The Types of Blue-Nosed Pit Bulls

In dogs, a blue coloring isn't really blue. Instead, it is a faded version of black. In most cases, the coloring of a dog has no bearing on the type of dog it is. The pit bull is no exception. While some people speak as though a blue-nosed pit bull is a different type of pit bull than others, the coloring of the nose doesn't necessarily signify a different type.

  1. Genetics

    • Whether a pit bull has a blue nose has more to do with genetics than the type of dog. Like any other characteristics of a dog, the coloring of its nose depends on its genes. The gene required for a blue nose is a recessive gene. Because of that, both parents must carry the gene for the offspring to have a chance of having a blue nose. This makes the trait a rarity. When a trait is rare, people often consider it preferable.

    Types of Pit Bulls

    • A blue nose can occur in any type of pit bull. Only one breed of dog actually bears the name "pit bull," but other breeds are now considered as part of the pit bull category. The main type of pit bull is the American pit bull terrier. The other common type of dog that falls into the pit bull category is the American Staffordshire terrier. In general, the American pit bull terrier is the working version of the pit bull, while the American Staffordshire terrier is the show dog version.

    Breeding

    • The recessive blue nose trait can make it difficult to guarantee blue-nosed offspring. Unless you breed two pit bulls that both have blue noses, you aren't guaranteed any blue-nosed dogs. Therefore, if you want to breed blue-nosed pit bulls, you need to find two blue-nosed parents if possible. If not, having one blue-nosed pit bull will increase your chances. Once you begin breeding pit bulls, keep track of any blue-nosed pups and who the parents are. This can give you the chance to produce more because you will know that each parent carries the proper gene.

    Health Issues

    • Because of the difficulty in finding blue-nosed pit bulls to create more, it can be tempting for a breeder to use the same dogs repeatedly. However, repeated breeding can be damaging to the health of the females, as well as the health of the pups. In addition, blue-nosed pit bulls also carry an increased risk of certain health issues, including infections, skin disorders and behavioral issues. These issues aren't a guarantee, but the chances are higher that a blue-nosed pit bull may experience these issues.