What is a Pied French Bulldog? Types, Price, Rarity & Care

We all know that Frenchies come in so many colors and patterns, and pied marking is extremely popular among owners.. A pied French bulldog (or piebald) has a mostly white coat “cow-like” patchwork. Each pied French Bulldog is unique – some look like little cows or Dalmatians in a way. In case you’re searching for a pied Frenchie, then this guide will help you discover everything you need to know about their price, care, and availability.

What is a Pied French Bulldog?

A pied French bulldog is a Frenchie with a white coat base covered with black, cream, blue, or some other darker coat color. Besides standard color variations, pied Frenchies can also come in exotic or rare combinations. It’s not a type of coat color, but a marking pattern. We can describe it as a pattern where large areas of the coat lack pigment (white), and the remaining areas have pigmented spots. To clarify, pied is a marking pattern, not a standalone color.

Standard and Rare Pied French Bulldog Color Variations

Pied Frenchies come in many color combos. Standard pied colors in the breed include white-coated puppies with brindle spots (brindle pied), cream spots (cream pied), or fawn spots (fawn pied). These are classic, breed-standard pieds. But you can also get exotic hues on a pied base. For example:

• Blue Pied: white coat with gray/blue patches (two copies of the dilution gene).
• Lilac Pied: white base with pale lilac-tinted patches (double-dilute chocolate + blue).
• Chocolate Pied: white with chocolate/brown patches (see our Chocolate French Bulldogs guide for examples).
• Pied Merle: white coat with merle-patterned patches (merle gene + piebald).
• Other Rare Pieds: You might even see colors like isabella pied or rojo pied – any recognized color can appear as patches on a pied. 

Our French Bulldog Coat Types post explains how genes blend. Note that pieds aren’t a texture or size – a pied dog can have a smooth coat or even a “fluffy” long-haired coat. The key is always the color pattern: a white (unpigmented) base with pigmented splotches.

Unique French Bulldog Pied Variations 

Not all pied French bulldogs look the same. The classic “white base with colored patches” describes all of them. However, the color placement and amount can vary a lot. This leads to fun nicknames among breeders and fans. 

Irish Pied

Despite the name, this doesn’t refer to Irish origin. An Irish pied Frenchie is usually a dog with a more balanced amount of white and color – think 50/50 ratio. It’s not an officially recognized variation but more of a descriptive term used by breeders. Sometimes, it also refers to dogs carrying just one copy of the pied gene, producing partial white patterning.

Honey Pied

This nickname refers to a cream-colored pied Frenchie. The white base is marked with soft golden or cream patches, giving a “honey-like” warmth to the coat. It’s gentle in contrast and quite rare compared to brindle or fawn pied.

Saddle Pied

A saddle pied Frenchie has a large patch of color over the back – like a saddle on a horse – while the rest of the coat is mostly white. This symmetrical appearance is striking and one of the more popular pied patterns.

Blanket Pied

A blanket pied is like a saddle. It describes a Frenchie with a colored patch on its back and sides. It looks like a blanket is laid over them. Legs and belly are usually white, with a sharp contrast between color and white.

Extreme Pied

This is the term for nearly all-white French bulldogs. They may have very minimal color. Sometimes, they have just a colored ear or a spot near the tail. Due to their white color, these Frenchies may have a higher risk of congenital deafness. This is especially true if both ears and the head are completely white. Hearing tests (BAER) are often recommended for extreme pieds. In case you want to buy an extreme pied French bulldog, make sure you perform all the health checks before bringing it home. Check its hearing, vision, and hips for any case.

Full or Half Hood in Pied Frenchies

This refers to the coloring around the face:

• A Full Hood means the Frenchie has both ears and most of its face covered in color. There is usually a white strip or small area between the eyes or on the forehead.
• A Half Hood means only one side of the face or one ear is colored, with the rest of the head white. It gives them a super cute, pirate-patch look!

These patterns do not change the dog’s health or personality. However, they make each pied Frenchie visually unique. This uniqueness is often why enthusiasts seek them out.

Genetics of the Pied Pattern in French Bulldogs

The pied coat is all about one special gene. Pied (piebald) is a recessive trait at the S locus. This means a puppy needs two copies of the pied allele (“s”) to show the pattern.

If only one parent has it, the pup will be a carrier. The pup may look mostly colored or mostly white. This is sometimes called a “half pie.” Because of this, most litters only have a pied pup occasionally. Breeding two carriers gives the best chance for pied puppies.

Importantly, the underlying coat color still matters. A brindle pied has a brindle dog hiding under the white patches; a blue pied has the blue dilution gene, and so on. The pied gene simply cuts out pigment in patches. 

That’s why any base color (fawn, brindle, cream, blue, chocolate, etc.) can be seen on a pied Frenchie. (For more on Frenchie coat genetics and how patterns interact, check our Rare French Bulldog Colors guide, which covers genes like merle, brindle, and dilution alongside pied.)

