Post by APBT Answers on Sept 19, 2007 16:26:02 GMT -5
The colors of the Pit Bull
Pit Bulls come in many different colors, it is one thing that makes this breed a little unique. Many breeds are only a few different colors and may have a 1 or 2 other colors that are mismarks. In the APBT most colors are accepted with the exception of Albino or Merle.
With all the acceptable colors, no white to flashy white and a few different nose colors APBTs can come in many different combination of colors. While color is relatively unimportant (unless there is genetic health linked problems) it is still interesting to see all the colors and I'm sure most people have their favorite(s). The recognized/registered color name may vary for the same color depending on which kennel club the dog is registered. I'm going to descibe the colors here as best as I can and may not always use "Acceptable terms".
Mismarks 1st
Albino - The lack of pigmentation, white coat, pink skin, pink nose/eye lids and light eyes such as pink eyes. This lack of pigmentation is linked to health problems in dog breeds as well as other species.
Merle - This is a pattern of one or more colors, you can see this in other breeds like Great Dane, thingy thinger Spaniels, Aussies, Chihuahuas and others. In some other breeds it is acceptable and others it is also a mismark. There have in some cases been a few health linked problems to merle, mainly the blue merle with blue eyes. The biggest deal is that many people believe this color was brought in by mix breeding and falsifying paperwork to represent the dogs as pure. The main breed thought to be the culprit is the Catahoula Leapord dog. This may not be so far fetched as many hog hunter and catch dogmen have been crossing Catahoula and Pit Bulls for working dogs for a long time.
Accepted colors
White - Pretty easy Can be solid white or white as a base color with patches of another color. Such as white with black & tan patches, white brindle, white & black, ect.
White markings - Almost solid, irish pattern, pie bald or extreme pie bald.
Black - This is pretty easy
Gray - A dilute of black, gray in color, darker then blue and slightly different in color
Blue - Can range from dark to light
Seal - Appears black with cast of red or brown, especially when viewed in light
Brown - Another easy one
Bucksin - Tan with yellow tones, can range in color. Includes blond, yellow or beige.
Tan - A Light brown with light tones
Red - A very light red, orange red to a deep dark red
Chocolate - Light chocolate to a deep dark chocolate
Cocoa - similar to chocolate
Fawn - Tan with red tones
Creme - Very light beige, can have yellow or red tones and be the lightest expression of buckskin or fawn.
Blue Fawn - Fawn with a bluenose/blue muzzle
Bluies - A dog of a base color other then blue, maybe used to describe blue fawn, but can also include a seal dog that has blue/gray cast, ect
Cocoa Fawn - Fawn color with cocoa/chocolate tones
Cinnamon - A red color, usually with a rednose
Brindle - There are many variations of the brindle color. You can have brindles in almost any of the other colors including, Black, Chocolate, Red, Brown, Buckskin, Blue, Seal, Gray, Fawn, ect
"Reverse Brindle" - This is not a real color term, but it is used by many people to describe then the base coat is light with darker stripes. I'm not sure who first started using this term or when, but it is only used as a layman's description.
Tan Point & Tri Color - The term tan point is used to describe a dog that has a base color with tan points, similar to a Rottweiler or Doberman's markings. Tri Color is term reffers to dogs who have tan points and white marks.
Black & Tan - Black with tan points
Chocolate & Tan - Chocolate with tan points
Red & Tan - Red with tan points
Some dogs have "brindle points" in which the tan points have brindling throughout them. In these cases the dogs coat is said to be brindle but is masked by the black and only shows through on the tan points.
Sable/Smut - Refers to a dog that carries the tan point gene but is not fully expressed. They have a sadle (similar to GSD) that might be heavy to light and is black/brown/dark colored, this will also continue over their head and legs and you will see a light color where the tan points would be. In a red rednose dog you will see a two tone of red colors.
Blackmask - Some dogs have a black mask over the face, this can color the muzzle or go to a full mask to the eyes. The most common colors with a black mask are red, brown, buckskin and black brindle.
NOSE
Rednose - Nose color of red pigment, this can be a deep dark colored nose to the point of being brown up to a very light colored faint pigmented nose.
Bluenose - Nose color of blue/gray pigment, this may be a rich dark gray or a very light pigment.
Blacknose - Nose color of black, which might be a dark black or appear to almost be brownish/gray WITHOUT being a gray/blue nose.
Pinknose - Nose color lacking pigmentation, you would see this on an Albino dog.
EYES
Brown - Dark brown to a light brown
Gold - Yellowish eyes, may be darker or lighter in some instances. Often seen on red rednose dogs
Green - Green eyes
Blue - Blue eyes, some maybe darker or lighter. Some breeders/kennel clubs look down on this. Blue eyes are sometime associated with merle. What is usually considered ok are deep blue eyes vs very light almost white "ice blue eyes" in which they may be linked to health problems.
Butterfly - Nose that doesn't have full pigmentation, may show pink with slotches of black or red, ect.
Pink - No pigment, may indicate blindness as well. Seen in Albinos also.
Bi-colored eyes - Having to eyes of a different color, for instancs one blue eye and one brown eye
Bi-colored eye - One eye being 2 different colors. A dog that has a brown eye and then one eye that is brown & blue.
