In many cases, Pitbull colors are the deciding factor when choosing a dog. But as we will come to see, a dog’s coloring is related to genetics and even health.
Pitbulls are a breed of dog renowned for their power and powerful frame. They are available in a range of hues, including as black, white, brown, and brindle.
Although a Pitbull’s coat color may vary, the breed is often thought of as having a sturdy, strong look.
Due to their intelligence and devotion, pitbulls are also well-liked as pets in addition to their frequent employment as working dogs in law enforcement and military activities.
Despite their reputation for ferocity, Pitbulls may become devoted and gentle friends with the right training and socialization.
Although some people prefer different colors of Pitbulls over others, the traits and temperament of the breed should ultimately be the most crucial considerations when picking a pet.
Why Is Our Pitbull Color Important?
Research undertaken by the University of Sydney in Australia revealed that a dog’s life expectancy and health are directly impacted by the color of its coat.
According to the research, dogs who are liver or chocolate in color are more inclined to have musculoskeletal problems, malignancies, and skin and ear problems.
Additionally, anecdotal data shows that dogs with white coats may be vulnerable to congenital disorders like deafness.
The results of this study provide important information for veterinarians and breeders, even if additional investigation is required to completely understand the relationship between a dog’s coat color and health.
They may better manage the health of their canine patients and make sure they live long, healthy lives by taking into consideration a dog’s coat color.
It’s vital to be aware of any possible health risks that may be connected to different hues, even though the color of a dog’s coat shouldn’t be the primary consideration when adopting a pet.
Owners can guarantee their pets get the finest care possible and have happy, healthy lives by using this information.
Pitbull Coat Colors
Professional breeders usually generate 16 Pitbull colors based on kennel club guidelines. Some unintended genetic alterations cause occasional colors. I didn’t include them since they’re not well-known.
Black Brindle Pitbull
Black brindle Pitbulls usually have light bases and black markings. These patterns are called tiger stripes but may also be crisscrossing.
Some Pits have black brindle around their head and tail. The typical brindle dog is seen here. The “brindle Pitbull” has a multicolored coat.
The brindle Pitbull’s coat is usually brown, leaning to black, with deeper tiger-like stripes. Black brindle pitbulls possess light bases with moiré patterns. Sometimes its belly hair is white.
Finding brindle Pitbulls in shelters is a challenge. These dogs cost more than other colored Pitbulls.
Black Pitbulls
These are pitbulls that are pure black or solid black with white chest and toe markings.
Due to their coat color, inexperienced pet owners sometimes believe they’re antagonistic to people as well as other pets, but they’re really good-natured.
Black Pitbulls are aggressive and impressive-looking. Their almost-mythical body makes a great first impression.
These dogs have an all-black coat, occasionally with a white chest and toes. Their prestige makes them popular.
Red-Brindle Pitbull
Red brindled pheomelanin dilution gives pits a light foundation coat. This may be pale cream to black, with vivid crimson streaks.
Some red brindle Pitbulls can have white chest markings. Red brindle pit bulls have tiger stripes on a red coat.
This coloration is prevalent in boxers and greyhounds, despite what many breeders say. Their short, rigid coats don’t shed and don’t need any maintenance.
The dominating color decides a brindle dog’s name, followed by brindle. A red brindle Pitbull has a red foundation and black brindle stripes.
Red Pitbulls
Red Pitbulls have a red coat and nose. The recessive gene that they have can cause red eyes as well as toes.
They’re pricey on account of their unusual coat. They may be pure red or have white markings like other Pitbulls. Red Pitbulls are tan-brown, not red. We’re simply talking about the Red Pitbull’s fur color, not its nose.
Some individuals feel the Red Pitbull is rarer than others or a specific breed, thus they’re ready to pay extra for it. Red Pitbulls are the same as blue or black Pitbulls; they’re all Pitbulls.
Paying extra for a Red Pitbull isn’t reasonable, particularly if they’re common.
Blue Pitbull
Blue Pitbulls have a silvery-gray to beautiful deep charcoal blue coat. Some have complete coats, others white spots.
Some irresponsible breeders say blue Pitbulls are a different breed, causing debate. It’s well-known that there’s this recessive gene that causes blue to be a dilution of black.
Veterinarians and breeders say blue Pitbulls seem to be more susceptible to behavioral and health issues.
