Many people believe that the Brindle Pitbull is some kind of a separate dog breed. Maybe even a hybrid dog. But this is simply not the case. The ‘Brindle’ just refers to the color of the dogs coat. So basically, this is just one of the color variations that Pitbull puppies could inherit.
Like you probably already know, a Pitbull refers to either an American Pitbull Terrier or an American Staffordshire Terrier. Brindle Pitbull dogs are loving, faithful and strong. They make amazing family dogs and any dog lover would be lucky to have them.
Unfortunately, Brindle Pitbull dogs are misunderstood because they get too much bad press. They have quite the reputation for allegedly being aggressive dogs. However, that is simply not the case. If you’re a true dog lover, you know that the behavior of your puppy mostly depends on how YOU train him. Irresponsible owners who aren’t experienced or willing to learn may raise an aggressive dog.
But that doesn’t mean that your Pitbull dog will act that way. If you overcome the misunderstandings, you will find a loving companion who is loyal ‘till the end. To learn more about the Brindle Pitbull and whether it is the right dog for you, read on…
Brindle Pitbull dogs (Brindle Pit Bulls)
A Brindle Pitbull is either an American Pitbull terrier or an American Staffordshire terrier with a brindle pattern coat.
They were originally bred for blood sports. Which kind of explains why they have such a bad reputation. But that’s not in any way the dog’s fault. These cruel form of entertainment are thankfully not legal anymore in most parts of the world. And that’s why the Pitbull finally can live like the ideal family dog that he really is.
Pitbulls are now used as search and rescue dogs and also as therapy dogs. They are incredibly intelligent and have a relatively low need for maintenance. The most important thing about this breed is that you start with socialization at an early age.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a breed recognized by the American Kennel Club. But the American Pitbull Terrier is not. Either way, both of them are still purebred dog breeds.
Appearance of Brindle Pitbull dogs
The color of the Brindle Pitbull distinguishes this dog from the others. They are not only one solid color, but a combination of dark and light colors, all mixed together. The brindle therefore does not stand for a color, but a pattern.
With the brindle pattern you usually see predominantly bright colors (such as yellow) mixed with darker colors (such as black).
This coloring is not as rare as many breeders would like you to think – it also occurs with boxers and greyhounds. The coat itself is short and stiff so that they do not shed too much and therefore do not need much care.
The physical appearance of Pitbulls is very fierce. They are muscular and robyst, have a wide face and a short muzzle. They have round small eyes, and a triangle shaped nose. Of course, their floppy ears fall down and you can find brindle Pitties that are Red Nose Brindle Pitbulls or Blue Nose Brindle Pitbulls.
The Blue Nose Pitbull
The Blue Nose Brindle Pitbull has a blue and grey brindle with a fawn coat color. They often have stunningly beautiful blue eyes that perfectly go with their blue fawn coat and adorable blue nose.
The Red Nose Brindle Pitbull
The Red Nose Pitbull has a soft red brindle pattern with a fawn coat color. They often also have white markings on their coat. In addition to that, amber or even red eyes complete their stunning appearance. They can either have a cute black nose, or an equally as cute pinkish-red nose. The white markings are mainly around the eyes, forehead, chest and feet.
Size and weight
Like we already explained, this isn’t a separate breed of dog. So a Brindle Pitty has about the same size and weight as any other Pitbull.
So you should expect them to be about 17 to 21 inches tall at their shoulders. They should weigh about 30-60 pounds, with males being a bit heavier than females. These are muscular dogs with a strong and robust build. That obviously means that they need a lot of exercise, but we will talk about that later in the article.
Colors and coat
The color of their coat is what makes these dogs noticeable. Well, it actually isn’t a solid color. When we’re talking about Brindle, it’s more of a pattern than anything else.
Brindle is a pattern made of stripes and markings of alternating colored fur. They are usually a light color against a darker color; for example, yellow on brown or red on black. Every Brindle pattern is unique and you’ll never see two dogs with the exact same one.
The different types of brindle fur you may find are black, red, blue, deer and blueish grey. In these layers, the light color is usually more visible than the dark one. In an inverted Brindle Pitbull, it is reversed. This type of pattern is also called a reverse brindle. And it’s basically the same, except that, like we already explained, the dark color of the pattern is more visible.
Dogs can also have brindle spots. These spots are most commonly on the muzzle, ears, but they can also have brindle spots on their back or tummy. The possibilities are pretty much endless when it comes to the brindle Pitty. That’s why their coats are so beautiful — each one of them is unique.
