To most people, the brindle coat pattern is probably one of the unique color variants you can find on a Pitbull. Its popularity is not unheard of, but it does make you wonder if Brindle Pitbulls are any different from the other Pitbulls of the common color coats. So what exactly is a Brindle Pitbull?
The Brindle Pitbull is a color variant of the Pitbull family of dogs, as it appears in a light-colored coat with visible stripes of darker colors running throughout its whole length of coat. Occasionally described as ‘tiger-striped,’ this brindle coat pattern is a result of the presence of the K locus allele in the Pitbull.
In terms of appearance, Brindle Pitbulls definitely stand out in the family of Pitbulls. Not only are they head-turners while walking them on the city streets, but they also share similar physical and temperament characteristics a Pitbull will typically have. Getting a Pitbull of the brindle variant is regarded to be a personal color preference, but caring for it should be no different. Let’s take a closer look at Brindle Pitbulls and understand more about them.
What Do I Need To Know About Brindle Pitbulls?
What Does Brindle Mean?
The word “brindle” refers to a particular color and pattern of the Pitbull’s coat. Most of the Brindle Pitbulls have tawny brown, yellow, red, black, and dark brown as base colors, with dark markings that bear weird patterns ranging from swirls to tiger stripes.
Is Brindle A Dominant Trait?
Brindle is supposed to be a pattern gene and a dominant gene. Therefore, if a brindle gene is present in your pitbull, its pup will be brindle.
Is Brindle Pitbull Purebred?
Both American Pitbull Terrier and an American Staffordshire Terrier with a brindle coat are referred to as Brindle Pitbulls. The American Pit Bull Terriers are purebred dogs, so are the American Staffordshire Terriers, but they have been bred separately for more than 50 years.
The American Pitbull Terrier is unfortunately not recognized by American Kennel Club (AKC). However, the UK Kennel Club and the American Dog Breeders Association recognize it as a pure breed.
What Does A Brindle Pit Look Like?
Appearance
Brindle Pitbull looks similar to a normal Pitbull. They are muscular in build, bear a short muzzle, broad face, and have a pair of naturally dropdown ears. Their tails are thick, long, and pointed at the end.
And of course, Brindle Pitbulls have their signature brindle coat pattern, which makes it stand out greatly as compared to normal Pitbulls.
Height And Weight
Brindle Pitbulls can be around 17 to 21 inches tall and weigh approximately between 40 to 60 lbs.
The males of this bread are heavier than females.
Coat
The coat of Brindle Pitbulls is short, short, and glossy. It is stiff in texture, and they don’t shed much.
Are Brindle Pitbull Rare Species?
Brindle Pitbull is a species of Pitbull; what differentiates them from other normal Pitbulls is their brindle coat.
Although a Brindle Pitbull wears a coat that is created by a recessive gene, namely gene K, this certainly doesn’t mean that they are rare. In New York for example, approximately 10 to 20 percent of Pitbulls are brindle.
Do Brindle Pitbull Change Color?
Brindle Pittie puppies can become lighter or darker with age.
This is a normal phenomenon, although it can be due to some genetic disorders or disease.
If the skin becomes darker, it is hyperpigmentation; if it becomes lighter, it is hypopigmented. Whichever the case, if they are not given proper nutrients, they can lose the shine of their coat.
How Long Do Brindle Pit Bulls Live?
Lifespan
Brindle Pitbulls live for around 12 to 14 years.
However, in rare cases, they are seen to live for 20 years.
Brindle Pitbulls can die early from tragic accidents or common health problems. Some factors that can shorten their life span include hip dysplasia, cataract, and hypothyroidism.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a very common health problem in Brindle Pitbulls that leads to stiffness in movements and causes extreme pain in the hips. Hip dysplasia can further develop into arthritis and osteoarthritis and also limits the mobility of the dog.
It can further develop in both legs. It mostly develops in older dogs, and there is no cure for this. Vets prescribe only anti-inflammatories to keep the pain in control.
Cataracts
They are prone to developing cataracts; hence their eyes must be checked by a vet regularly.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism leads to excessive weight gain and skin problems. Sometimes it also results in fearful aggression. It occurs in middle age Brindle Pitbulls, and lifetime doses treat it of hypothyroid.
Knee Problems
Brindle Pitbulls are hyperactive breeds, and they love jumping, chasing, playing catch, and zooming. That results in wear and tear of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), connecting tissue in the knees.
If that tissue pops, it results in pain, and surgery is required to repair it. If not taken care of on time, the condition can cause other health issues.
It is always good to seek a vet’s help when you notice early signs of health issues. Make sure that you visit the vet at least once a year when the Brindle Pitbull is young, and as they get older, you can visit twice a year. This will help in spotting any poor health conditions and cure them at an early stage, thereby enhancing the life span of your pet.
How To Take Care Of Brindle Pitbulls?
Diet
Brindle Pitbulls can eat all kinds of dog food, be it dry or wet. You can choose from a wide range of food varieties suiting the palate of your pet.
Brindle Pitbulls should be given 2 cups of dry food twice every day. They are muscular dogs, and hence, 20% of their diet should be protein-based.
However, some Pitbulls are allergic to corn and soy, including Brindle Pitbulls, so make sure that you keep a check on this while feeding your pet.
If you are looking for the perfect food for a Pitbull, look no further than Pet Plate. It is one of the healthiest pet food packed with nutrients for your Brindle Pitbull. It is made using 100% human-grade ingredients. Thus, I strongly recommend this delicious and nutritious pet food.