Pied French Bulldog Prices and Rarity

Because pied requires specific genes, it’s rarer than common colors. Demand for the attractive piebald look tends to be high, even though pied itself is a standard, old-school Frenchie pattern. Many breeders choose not to focus on pied. This is because it is not a trendy color. As a result, specialized pied breeders are the main source.

• Rarity: Pied pups appear only when both parents carry the recessive gene. You might join a waiting list or work with a trainer known for pieds.
• Price: Pied Frenchies often cost more than a plain fawn or brindle pup. On average, expect a pied puppy to be around $4,000–$6,000. (For comparison, typical French Bulldogs are $1,500–$3,000.) Female pied dogs often fetch toward the higher end of that range. Breeders charge a premium because of the color demand.
• Breeder Tips: Be careful when shopping for rare colors. notes that breeding heavily for specific coat traits can lead some breeders to cut corners on health. Make sure any pied breeder you work with tests for hips, breathing issues, and other common Frenchie health concerns.

For more on pricing and genetics of rare colors, see our post on the most popular rare Frenchie colors. It breaks down how genes like dilution and merle affect cost.

Caring for a Pied French Bulldog

In most ways, Pied Frenchies need the same loving care as any Frenchie – short walks, playtime, and vet check-ups. However, a few points are especially worth noting for their white-coated goodness:

Diet and Tear Stains 

Many pied dogs have white faces, which can show reddish tear stains more. A quality low-grain diet and plenty of filtered water can help keep stains down. (Some owners even use stainless steel bowls to reduce mineral buildup.) As one breeder recommends, feeding high-quality food plus vitamins can make a big difference for white-faced pups.

In case your Frenchie also deals with tear stains, then we recommend you to check our Tear Stain Remover. It can remove dark spots around your dog’s eyes in just 10 days.

Grooming

White fur shows dirt easily. Regular grooming will keep the coat bright. Wipe your pied’s face and muzzle daily to clear away any discharge. Check those wrinkles and ears often, since Frenchies’ folds need cleaning to prevent irritation. Although pied Frenchies don’t shed more than other colors, their loose white hairs stand out against furniture and clothes. Therefore, a good brushing schedule helps. In case you’re not sure what type of brush to use on your Frenchie, then we recommend you read our blog post about the best dog brushes for their coats.

From grooming gloves, soft brushes, and even pin brushes, we offer tools for every type of coat.

Sun Protection

Pink noses and sparsely pigmented skin on a pied dog can be sun-sensitive. If your Frenchie will hang out outdoors, use pet-safe sunscreen on exposed spots, or provide shaded areas to avoid sunburn.

Besides, don’t forget to protect their paws. Use dog paw balms, shoes or socks in case of walking on hot concrete or ice. Regardless of the coat color, every Frenchie needs to stay safe when walking outdoors. Our Moisturizing French Bulldog Balm comes in a practical package that is easy to apply. It features natural ingredients such as avocado, shea butter, olive oil, and natural honey wax.

The French Bulldog Healing Balm is great for minor cracks and injuries, and it comes in the 30ml package. It’s great for everyday use and can be used as a natural protection against street salt, allergens, and other elements.

Health Checks 

The whitehead gene in extreme pieds can carry a higher deafness risk. It’s wise to have your vet check a piebald puppy’s hearing (especially if it has a predominantly white head). Treat a pied Frenchie like any French Bulldog. Keep up with their vaccinations, dental care, and exercise. They enjoy short walks and playtime. Frenchies usually prefer a moderate exercise routine.

Pied Frenchies are just as affectionate and playful as their solid-colored siblings. They usually have typical Frenchie energy and personality. They can be stubborn at times, loving with family, and very charming with their cute faces.

Pied Pattern in English Bulldogs is Also Common

The piebald pattern isn’t unique to Frenchies. English Bulldogs, for example, also commonly carry pied. In fact, the English Bulldog breed standard explicitly recognizes pied coloring: “Pied – white background with markings of any of the above listed colors” (above referring to red, fawn, brindle, etc.). 

So, an English Bulldog with a mostly white coat and red or brindle patches is called a red pied or fawn pied, just like in Frenchies.

Breeders of English Bulldogs also mix pied lines to maintain good health. Many people want a mostly white dog with some patches. A little color can lower the risk of deafness in all-white bulldogs. Likewise, if you love the pied look but worry about issues, you can be reassured that piebald by itself doesn’t cause health problems. It just means you should be extra mindful of sun exposure and consider hearing tests for the loudest white-headed puppies.

Summary

A Pied French bulldog is a Frenchie with a white base coat and large colored spots. Standard versions include brindle, fawn, or cream patches, while exotic variations range from blue pied to merle pied. The pattern is controlled by a recessive piebald gene, so pied pups are rarer and often pricier than plain-colored Frenchies. They require no special care beyond what any Frenchie needs – keep that white face clean, protect it from sun, and provide good nutrition to manage tear stains.

If you’re set on a pied puppy, be patient and go with a reputable breeder. Pied Frenchies bring a splash of character wherever they go, making each coat as unique as the dog inside it. Enjoy those fun “cow spots” and give your pied Frenchie the care every bulldog deserves.