Blue Pitbulls range from deep charcoal to silvery gray in hue. Due to their similar color combinations, they’re often mistaken.
Some believe the Red Pitbull and the Blue Pitbull are two unique breeds based on color. Incorrect.
The Black, Red, and Blue Pitbulls are the same dog, with only color differences owing to the recessive gene.
Blue Pitbulls are unusual, thus people are typically interested in them. Far too many dogs remain available, particularly for adoption, that this oddity is mostly gone.
Blue Brindle Pitbull
Blue brindle Pitbulls usually have light-colored coats with blue stripes. Genes determine who has white spots. Some have white abdominal patches.
Blue Fawn Brindle Pitbull
The blue fawn brindle Pitbull is more costly. The reason is that this dog’s hues and patterns are stunning.
Light-colored coat as the base, silvery-blue striped markings, and red nose. Due to its exquisite colors and patterns, the Pitbull that is both Blue Fawn and Brindle is more valuable.
This Pitbull has blue and fawn stripes.
Blue Fawn Pitbull
Blue Pitbulls can be gorgeous. Their beautiful silvery-blue coat along with the crimson nose are remarkable.
If you would like a Pit like this, be prepared to have a hard time as they go fast. Many people find blue Fawn Pitbulls are beautiful with their light blue coats and reddish or bluish noses.
If you wish to adopt one of these gorgeous animals, be ready to invest money owing to their scarcity. They make loyal, clever, confident family dogs.
Fawn Pitbull
The fawn Pitbull’s coat is yellow-tan. Veterinarians think this hue is caused by the Agouti gene. It should be noted that this gene also causes sable.
Not all fawn Pitbulls have patches of white markings. Fawn Pitbulls possess orange, yellow-ocher, and mahogany red coats. Fawn Pitbulls have white belly markings.
Fawn Brindle Pitbull
Brindle fawn Cream-colored Pitbulls with tawny stripes. Fawn brindle Pits aren’t as unique and rare as blue fawn Pits, however, they have lush coats. Cream with fawn stripes.
Fawn Sable Pitbull
Fawn Sable Pitbulls are uncommon. Yellow-tan fur with black tips. Their fawn coat has black etchings.
Tan Pitbull
Tan Pitbulls possess a fawn-to-light-brown coat. Some Pitbulls have white bellies. Tan Pitbulls don’t have fawn or light brown coats.
Light beige is rare in Pitbulls, according to breeders. Some tan Pitbulls lack chest marks.
Buckskin Pitbull
Buckskin Pitbulls have brown coats with golden tones. This is sometimes mistaken for a fawn. Fawn Pitbulls exhibit red tones, not yellow.
Buckskin Pitbulls have a coat color similar to Fawn Pitbulls, however the fawn has reddish tones while the buckskin has yellowish hues.
Seal Pitbull
Seal Pitbulls exist, if you haven’t heard. This Pit has a black-looking coat. In sunshine or strong light, they appear brown or red. They’re sometimes taken for chocolate colored Pits, but they’re not.
The Pitbull Seal’s coat seems nearly black. In strong light, their fur appears chocolate or silver. Their tail and legs are darker than their body.
Tricolor Pitbull
Tricolor Pitbulls are white, black, and tan. They may also be blue, white, and brown. Tricolor Pits have three coat colors, making them very attractive.
A blue that looks a bit washed-out, white markings, as well as fawn are good examples. This hue is marketed as lilac three colored dogs by breeders.
Reverse Brindle Pitbull
The lighter color dominates in a brindle Pitbull. Inverted brindle Pitbulls may have darker fur. It has tan stripes.
You’re acquainted with brindle’s light base coat and darker stripes. There’s also reverse brindle Pitbull.
This happens when the base coat is black and the stripes are tan or fawn. Some heavily brindled Pitbulls look black, but they have a subtle mark.
Nontraditional Colors
Merle Pitbull
Merle and Brindle are distinct canine color patterns. Merle Pitbulls have diluted base coats and irregular color patches. Merle Pits’ splotches are more random than brindle canines’.
Tan/black Pitbull
Due to their color, tan and black Pitbulls can look like Rottweilers. The tan and black coloring of American Pit Bull Terriers is as a result of two sets of the tan-point gene that is recessive.
People believe tan and black Pitbulls are crossbred. This assumption demonstrates an increased need for genetic knowledge because the gene in question we know as the tan-point gene seems to be rare in Pitbulls.