Pit Bulls come in many different colors, it is one thing that makes this breed a little unique. Many breeds are only a few different colors and may have a 1 or 2 other colors that are mismarks. In the APBT most colors are accepted with the exception of Albino or Merle.
With all the acceptable colors, no white to flashy white and a few different nose colors APBTs can come in many different combination of colors. While color is relatively unimportant (unless there is genetic health linked problems) it is still interesting to see all the colors and I'm sure most people have their favorite(s). The recognized/registered color name may vary for the same color depending on which kennel club the dog is registered. I'm going to descibe the colors here as best as I can and may not always use "Acceptable terms".
Mismarks 1st
Albino - The lack of pigmentation, white coat, pink skin, pink nose/eye lids and light eyes such as pink eyes. This lack of pigmentation is linked to health problems in dog breeds as well as other species.
Merle - This is a pattern of one or more colors, you can see this in other breeds like Great Dane, thingy thinger Spaniels, Aussies, Chihuahuas and others. In some other breeds it is acceptable and others it is also a mismark. There have in some cases been a few health linked problems to merle, mainly the blue merle with blue eyes. The biggest deal is that many people believe this color was brought in by mix breeding and falsifying paperwork to represent the dogs as pure. The main breed thought to be the culprit is the Catahoula Leapord dog. This may not be so far fetched as many hog hunter and catch dogmen have been crossing Catahoula and Pit Bulls for working dogs for a long time.
Accepted colors
White - Pretty easy Can be solid white or white as a base color with patches of another color. Such as white with black & tan patches, white brindle, white & black, ect.
White markings - Almost solid, irish pattern, pie bald or extreme pie bald.
Black - This is pretty easy
Gray - A dilute of black, gray in color, darker then blue and slightly different in color
Blue - Can range from dark to light
Seal - Appears black with cast of red or brown, especially when viewed in light
Brown - Another easy one
Bucksin - Tan with yellow tones, can range in color. Includes blond, yellow or beige.
Tan - A Light brown with light tones
Red - A very light red, orange red to a deep dark red
Chocolate - Light chocolate to a deep dark chocolate
Cocoa - similar to chocolate
Fawn - Tan with red tones
Creme - Very light beige, can have yellow or red tones and be the lightest expression of buckskin or fawn.
Blue Fawn - Fawn with a bluenose/blue muzzle
Bluies - A dog of a base color other then blue, maybe used to describe blue fawn, but can also include a seal dog that has blue/gray cast, ect
Cocoa Fawn - Fawn color with cocoa/chocolate tones
Cinnamon - A red color, usually with a rednose
Brindle - There are many variations of the brindle color. You can have brindles in almost any of the other colors including, Black, Chocolate, Red, Brown, Buckskin, Blue, Seal, Gray, Fawn, ect
"Reverse Brindle" - This is not a real color term, but it is used by many people to describe then the base coat is light with darker stripes. I'm not sure who first started using this term or when, but it is only used as a layman's description.
Tan Point & Tri Color - The term tan point is used to describe a dog that has a base color with tan points, similar to a Rottweiler or Doberman's markings. Tri Color is term reffers to dogs who have tan points and white marks.
Black & Tan - Black with tan points
Chocolate & Tan - Chocolate with tan points
Red & Tan - Red with tan points
Some dogs have "brindle points" in which the tan points have brindling throughout them. In these cases the dogs coat is said to be brindle but is masked by the black and only shows through on the tan points.
Sable/Smut - Refers to a dog that carries the tan point gene but is not fully expressed. They have a sadle (similar to GSD) that might be heavy to light and is black/brown/dark colored, this will also continue over their head and legs and you will see a light color where the tan points would be. In a red rednose dog you will see a two tone of red colors.
Blackmask - Some dogs have a black mask over the face, this can color the muzzle or go to a full mask to the eyes. The most common colors with a black mask are red, brown, buckskin and black brindle.
NOSE
Rednose - Nose color of red pigment, this can be a deep dark colored nose to the point of being brown up to a very light colored faint pigmented nose.
Bluenose - Nose color of blue/gray pigment, this may be a rich dark gray or a very light pigment.
Blacknose - Nose color of black, which might be a dark black or appear to almost be brownish/gray WITHOUT being a gray/blue nose.
Pinknose - Nose color lacking pigmentation, you would see this on an Albino dog.
EYES
Brown - Dark brown to a light brown
Gold - Yellowish eyes, may be darker or lighter in some instances. Often seen on red rednose dogs
Green - Green eyes
Blue - Blue eyes, some maybe darker or lighter. Some breeders/kennel clubs look down on this. Blue eyes are sometime associated with merle. What is usually considered ok are deep blue eyes vs very light almost white "ice blue eyes" in which they may be linked to health problems.
Butterfly - Nose that doesn't have full pigmentation, may show pink with slotches of black or red, ect.
Pink - No pigment, may indicate blindness as well. Seen in Albinos also.
Bi-colored eyes - Having to eyes of a different color, for instancs one blue eye and one brown eye
Bi-colored eye - One eye being 2 different colors. A dog that has a brown eye and then one eye that is brown & blue.