with would contain at least one pup with this color and it is a good base color for breeding other variants of the breed.
5. Fawn Brindle & White English Bulldog
A fawn brindle & white English Bulldog is a sight to behold. It boasts a fawn coat which can be a yellowish tan to a deep red, some white patches all over the body, and dark stripes that create a more distinct look.
Similar to a fawn and white English Bulldog, the white patches on the fawn brindle & white are primarily found on the face, chest, and belly.
The brindle stripes are only within the fawn coat and are not visible on the white patches.
6. Red English Bulldog
A red English Bulldog is sometimes mistaken as chocolate but is actually far different. Ultimately, a red English Bulldog can come in any shade of red, from a light ginger hue to a much deeper tone.
Note that despite being solid red in coat, the red English Bulldog has black eyelids, nose, lips, and paw pads. This makes them distinct from chocolate English Bulldogs with dark brown noses and others.
7. Red & White English Bulldog
Red and white English Bulldogs have a red base coat that ranges from a light ginger shade to a deep deer red coat. The white patches are often seen on the English Bulldog’s face, neck, chest, belly, legs, and feet.
Just like the fawn and white variation, the red coat of this color type is more dominant. Its nose, eyelids, lips, and paw pads are black in color.
8. Red Brindle English Bulldog
A red brindle English Bulldog is unique because of its striped appearance. The red primary coat ranges from light to a darker shade, while the stripes are often dark or black in color.
Unlike the fawn and brindle, the contrast between the red base coat and the stripes of this variety is not extremely noticeable, but it is there nonetheless.
In most cases, though, the black stripes blend well (especially for dark red-colored English Bulldogs), so the stripes look more like scattered patches.
9. Red Brindle & White English Bulldog
Red brindle and white English Bulldogs look pretty similar to the red brindle except for the presence of white patches on the face, neck, chest, belly, legs, and feet.
As expected, the red hue can range from a light ginger color to a much deeper tone. The stripes only occur in areas where the red coat exists.
10. White or Platinum English Bulldog
White or platinum English Bulldogs are pure white from the tip to the tail. They are considered a standard color by the AKC and are highly coveted by many dog enthusiasts because of their stunning coat color.
Despite the absence of markings on their body, the white English Bulldogs may exhibit some freckles that are of a different color. This is still acceptable if you plan to join dog conformation shows for the breed.
On the same note, a pure white English Bulldog is different from albino English Bulldogs, which are frowned upon because of their health vulnerabilities.
11. Black English Bulldog
The black English Bulldog is among the rare colors of the breed. Unsurprisingly, it comes at a higher price and is harder to source than other common coat colors.
Black English Bulldogs typically have a solid, shiny black coat. Their eye rims, noses, and paw pads are true black in color. However, a fawn undercoat is not unheard of for this coat variety.
You may also come across a bi-color black English Bulldog exhibiting a black and white coat and a black tri-pattern Bulldog with tan colored points on the dog’s coat.
12. Blue English Bulldog
Blue English Bulldogs are not actually blue but gray in color. They are actually black dogs that went through color dilution due to the dd genotype.
Your blue English Bulldog should appear gray against dark-colored backgrounds or objects and when under sunlight exposure.
Its eye rims, nose, and paw pads should be slate gray unless they are a blue tri. Their bluish-green eyes stand out as well.
Note that there are also several varieties of the blue English Bulldog, including the blue brindle, blue merle, and blue fawn. Blue tri-color English Bulldogs also exist, and they have tan-colored points.
13. Lilac English Bulldog
A lilac English Bulldog is another rare color of the breed and is tagged as non-standard. Unlike the blue English Bulldog that underwent one dilution, the lilac color Bulldog has had its color diluted twice.
Their coat was diluted from black to brown and from black to blue. As such, their coat somehow combines brown and blue shades resulting in a beautiful purplish-gray color.
Lilac Bulldogs would have blue eyes and purplish eye rims, noses, and paw pads. A fawn undercoat may also be present.
14. Lilac Sable English Bulldog
The lilac sable English Bulldog also exhibits a diluted coat that is purplish-gray in color.
But what distinguishes it from the pure lilac is the ombre effect on its hair shafts making its gorgeous champagne coat colors stand out.
The coat of lilac sables is lighter at the coat and darker at the tips; that’s why, when seen side-by-side with a pure lilac, they appear darker. For this color to be carried out, the English Bulldog should have one sable gene.