Exercise
Brindle Pitbulls are highly energetic, and as a pet owner, you must take care of their exercise routine. Pitbulls require 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day. They love to play chase, catch and hide and seek. It would help if you took them to agility classes, long walks, and running.
iFetch Interactive Ball Launchers is a small automatic ball launcher. It is a perfect indoor toy that allows your dog to play fetch as much as they want. You can set the launch distance at 10, 20, and 30 feet. It will enable them to play fetch independently and is excellent for their physical and mental growth. Therefore, you should buy this intelligent toy for your active buddy.
Multivitamins
Brindle Pitbulls, like all canines, develop health issues, skin issues, gastric stomach, and immunity problems due to a lack of nutrients and a balanced diet. They need nutrients like Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA & EPA), digestive, cod liver, Kelp, vitamin E, and zinc in sufficient amounts every day.
However, more often than not, they do not receive enough from just their daily meals alone. Do consider supplementing your pooches with multivitamin supplements so that they receive the healthy amount of nutrients they need for healthy growth every day.
Gum Diseases
If you ignore your dog’s dental health, it can lead to bacteria in its mouth that can increase the risk of infection. If the bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can harm not just the teeth and gums but also various organs. To prevent this, you can consider investing in dental water additives.
Dental water additives are mouthwash for dogs that ensure that your dog’s teeth and gums are clean and healthy. They are flavorful, and you may see your dogs actively consuming them without your involvement, unlike the typical method of using a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Are Brindle Pitbulls More Aggressive? Temperaments Of Brindle Pitbulls
Intelligence
Brindle Pitbulls are recognized as intelligent and robust dogs. They are also used as rescue dogs due to their intelligence. They are keen learners and respond well to training.
Energy
Brindle Pitbulls have amazing energy and stamina. However, you need to channel their energy, and training and exercising them is a perfect way to achieve this. Pitties can exercise for about 30 to 45 minutes at a stretch every day.
So, make sure that you have the required space and time to exercise your furry friend.
Behavior
Brindle Pitbulls are affectionate and friendly and love being around children. They get bored alone. If they have nothing to do or utilize their energy, they can become harmful. If they are anxious, they resort to chewing and digging.
This is why, if children are around a Pitbull dog, there must be someone to oversee them. Also, kids must be instructed on how to behave with these friendly yet dangerous pets.
Socialization
Brindle Pitbulls need training to socialize, and when well-trained, they make extremely loyal companions.
Pitties socialize well with guests, children, and pets if they are taught discipline early. If discipline and socialization are not taught early, they won’t adjust well with other dogs or in the family.
So, early training is recommended inBrindle Pitbulls to prevent them from becoming aggressive.
Training
Brindle Pitbull’s training should focus on obedience, socialization, and channelizing their energy. You must emphasize reward-based training and give positive rewards. Never hit or raise your voice with your Pittie.
It is not recommended to negatively punish them, challenge them, or lock them as it will create trust issues and behavioral problems. Praising good behavior and clicker training works well for this breed.
They can quickly learn many commands if appropriately trained at the right age. You can hire a professional dog trainer for this, but you can also learn to train your pet.
Do Brindle Pitbulls Shed? Grooming Tips For Brindle Pitbulls
Shedding
Brindle Pitbulls are generally low-maintenance dogs.
Although they do not shed much, only twice a year, they can still potentially leave their loose hair all over the house over time.
Instead of vacuuming the entire area, invest in some intelligent tool like Roomba i3+ by iRobot. This works with Alexa and is good for vacuuming and cleaning the pet hair leaving your space perfectly clean.
Bathing
Brindle Pitbulls are sporty animals that sweat a lot, and so you need to bathe them regularly.
These dogs have sensitive coats as well, hence you must use a gentle shampoo to keep their coat shiny and soft.
Try switching to organic and natural shampoos that are free from any chemicals. For that, we highly recommend checking out the Pro Pet Works All Natural Organic 5 In 1 Oatmeal Pet Shampoo + Conditioner.
Brushing
You don’t need to brush Brindle Pitbulls often; twice a week is good enough.
And when you do, make sure that you use the best quality deshedding brush like the FURminator Undercoat Tool. This deshedding tool is gentle on the coat of the dog and easily removes loose hair without putting much impact on the coat of the pet.
You will find it easy to use with its ergonomic handle and a FURejector button to conveniently release your doggie’s hair. On top of that, you also get a money-back guarantee.
More On Grooming
Ensure that regular bathing, clipping of nails, and checking up the ear should be a part of your regular pet grooming activities. Keeping the pets clean will keep fleas and ticks at bay, ensuring your pet’s good health.
Related Questions
What Is A Reverse Brindle Pitbull? Usually, in Brindle Pitbulls, the lighter shade is more noticeable or prominent than the darker one. However, in the case of reverse Brindle Pitbull, the darker color is more prominent than the lighter one. The reverse brindle pattern can manifest in different forms, like having large and wide stripes bearing the darker coloration covering a larger cumulated area of the dog’s coat, or having a greater number of narrow stripes such that the total accumulated area of darker hue covers the majority of the area of the coat.
How Much Do Brindle Pitbulls Cost? On average, a Brindle Pitbull puppy may cost between $800 to $1,000. If you are interested in buying a special colored Brindle Pitbull, then you must look for a credible and reputed breeder. However, before buying, you must also check their parent history as these dogs tend to inherit certain diseases. Don’t go for a low-priced Brindle Pitbull, as you will end up spending more on the doggie’s health and other veterinary costs.
Why Are Brindle Dogs Unpopular? Brindle Pitbulls are often misinterpreted as aggressive and dangerous dogs who lack socialization skills. Also, the fact that they were used in dogfighting and blood sports several years ago has scarred their reputation. Their bad reputation is also due to some unethical people who use them for fighting. The truth, however, is that Brindle Pitbulls are quite loyal, affectionate and friendly dogs, if well-trained. It is interesting to know that Brindle Pitbulls have passed the American Temperament Test Society tests with a superb score of 86.4%.
