While there are many Pitbull colors out there, one stands out as being more remarkable than the rest – the tri color Pitbull. These dogs have color patterns you don’t typically expect to see in Pitbulls.
This color pattern comes in all four types of Pitbulls. You can find tri color American Pit Bull Terriers (APBT), tri color American Bully puppies, tri color American Staffordshire Terriers, and tri color Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
While rare, tri color Pitbulls exist in all of the biggest Pitbull bloodlines, such as the Colby Pitbulls, Razor Edge Pitbulls, and Gotti Pitbulls.
If you plan on becoming the new owner of a tri colored Pitbull, there are a few things you need to be mindful of.
To help you understand what your options are and some things to consider, we have gathered as much information as we possibly could about this one-of-a-kind color combination. Here’s everything you need to know!
Are Tri-Color Pitbulls Recognized by Kennel Clubs?
The coat pattern of tri-color Pitbulls is a fairly recent one so no kennel club at the moment lists them as one of the breeds that can participate in shows.
The American Kennel Club, which recognizes the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier, did not exactly list tri-color patterns as standard. However, the colors that make up the tri-color coat are recognized.
This is also the case for the American Pitbull Terrier and the American Bully which are recognized by United Kennel Club. The tri-color combinations aren’t listed on their color standards.
Given the fact that they are a new Pitbull color variety and that there’s difficulty in breeding them successfully without genetic defects, tri-color Pitbulls are quite rare.
As a pet owner, it is highly advised to refrain from breeding two tri-color Pitbulls on your own as the risk of genetic disorder is high.
Tri-color coats are caused by a recessive gene and it would take two parents who are carrying this to produce a tri-color litter. This gene increases the chances of genetic problems, so be sure to work with a veterinarian when it comes to breeding them.
Among tri Pitbulls, there are coat patterns that are less common than the others. The patchy black, white, brown pattern is very common. One of the less common ones is the merle blue tri-color ones as well as lilac tri-color Pitbulls.
Tri-Color Pitbull Temperament: Do They Make Good Family Pets?
The tri-color Pitbull’s behavior doesn’t really differ much from their solid-coated and bi-colored Pitbull cousins. They are warm, loving, and family-oriented.
They’re one of those dogs who knows how to put up a show for their friends. They love being inside the house and they are fairly easy to train.
Browsing Instagram will make you see how they typically look as well as their usual behaviors. They love to be inside the house most of the time, making them a perfect family pet. They’re also attentive and not very difficult to take photos with.
When it comes to training, a high patience level is a must. They are very intelligent but training must be consistent as they learn best that way.
Pitbulls are also very tolerant dogs. In the past, they were dubbed as one of the most aggressive canines because they were originally bred as fighters. If you want a sweet and loyal Pitbull, the key is in the training you give them as well as making sure that they don’t feel neglected or abused.
Tri-Color Pitbull Coat Color Genetics: How Do They Develop a Tri-Colored Coat?
Tri-color Pitbulls get their coat from genes they inherit from both parents. This means that the trait is recessive and some of the puppies are likely going to be born without a tri-color coat if one of their parents didn’t possess this specific gene.
According to Animal Genetics, there are four alleles in the Agouti gene series and one of them is the Tan Point allele which is responsible for the tri-color coat pattern.
Since the tri-coloration is a recessive genetic trait, it would require two copies for the color pattern to express itself. In general, dogs carry many of the genes responsible for a three-color pattern but are only hidden and continue to be hidden for generations until two copies are inherited.
The Tan Point gene must be present to produce a tricolor pattern along with the gene for the base color which can be black, blue, lilac, chocolate, and so on. The three colors may also be affected by the dilution gene which is responsible for the patterns such as merle or piebald.
That said, regular veterinary visits must be done to detect if your dog has developed any condition caused by their genetics.
FAQ
How much is a tri color Pitbull worth?
What two breeds make Pitbulls?