This coat color also has blue eyes and purplish eye rims and paw pads.
15. Chocolate English Bulldog
The chocolate English Bulldog is another unrecognized color by many kennel organizations. These dogs exhibit a deep brown coat resulting from black coat dilution.
Chocolate Bulldogs don’t have any black tones on their coat, but they have a fawn undercoat. Their eyes are a lighter color ranging from light brown to amber-yellow.
A true chocolate color Bulldog has a brown or pinkish nose. Rarely will a chocolate English Bulldog have a black nose.
16. Tri-color English Bulldog
The tri-color English Bulldog combines three hues, and the third color is pale tan or golden brown.
These tan or golden brown markings are seen on a tri-color English Bulldog’s cheeks, above the eyes, inner parts of the legs, and on the sides of the chest.
The most common tri-color English Bulldog combinations are the black tri-color, chocolate tri-color, lilac tri-color, and blue tri-color Bulldog. All of which may exhibit fawn or tan as the third color.
The most expensive among all tri-colored English Bulldogs is the lilac tri-color English Bulldog which costs $7,000 to $9,000.
17. Seal English Bulldog
The seal English Bulldog is a quirky variation of the breed. Technically, it has a black coat, but it casts a different shade, especially when hit by sunlight.
It’s fairly common to see a seal English Bulldog with gray, fawn, and even green shades.
While there is no definitive study that can point out what causes this coloration, many experts assume that this is caused by the Kb gene.
18. Merle English Bulldog
The merle English Bulldog is considered the rarest variation of the breed and is usually produced by selective breeding. This coat color is considered a disqualification on most major kennel clubs such as the AKC.
Merle English Bulldogs have speckled coats that can come in various colors. Typically, these dogs would have a white base coat with blue markings, but there are also merles with tan points or black patches.
Another notable characteristic of this color variation is their blue eyes. They also have pink noses instead of black ones.
English Bulldog Markings
The AKC recognizes six standard markings for the English Bulldogs — the ticked markings, white markings, black tips, black mask, brindle, and piebald. All these are acceptable on conformation shows.
Ticked
A ticked English Bulldog exhibits ticks or flecks of color on white areas of its body. Even if the English Bulldog has a ticking allele, if it doesn’t have any white coloration, no ticks would appear.
The genes responsible for ticking are not yet fully identified, although they are assumed to be dominant.
Note: Ticks are different from black spots caused by allergies, infections, and parasites.
White Markings
White markings on English Bulldogs are pretty common. The markings are usually found on their face, neck, chest, and legs.
For solid-colored dogs and brindles, only a small white patch on the chest is acceptable. White patches on piebalds, however, should be symmetrically distributed and well-defined.
Black Tips
Black tips on English Bulldogs result from the sable gene. The tip of the English Bulldog’s fur is darker and goes lighter on the base.
This is more commonly seen on lilac English Bulldogs and makes them appear darker despite their light base coat.
Black Mask
Standard-colored English Bulldogs typically have black masks or melanistic muzzles extending to the ears. This is a fixed trait and occurs due to an autosomal dominant trait.
Note that lilac, blue, and chocolate English Bulldogs have lighter-colored masks based on their coat color.
Brindle
Brindling on English Bulldogs is also very typical. As mentioned earlier, a dog with a brindle color pattern has dark stripes over their base coat color, similar to that of a tiger.
For English Bulldogs, the stripes of the brindle color are usually black. They mostly appear along with a fawn and red base coat.
Piebald
A piebald English Bulldog also combines two coat colors, but unlike common bi-colored dogs, the white coat is more dominant on fawn, red, or muddy brindle coats.
For instance, a red and white English Bulldog is predominantly red with white patches. Meanwhile, a red piebald English Bulldog is mostly white with red spots.
English Bulldog Breed Standards & Disqualifications
As per the AKC and UKC English Bulldog breed standards, the only English Bulldog colors recognized are fawn, fallow, red, white, or any combination of these shades.
This means all the non-standard coat colors such as black, blue, lilac, lilac sable, chocolate, seal, and platinum are disqualified from conformation shows.
AKC also specifically mentioned that the merle coloration is disqualified. This color, along with markings other than ticked, white, black tips, black mask, brindle, and piebald, is considered a fault.
