Do Pitbull Puppies’ Coat Change Color As They Grow?
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The fluffy puppies’ soft coats are one of the cutest features we love in them but you should not get too attached to them (the coats) too much because they will change over time, just as it does in any other breed.
Do Pitbull Puppies’ Coat change color as they grow? Pitbull Puppies’ Coats change color as they grow and they change their coat pattern too. Their adult coat color starts to appear at the age of 12 weeks to a lighter or darker fur. This is one of the signs that your puppy is growing up and it relates to the dog’s health and personality.
Continue reading to learn more about why Pitbulls puppies change their coats and whether you can tell what color your puppy will be.
Do Pitbull Puppies’ Coat Change Color As They Grow?
Pitbull puppies change their fluffy and soft fur to their canine adult short and coarse coats. Pitbulls have more than 30 colors and patterns, and it’s very rare to find two Pitbulls that are exactly the same in their coat color and pattern.
The most common colors in Pitbulls are black, white, blue, red, fawn, brown, and brindle. The most special and rarest of them all is the tri-color (and it’s also the most expensive, no surprises there). Tri-color Pitbulls have a coat that is made of three colors.
You can learn why tri-colored dogs are rare and expensive in this guide to the tri-colored American bullies.
Why Do Puppies’ Coats Change Color?
The main reason for color change in dogs is simply the natural aging process. Additionally, some other factors might affect a dog’s coat color such as:
- Medications
- Sunlight
- Poor Nutrition
- Skin disease
When Do Pitbulls Start to Change Color?
Most puppies lose their original coats between the age of 6 months and 18 months, Some Pitbulls will not have their full adult coats until they are 2 years old or more.
Pitbulls change their puppy’s eye color too. They change it between the age of 6 to 10 months.
Their eyes and coat color change doesn’t happen overnight. It can take up to 1 year from this point for eyes and coat to take their permanent color.
By the way, Pitbulls have fur coats, not hair coats, and you can learn more about Pitbulls’ fur coats here.
What Color Will Your Pitbull Be? 3 Easy Ways to Tell
The Pitbull breed has many different types, colors, and patterns, this may give you a hard time knowing which coat color your pups will be when they grow up.
Family Pictures
Check the puppy parent picture to know their coat colors and if they have older siblings you can check their coat color too cause 80% of puppies get their coat color from their family.
Ask the breeder
The breeder knows the puppy family and their coat color history and this will make it easier for you. Ask him/her about their expectation for the dog’s adult coat color.
DNA
The main factor to define your dog’s coat color is their genes.
The genes determine coat color by controlling the cells to make eumelanin, and others to make phaeomelanin, also genes can order cells to stop making pigment, Here are simple ways to identify the 8 genes that define your dog’s coat color:
A (agouti) locus
This locus is responsible for balancing and switching between the two pigments (eumelanin and phaeomelanin), which creates different coat patterns.
E (extension) locus
This locus has four alleles that can create dogs’ black facial masks and yellow or red coats. These are the four alleles:
- Em, melanistic mask
- Eg, grizzle
- E, Black
- E, red
K (dominant black) locus:
This site is responsible for creating brindle, black, and fawn coats.
B (brown) locus: This locus is linked to brown, chocolate, and liver.
This gene relates to brown, chocolate, and liver coats. Also, in the yellow or red families, this gene can change their nose and footpad color to brown. The brown locus has two alleles which are:
- B, dominant brown
- B, recessive brown
The black pigment needs to get two recessive (bb) to change into brown.
D (dilute) locus:
This gene is responsible for creating light coat colors such as gray, blue, and pale brown. These gene alleles are:
- D, dominant full-color
- d, recessive dilute
The black pigment needs to get two recessive (dd) to change into pale colors.
M (merle) locus:
Merle is one of the rarest pitbull coats. The dogs with red or yellow coats won’t have the chance to become merle but they still have a few chances to produce merle puppies.
This locus creates a mutation that changes the black pigments only to irregularly shaped batches.
H (harlequin) locus:
This site also creates different patterns of coats, but this is related to dogs with white dogs who have black patches.