Pitbulls With Albinism
Albino Pitbulls are white because they can’t manufacture melanin or colors. Albinos have reddish coats and eyes.
Liver Brindle Pitbull
Liver Brindle Pitbulls will have light coats with chocolate stripes. Some brindles have white markings, whereas others don’t.
Some brindles have white markings, whereas others don’t. Some brindles have white markings, whereas others don’t.
Chocolate Or Liver Pitbull
Chocolate or liver Pitbull In certain breeds, this tone is called red, which is deceptive since people are of the view that it has to connection with pheomelanin.
Pitbulls That Are 80% White
Merle Bully Kennel clubs don’t allow 80% white Pitbulls since they have the same genetic illnesses as white Pitbulls. White Pits with black splotches are one example.
Is There A Difference Between The Blue Pitbull And The Blue Nose Pitbull?
Blue Pitbulls and Blue Nose Pitbulls are almost indistinguishable from one another for the most part due to the fact that the majority of blue Pitties have the same color of nose.
Because of a dilution of the black pigment in their skin, dogs of this breed have a distinctive silvery-gray coat and nose. This coloration is created by the black pigment in a dog’s skin.
It is possible for non-blue nose Grooves to have offspring with a nose color like charcoal, which I shall discuss more in the section devoted to the various hues of the Pitbull’s eyes and nose.
Taking Proper Care Of The Pitbull Coat Despite Color
Pitbulls only have one coat to maintain, which makes them a relatively low-maintenance breed. Because they don’t shed too much, these dogs don’t need frequent brushing.
Simply giving your dog’s coat a weekly brush down with a moist towel is more than enough to maintain its cleanliness and shine.
“Black Dog” Syndrome
The term “Black Dog Syndrome” (BDS) refers to a phenomenon that takes place in shelters and specifically targets black dogs.
Researchers have noticed that for a considerable amount of time, black-coated dogs were less likely to be adopted right away in comparison to dogs with coats of lighter colors.
There are a few different hypotheses floating around as to why this happens, specifically with Pitbulls. Some of them are as follows:
- The fact that black dogs may be depicted as being wicked in television programs and literature has an effect on those who are superstitious about their pets.
- Due to their dark fur, it is difficult to make out the individual characteristics of a black Pitbull. Because of this, they are not considered.
- Some people believe that since they have a more mature appearance than the lighter hues, they are less appealing.
- According to the findings of a recent research that was just published in the journal Animal Welfare, current data on adoption from a variety of animal shelters suggests that black dogs usually come in for shorter stays in shelters. This shows that this phenomenon is probably an urban legend among the canine community as a whole.
- The study also revealed that black Pitbull breeds, such as the APBT, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, AmStaff, and American Bully, have poor rates of adoption and are often destroyed, not because of their color, but because of the misconception that they’re violent dogs. This is the case despite the fact that there is no evidence to support this perception. This is the case even though the color of the dog does not play a role in this.
Most Common Pitbulls
- Black Pitbull and all of its many forms
- Fawn Pitbulls and all of its many forms
Most Rare Pitbulls
- Merle Pitbull
- White Pit Bull Terrier
- Tan Pitbull,
- Tricolor Pitbull
- Blue Fawn Pitbull,
- The Blue Pitbull and all of its many forms
- Seal Pitbull
- Buckskin Pitbull
Common-colored Pitbulls are going to be your best bet when it comes to saving money, so if that’s what you’re after, then go for the common varieties.
Nonetheless, if you are in possession of the financial means and you desire a Pitbull that you would be able to show off to everyone you know because they are so exceptional, then you should opt for the puppies that are rare-colored .
Simply use caution when making purchases, and make sure that you steer clear of supporting disreputable operations like backyard breeders and puppy mills.
The Biology And Coloration Of Pit Bull Coats
To provide a comprehensive explanation of the genetics behind the pit bull coat, a lengthy scientific paper is required.
You should not have to go through the trouble of reading anything like that, so please let me simply explain the way Pitbulls get their colored coats by concentrating on genes and pigments.
You must first understand the two primary pigments that work together to produce the distinctive Pitbull’s coat color.
Pheomelanin and eumelanin are the two forms of this pigment. Eumelanin is the fundamental term for the dark pigment that is the reason for a dog’s characteristic black coat.
On the other hand, there are also cases in which a particular gene causes eumelanin to create lighter colors, such as blue, liver, and other pastel hues.