Note that moderate black spots in piebalds are acceptable, as well as a small white patch on solid-colored dogs and brindles.
English Bulldog Coat Color Genetics
There are a variety of genes that interact to create the various English Bulldog coat colors. According to Animal DNA Diagnostics, they are the A, B, D, K, & S genes.
The A gene or the Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) gene is responsible for controlling red and black pigments. The alleles of agouti create the fawn and sable coat.
Meanwhile, two copies of the B gene result in the dilution of the black coat or the chocolate coloration.
On the other hand, the D gene, on the other hand, lightens black pigment to gray or light silver coats resulting in a blue color Bulldog.
As for the K gene, it produces dominant black, brindle (dark stripe), and muddy brindle in English Bulldogs. Meanwhile, the S gene determines if the English Bulldog will have piebald coats.
If you find the color genetics of English Bulldogs to be too complex and you really want to determine the color of your puppy, have it undergo genetic testing.
Do English Bulldog Colors Affect Behavior and Health?
There’s no scientific study that links the color of the English Bulldog to its behavior.
In fact, each dog, no matter the breed, has their own unique personality, and it’s usually shaped by its genes, gender, training, and environment.
Nevertheless, coat colors that were disqualified or tagged as an anomaly by major kennel clubs (including albino dogs) were known to cause certain health issues, according to the International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD).
Some of the health issues common to these English Bulldog colors are color dilution alopecia, sun sensitivity, blindness, eye anomalies, deafness, and skin cancer.
Do English Bulldog Puppies Change Colors as They Grow?
Yes, English Bulldog puppies change coat colors as they grow. It’s a normal phenomenon that occurs in dogs, not only in the English Bulldog breed.
Hence, it’s fairly normal to see a black or dark English Bulldog transition to a lilac-colored or blue-colored dog. The final color of an English Bulldog can only be determined once it is at least 18 months old.
The main causes of this color change are genetics, but as the dog grows, certain color changes can be caused by medications, climate, nutrition levels, and skin diseases.
I have also seen this change in a lot of puppies I have produced, as reported to me by their new fur parents. These are not exactly complete color changes, though. Most of these transformations would be a particular shade being lighter or darker, such as a red color changing to a darker brown or a seal transforming to a lighter gray.
What Color Will My English Bulldog Puppy Be?
The only exact way to determine the color of your English Bulldog puppy is to run a coat color DNA test.
This will look into different aspects of coat color genetics, including the MC1R, A locus, B locus, D locus, K locus, and S locus.
You can also make an assumption through the color of its parents. Note, however, that you still need solid knowledge of coat color genetics to do this.
If you bought your dog from a reputable breeder, chances are they’ve already run a DNA test and determined your puppy’s color. You can ask them about this and even get a copy of the DNA result.
Generally, English Bulldog puppies are dark colored. Their coat lightens up as they mature, so the pictures on the breeder’s website are not a good basis for their coat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Rare Is a Black English Bulldog?
There are five rare colors for the English Bulldog, and the most common among them is black. The black coat is usually shiny and dark, but it may have a different undertone if the seal gene is present.
Due to their rarity, black English Bulldogs cost around $4,500 to $6,500 from a reputable breeder. They’re also not easy to come across in English Bulldog rescues.
What Is the Rarest Color of an English Bulldog?
Merle is the rarest English Bulldog color. It can cost as much as $12,000 because of its unique appearance.
Note, however, that the merle English Bulldog is disqualified by major kennel clubs despite its high price point. This raises the question — are merle English Bulldogs unhealthy? Unfortunately, it actually is.
This is due to the risk factors for blindness and deafness of the merle color Bulldog.
What Is the Most Common English Bulldog Color?
The most common English Bulldog color is fawn and white. It is also one of the most popular colors, along with red & white, brindle (dark stripe), and tri-color English Bulldog.
Since fawn and white English Bulldogs are quite easy to come across, they only cost $1,500 to $4,500.
Final Thoughts
The wide variety of English Bulldog colors is one of its many selling points. English Bulldog enthusiasts would surely have a hard time choosing a favorite, given how stunning each shade is.
Have you made up your mind on what English Bulldog color is for you? Remember that if you are planning to join shows, you should steer clear of disqualified colors!
Any comments on this blog or any interesting facts you want to share? Make sure to leave a comment below with your thoughts on English Bulldog colors!
