Genetics at a glance
| Genotype | at/at at A with sp/sp at S |
|---|---|
| Loci involved | A locus (at) tan points; S locus (sp) piebald white |
| Typical UK price | £4,500 – £10,000 |
| Kennel Club | Outside the breed standard |
Tri colour describes a dog carrying three visible colours — a base coat, tan point markings, and white from the piebald gene. It is a combination of patterns rather than a colour in its own right.
What makes it tri
Two recessive patterns have to be present together: at/at at the A locus for tan points, and sp/sp at the S locus for piebald white. The base underneath can be black, chocolate, blue or lilac, and the price varies accordingly — a blue tri costs considerably more than a black tri.
Trindle
You will see this term used constantly and rarely defined. A trindle is a tri colour dog where the tan point markings themselves carry brindle striping, produced when the dog also carries kbr at the K locus. It is a tri colour with striped points, not a separate colour.
The health note
Pigment and inner ear development are linked. In dogs carrying extensive white on the head, particularly around the ears, there is a modestly increased risk of congenital deafness. It is a small effect in French Bulldogs and nothing like the risk in double merle dogs, but a BAER hearing test is worth requesting for a heavily white-headed puppy.
If the base colour is diluted — blue tri, lilac tri — every dilution-related risk applies as normal.
Health and cost considerations for this colour:
- Not Kennel Club recognised
- Heavy white on the head carries a modest deafness risk
- Where the base is diluted, dilution risks apply
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
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Best for:Owners insuring from the day of collection
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Common questions
What is a trindle French Bulldog?
A tri colour dog whose tan point markings carry brindle striping, produced when the dog also carries the brindle allele. It is a variation of tri colour rather than a separate colour.
How much is a tri colour French Bulldog?
Typically £4,500 to £10,000, varying considerably with the base colour. A blue or lilac tri sits at the top of that range; a black tri at the bottom.
Can tri colour French Bulldogs be deaf?
There is a modestly increased risk in dogs with extensive white on the head, because pigment cells contribute to inner ear development. A BAER test settles it definitively.
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.