The United Kennel Club (UKC) says that the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a result of breeding an Old English Bulldog and a Terrier to get a dog that has the strength of the bulldog and the agility of the terrier breed.
The Pitbull Terrier gained popularity in Britain for the bloody sport of bull baiting where one to two APBT dogs were set to harass a bull for hours until the animal collapsed from fatigue or injuries.
When bull baiting was outlawed, the APBT was used for dogfighting and ratting. Still, bloody sports.
Immigrants to America brought this bull and terrier mix. As the bloody sports became unpopular and outlawed, Pitbulls became farm dogs and companions.
Today, Pitbulls battle bad publicity, but they’re genuinely kind dogs with big hearts full of love.
Will My Pitbull’s Eyes Change Color When Growing Up?
As I have mentioned in the former section, your Pitbull’s blue eyes are not permanent. Unless, of course, they have a merle gene or they lack melanin.
When your pups are born, it takes 8 to 14 days before they can open their eyes and show you its diamond blue shade.
If you aren’t informed regarding this phenomenon, you will probably assume that they have rare eyes because there are no hints regarding their mature shade.
By the 9th to 12th week of your Pitbull, their permanent eye color will finally settle in. Note that this doesn’t happen overnight, so you will be able to witness the slow transformation of your Pitbull’s eyes.
It is quite possible to own a blue-eyed Pitbull without any health issues. However, some may have an increased chance of inheriting specific health problems from their parents and acquiring diseases throughout their lives.
Here are some health issues that blue-eyed Pitbulls can get afflicted with:
Because of having blue eyes, some dogs, including Pitbulls, may develop vision defects. This is due to the presence of the merle gene that dilutes the eye pigmentation.
Not all of those who have merle genes will automatically be afflicted with this problem—only those pups whose parents are both carriers of merle genes.
Deafness is another medical problem that can affect some Pitbulls with blue eyes. This is still linked to the merle gene’s presence but is also associated with the Piebald gene, which causes a lack of mature melanin-producing cells or melanocytes.
To ensure that your blue-eyed pup doesn’t have a hearing impairment, you can have him checked through BAER testing.
Eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma are often found in blue-eyed pups. If you noticed that your Pitbull’s eyes are turning cloudy, better have him checked by a trusted veterinarian. He may suggest eye drops to protect and hydrate your dog’s eyes.
Blue-Eyed Pitbull Price: How Much Do Blue-Eyed Pitbulls Cost?
Since blue-eyed Pitbulls are rare, you may be charged a significant amount of money when purchasing them from local breeders.
However, this price is most of the time not reasonable because the origin of their blue eyes can be from inbreeding, which is highly anomalous and frowned upon.
The average price of a Pitbull from a reputable breeder is between $800 to $2,000. But if the Pitbull came from an excellent bloodline, it may cost up to $20,000.
If the breeder selling you a blue-eyed Pitbull is asking for more than this amount, you should start investigating. Ask for a record that will prove that the dog is not a result of two Merle parents and doesn’t have any genetic defects.
A lot of breeders take advantage of buyers who don’t have any idea about dog breeds. So if you are a new blue-eyed Pitbull enthusiast, equip yourself through reading articles like this and other scientific research about dogs.
Before moving on to the next part, I want to share this cute blue-eyed baby Pitbull with you.cutest blue eye pitbull puppy ever
How Do Breeders Produce Blue-Eyed Pitbulls?
Even though breeding for specific eye color is classified as unethical, some breeders still practice this inhumane act for the sake of profit.
They bred together two Pitbulls who are both merle carriers to produce a double merle (MM) litter, usually blue eyes. Doing this is dangerous because these dogs are prone to genetic diseases such as blindness and deafness.
If, for instance, your blue-eyed Pitbull was bred through a one merle-carrier parent and another non-carrier, there is a high probability that your dog will be healthier than those from a double merle litter.
Stricter rules should be imposed for this breeding practice to prevent dogs with multiple congenital anomalies.
FAQ
How rare is a pitbull with blue eyes?
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