When it comes to the texture and length of their coats, it’s the same as with any other Pitty. Their fur is short and stiff, which means that they don’t need much care because they don’t shed much. But you should still brush them from time to time, so that their dead hair doesn’t get stuck. We will talk a bit more about grooming later in the article. But spoiler alert — they are pretty low maintenance.
The personality of the Brindle Pitbull
Pitbulls are best described as loving, faithful and loving. They are highly intelligent and playful and are often regarded by their families as big fools.
Interestingly, there are some people who believe that the coat color of a pit bull changes its temperament. There are no scientific data to prove this, so your Brindle Pitbull has the same temperament as any other Pitbull.
This is an energetic dog that requires a moderate to the high amount of exercise every day. This includes game sessions, as the Pitbull is a human-oriented dog and likes to spend time with his family.
Although this dog loves his human family, they are not always good at playing with other dogs. They should focus heavily on socialization with other dogs when they are young.
Pitbulls have a bad reputation because they are sometimes used by unethical owners to fight. This breed is by nature not aggressive – in fact they have passed the American Temperament Test Societies Temperament Tests with a score of 86.4% (this is higher than the Golden Retriever).
Pitbull as a family dog
This breed loves its family to the point that it gets upset when left alone for a long time. Even though they have a bad reputation, don’t be fooled or scared — they are a true family dog. But separation anxiety is a problem with this breed. These pups don’t enjoy being alone at home, so if you have a super busy working schedule, maybe rather get a different pet. They do not tend to bark particularly, but can become destructive if they have nothing to occupy. Chewing and digging are both problems that can occur if they are anxious or bored. So even if they aren’t alone at home for hours, you still have to make sure that they are busy. You can get them different toys or games to stimulate them.
Pitties are an incredibly intelligent breed, which is why they are used as search and rescue dogs and service animals. That’s exactly why they need the constant mental stimulation. So make sure to take care of your dog’s mental health as well.
Pitty and young children
Pitbulls form an instant connection with their owners. But other family parts won’t be neglected either. In fact, the more the merrier! They love to connect with a large family – having more people in the family leads to less alone time. So if you have a large family — they’ll love it. But if you have young children, still make sure you supervise your pup when he’s with them. Even though Pitbulls aren’t aggressive like many believe, you still need to be careful. Young children are unpredictable and dogs can get overwhelmed too.
And even though we believe that dogs and children always have to be supervised when together, not everyone shares that opinion. In fact, a few decades ago, Pitbulls were actually called “nannies” in the United Kingdom. That’s just how good with kids they are!
Training
The Pitbull is incredibly intelligent, which makes training a pleasure. They are eager to learn and extremely responsive. With the Pitbull, any form of punishment can lead to behavioral problems, so positive reinforcement is the most effective training method.
Most pit bulls are focused on food, so you can reward them with a delicious treat if they show the right behavior. This will keep her interested in training and nip every stubbornness in the bud.
They need a strong socialization plan when they are young. Place sure regularly introduce them to all kinds of people. Give your guests treats so that your puppy can make the whole experience positive.
If you meet other dogs, it is best to keep them on a leash. In this way, you can control the situation. If you are in a safe, enclosed environment with another dog you know, you can let him off the leash. It is always best to monitor these interactions.
To avoid boredom, pit bulls benefit from activities such as agility and obedience training. This gives them a job to do and keeps their body and brain active, which means great for them and you! It is also important to provide them with strong toys that they not only chew through.
Caring for Brindle Pitbull dogs (Brindle Pit Bulls)
If you are interested in bringing a brindle Pitty into your life, you have to consider certain things. They need someone who is with them most of the time. They also need an active owner who keeps pace with their training needs. If you’re a couch potato or you’re never home — this isn’t the breed for you!
During their puppy phase, they need a lot of attention. Training and socialization should be carried out consistently every day. So if you take care of small children, this may not be the right dog for you either. Pitbull puppies are like a child themselves. They need all of the attention that one could give!
Their grooming requirements are not too difficult either. They only have to brush and bathe once or twice a week when they get dirty. They can suffer from some health problems, especially later in life. So you should take these costs into account when considering buying this dog.
Exercise requirements
The Brindle Pitbull needs 60-90 minutes of exercise every day. They enjoy walks, but due to their occasional problems with other dogs, it is best to keep them on a leash. This means that your favorite exercise is probably to play with you on a farm.
A closed garden is a must for Pitbull owners. They need space where they can walk around and be the big idiot they are. Games like getting and hiding are ideal for this fun-loving puppy.
You can also take them to agility courses, as this is an excellent form of exercise. These courses help them train their body and brain. You should practice the activities you learn together in your garden.