This gene makes the black pigment less concentrated, which is the reason why its potency is different.
Eumelanin is crucially important as well because it is responsible for the coloration of the nose and eyes; this is one of the reasons why certain dog breeds are more uncommon than others.
Pheomelanin, often known as the red pigment, is what we consider the other kind of melanin that may be responsible for a dog’s coat.
In a similar vein, the amount of pheomelanin that a Pitbull has may be determined by the genes that it has acquired from its parents.
For this reason, there exists, canines that have colors ranging from red to orange to yellow to gold to cream.
The Health Of The Pit Bull’s Coat And Its Color
There’s no relevant evidence that proves the connection between a dog’s coat color and the behavior, but a growing number of studies are relating it to a dog’s health.
There is evidence that some tones have a lower life expectancy than others due to the fact that they are usually more likely to suffer from a variety of ailments.
The following is an in-depth overview of these many health concerns.
- Deafness – The gene that causes pit bulls to be born deaf is carried by the majority of merle pitbulls as well as the and white pits.
- Sun Sensitivity – Due to the lack of pigmentation in their coat, white Pits are usually more affected by the harmful effects of sun exposure. This problem also affects Merle Pits due to the fact that their bodies do not develop sufficient melanin which protects their white coat from the sun’s rays.
- Blindness – Blindness is another one of the health problems that might affect white and merle Pitbulls. Both the posterior and the anterior segments of their eyes are impacted by the gene abnormality.
- Microphthalmia – There are certain merle Pitbulls who have eyes that can be unusually tiny and do not operate properly. The name for this ailment is microphthalmia, and there’s no therapy available for it at the present time.
- Skin Disease – Research that was conducted found that liver or chocolate Pitbulls had a higher risk of developing skin disorders.
- Cancer Of The Skin – Skin cancer is more likely to develop in merle and white Pit bulls due to the absence of colors in their coats. Because prolonged exposure to sunlight is the key factor in causing this unfavorable state, it is recommended that they get as little of it as possible.
- The External Otitis – This disease is the most prevalent health problem that affects chocolate Pits, and it leads to frequent inflammation of the ear canal. Pitbulls that are infected with this condition will have a discharge coming from their ears, as well as shake their heads and scratch their skin.
The color Of A Pitbull May Change As It Gets Older
It is normal for Pitbull pups to change their coloring as they get older, so you shouldn’t be taken aback if your once-blue puppy has developed a brown coat in only several weeks.
This transformation is quite natural and is mostly the result of a development in the coat pigmentation of the animal.
On the other hand, as they reach maturity, there may be a little change in the hue of their skin, and factors like nutritional status may be to blame for this.
The color may also be affected by skin disease or the type of medication given to your dog. Sunlight has also been known to play a role.
Pitbull With A Blue Nose
Blue nose The noses of pit bulls have a charcoal grayish color, which goes well with their gray coats. When compared to the history of the red nose Pit, theirs does not get nearly as much attention.
Pitbull With A Red Nose
The pinkish or reddish nose that is characteristic of a red nose Pitbull descended from a specific canine strain that originated in Ireland.
The American Kennel Club considers this to be unacceptable behavior for Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
Are There Any Pitbull Varieties That Can’t Be Domesticated?
It is complete nonsensical to believe that Pitbulls are unable to be tamed as a breed of dog.
In point of fact, usually, all Pitbulls find pleasure in the company of a family, in which they are taught and intellectually engaged in addition to receiving care.
This belief is most likely founded on the observation that certain Pit bulls, like other breeds of dogs who have not been effectively taught, may be somewhat disobedient.
Final Words
Pitbulls are a breed with a broad variety of coat colors and patterns. From the simple hues black, white, and red to the more distinctive and striking patterns brindle and merle, every choice may be satisfied.
While certain hues may be rarer and desirable than others, all hues are equally lovely and should be embraced.
It is essential to keep in mind that the color of a dog may affect its temperament or behavior, and all pitbulls deserve to be treated with love and respect.
Regardless of whether you choose the traditional black-and-white pitbull or the more exotic merle pattern, you should enjoy the beauty of all pitbull hues.
I have high hopes that this guide will achieve its objective of enlightening pet owners and staff members working in animal rescue shelters all around the globe.
A significant step in ultimately accurately identifying Pitbulls and providing the appropriate level of care for them is to get familiar with the various coat colors that they may have.