S (spotting) locus:
This locus is responsible for creating artistic coat colors with symmetric such as the random white spots coats.
Each one of these loci could work alone or in combination with others to create the dog coat color. Sometimes dogs have some hidden genes that won’t appear in their coats but they will pass it to their puppies, and this is why puppies’ colors are not identical with their parents.
What is the rarest pitbull color?
Tri-color Pitbulls are the rarest coat color which is coats that contain three colors. Most of the time, these tri-color coats are a combination of one base color which is black or blue and the other color could be brown, tan, red, or fawn.
Black
This is the most common color in the tri-color Pitbulls. They are a combination of black as a base color with tan and white on their neck, chest, and around the legs.
Liver or Chocolate
These Pitbulls have a shin brown coat with patches of tan or light brown shades on their face, chest, and around their neck, plus white under the neck and chest.
Merle
Merle Pitbulls are a new breed and some studies say that this breed has poor health but they don’t have enough evidence yet.
This pitbull has a Merle coat pattern that usually contains shades of black or red that are scattered or swirled over blue and white.
They are famously known for their blue eyes or odd eyes such as blue and tan. I have a guide on Merle Bullies here that is definitely worth checking out.
Lilac
This is the rarest tri-color Pitbulls because it’s hard to breed them. They have a lilac base color with white under their neck and tan around ears, paws, snout, and hindlegs.
Blue
These Pitbulls are known as (blue nose Pitbulls) and they are as rare as lilacs. Their base color is dark blue or bright silver with white and tan on their face, chest, neck, and legs
Purple
Purple Pitbulls have a blue base coat with a shade that makes the blue look like purple with a special tan marking and white under the chest and neck.
Remember that the color of your pitbull doesn’t have any effect on their personality or behavior, and we believe just because a dog is a certain or a rare color doesn’t mean he is worth more.
There are many unethical breeders and shops out there that will try to sell you “special” or “rare” dogs for a lot more money, but remember that all dogs are equal and that the dogs looking for a home in the nearest shelter to you are ready to give you just much as love and affection and will not empty your wallet.
All dogs are good dogs, and every dog is a special one. Please consider adopting from your local rescue or shelter and save a life instead of spending money that will support unethical breeding practices. #adoptdontshop
Related Questions
Do Pitbulls get darker or lighter as they grow older?
Pitbulls’ coats will get darker as they transition to adulthood, but their coats will start to get lighter again as they transition from being adult dogs to being senior dogs.
Pitbulls change their coat color twice once from their puppies’ fur to their adulthood coat, and this color depends on their genes but usually, this adulthood coat is darker and shiny than their puppies’ coat, and when they grow older their coat color gets lighter and gray.
Dogs’ gray hair starts to appear at the age of 5 years old. Though it cloud starts earlier if the adulthood coat is one of the light coats.
Why is my pitbull changing colors?
Your Pitbull is probably changing color because of the simple aging process, but pitbulls can also have a slight change of color to their coats or skin due to injury, surgery, or illness (Hormonal Problems, Vitiligo, Cancer). If you notice your Pitbull changing color when it shouldn’t, you might want to call your vet and discuss it with them.
Helpful Resources
PitbullsHome Personally-Tested Picks for Pitties:
- The Best foods for Pit Bull Puppies that are nutritious and delicious – Help them grow stronger without declaring bankruptcy 😉
- Training or entertaining? These treats for Pit Bulls are simply the best (with options for dogs with sensitive stomachs)
- According to my vet, these are the best foods for Pit Bulls with Skin Allergies.
- The Best Collars for Pitbulls (comfortable and dependable)
- The Best Pit Bull Leashes (Durable and Worth Every Penny)
- The Best Crates for Pitbulls (Affordable options for even the stronger Pitties)
- Best Muzzles for Pitbulls (Comfortable and Safe Muzzles)
- The Best Shampoos for Pitbulls (including shampoos for sensitive skin)
- The Best Chew Toys for Pit Bulls (That will actually stand their teeth)
- The Best Brushes for Pit Bulls (For amazing coats with the least grooming effort)
- The Most indestructible and comfiest Beds for Pit Bulls (That they will actually like and use)
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