Grooming a Brindle Pitbull
Pitbulls have low demands when it comes to grooming. They have short, stiff fur that doesn’t shed much. You only need a brush twice a week to remove loose hair and dirt. This will help to keep his coat healthy and shiny. Make sure you get a good quality dog brush at the pet store.
When it comes to bathing, every few weeks will be fine. You only need to bathe them if they are dirty or stink – just don’t exaggerate it, as it can damage their coat or skin barrier. Make sure you use a good quality dog shampoo that won’t mess with the pH of their skin. You can buy them either at a pet store, or on Amazon.
Their nails should be cut off every few months and you should clean their ears and teeth almost every day on a weekly basis. If you’re unsure on how to trim their nails, better leave it to a professional. You can ask your dog groomer or vet to do it for you.
Finally, make sure that you stay up to date on worm and flea treatments, as they can suffer from skin allergies caused by fleas. If you still have a few unanswered questions, we have full article on bathing, teeth brushing, ear cleaning, nail trimming, and a bunch about fleas as well.
Known health problems
The Brindle Pitbull is prone to the same health problems as any other Pitbull. We already explained — this isn’t a separate breed of dog. So anything that affects the American Staffordshire Terrier or the American Pitbull Terrier, affects the brindle Pitty too.
Hip dysplasia is common, but the probability of it can be reduced by using good breeders who test the hip values of their adult dogs before breeding them. It’s actually pretty common in Brindle Pitbulls of any color; Blue Nose Brindle Pitbulls to Red nose Brindle Pitbulls, dark or light colors.
This is a malformation of the hip joint, where the ball on the top of the leg does not properly fit into the hip. This leads to stiffness and pain. Early diagnosis and treatment can help your dog to live a long and healthy life. Even with hip dysplasia.
Other conditions you should pay attention to are skin allergies and hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism can lead to obesity, which in turn could lead to common problems. The best way to keep an eye on this is to weigh your dog regularly and ensure that you feed him healthily.
How long does a Brindle Pitbull live?
Thankfully, most Pitties live a long and healthy life. Make sure you’re up to date with your dog’s vet visits, feed him a healthy diet and give him enough exercise. If you do all of these things, you can expect a healthy Pitbull to live between the ages of 12 and 15. That’s a pretty long life for a dog, right?
Purchase or Adoption?
When you decide to get a dog, you pretty much always have two options: to adopt or to buy. As sad as it sounds, so many Pitbulls are left behind by their family every year. Shelters are filled up with all types of Pitbulls, brindle included. What we always advise our readers is to make a visit to their local dog shelters and check if they make a connection with any of the dogs there. Trust us, it will be the most rewarding feeling in the world.
Dogs saved from shelters truly are something special. If any creature knows how to be thankful — it’s dogs. So if you have the chance, don’t hesitate. Save a puppy and give him the life that he deserves.
If you decide to buy a Brindle Pitbull puppy, don’t let breeders try to tell you that Brindle is a rare coat color. This is just a way for them to get as much money out of your pocket as they possibly can. They may be rarer than other solid colors, but that’s not an argument for a ridiculously high price tag.
Choosing a breeder
But don’t think that we’re advising you to look for a bargain. In no way do we think you should go for the “cheapest” puppy. The type of breeder you choose will have a huge impact on the overall health of your dog. So make sure you choose a reputable one, and not one of those “backyard breeders”. Unethical breeding will lead to different mutations and possible health issues. A good breeder will probably not list his puppies as “Pitbulls”. They will be using the full name like American Pitbull Terrier.
When you look at the puppies, make sure they are in a clean environment. You should be able to meet the mom of the pups and hopefully also the father. By meeting the parents of your future puppy, you can get a rough idea on how he will act and look like.
How much does a Brindle Pitbull cost?
Now that you know so much about these adorable dogs, you might be wondering: How much do Brindle Pitbull puppies cost? Well, the answer is — it depends. A Brindle Pitbull puppy probably costs between $800 and $1,000. But this will depend on many factors. One of them is the type of breeder you’re buying from, the puppies bloodline, and how much demand there is at the moment. The litter size of a Pitbull is around 5 puppies. So pretty average, right? But there is no guarantee that all of them will have a brindle pattern.
But one thing to take into consideration is adopting your puppy from a dog shelter. As cute as these puppies are, there is still a lot of them left behind by their owners. Adoption will cost you considerably less. You can expect to pay around $250. We would always recommend rescuing a puppy from a dog shelter rather than buying a puppy from a breeder.
But you also have to think about some additional costs. These include visits to the vet, grooming, toys, and of course — dog food. These costs could even go up to $100 a month. But in most cases, when your dog is healthy, it will be much lower.
While you’re already here read more about other Pitbull colors: