Genetics at a glance
| Genotype | at/at at A, d/d at D, plus b/b or co/co |
|---|---|
| Loci involved | A locus (at) tan points; D locus dilution; B or Co locus brown |
| Typical UK price | £6,000 – £13,000 |
| Kennel Club | Outside the breed standard |
Lilac and tan sits near the top of the UK colour market because it requires three separate recessive genes to align in the same dog: tan points, dilution, and brown.
Three recessives deep
Both parents must carry all three. The pool of dogs meeting that description is small and is selected on colour genetics, which is where the concern lies — not in the colour itself.
When a breeding programme's primary criterion is coat, the criteria that actually determine welfare come second: respiratory function grading, spinal conformation, patella scores, temperament. The predictable consequence is higher inbreeding coefficients and a population where structural health has been a secondary consideration.
Due diligence at this price
At £6,000 to £13,000 there is no excuse for missing paperwork. Ask for Respiratory Function Grading certificates for both parents at Grade 0 or 1, a full DNA panel, patella grades, hip scores, and the coefficient of inbreeding for the mating. A breeder operating at this level can produce all of it without difficulty. One who cannot has told you what the money went on.
Health and cost considerations for this colour:
- Three stacked recessives, implying a very narrow breeding pool
- Dilution-linked colour dilution alopecia risk
- Not Kennel Club recognised
- Likely to attract an insurance loading
Buying at a colour premium? Get a written insurance quote for the specific dog before you pay a deposit — several UK insurers now load or exclude diluted coats. Our lifetime cost calculator applies the colour loading so you can see the difference over the dog's life.
What we would actually buy
Confirms dilution and cocoa status, and screens for degenerative myelopathy via SOD1 among other conditions. Useful if you are buying at a colour premium and want to verify what you actually bought.
Best for:Verifying a rare-colour purchase, or screening before breeding
Check current priceLifetime cover with per-condition limits that hold up against a single IVDD surgical episode. Compare the per-condition limit rather than the headline annual figure.
Best for:Owners insuring from the day of collection
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Common questions
How much is a lilac and tan French Bulldog?
Commonly £6,000 to £13,000 in the UK. The price reflects the difficulty of combining three recessive genes, not any health or temperament advantage.
Are lilac and tan French Bulldogs healthy?
They carry the dilution-linked risk of colour dilution alopecia. The larger concern is indirect: producing this combination requires narrow, colour-led selection, which tends to deprioritise the structural screening that actually determines welfare in this breed.
Related reading
Colour genetics summarised for buyers. If you are planning a mating, DNA test both parents through an accredited laboratory rather than relying on appearance.