Blue Pitbull

Among the different breeds carrying Pitbull genetics, the Blue Pitbull stands out for its striking beauty and distinctive physical traits.

With honey or blue eyes and a grayish coat, this dog won't leave anyone indifferent. That's why we want to tell you everything about this impressive breed, from its origins to the care it needs to live a healthy, happy life, as well as the precautions you should take.

What Is the Origin of the Blue Pitbull?

The Blue is a type of American Pit Bull Terrier (known by the acronym APBT) characterized mainly by its gray-blue coloring. It's a breed occasionally confused with the American Staffordshire Terrier, with which it shares its origins.

Those origins trace back to 19th-century Britain, where breeders began experimenting with crossing Terriers and Bulldogs — keeping in mind that the Bulldog of that era had little in common with today's English Bulldog, instead having a build much closer to the Pitbulls we know today, though considerably larger and fiercer.

In this way, breeders sought a breed that combined the boldness of the Terrier — gaining greater agility without losing combativeness — with the strength of the Bulldogs bred for bull- and dog-fighting. They were after a strong dog with hunting ability, but what they got instead was a formidable fighter.

The name's origin comes from the fights known as "bull-baiting," referring to bouts against bulls. After these fights were banned in England in 1835, the dogs were instead thrown into a pit to fight rats. Whichever dog killed the most rats in the least time was declared the winner. The word "pit" comes from that very hole, which combined with "Bull" to form the term "Pit Bull."

In the case of the Blue Pitbull specifically, it was forged from the crosses mentioned above, imported from Britain, and later crossed with the — now extinct — Blue Paul Terrier, a breed discovered by the pirate Paul Jones and the source of its grayish pigmentation.

The Pitbull was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), and later removed from its registries due to the bad press that came with being a fighting breed.

What Does a Blue Pitbull Look Like?

This imposing dog has many qualities and features that make it special. It's prized for its blue-gray pigmentation, one of its most curious traits and the source of its name. This coloring can appear in the coat, the eyes, or the nose.

This pigmentation results from an "allele" contained in its genes that causes the dog's natural pigmentation to blend with the bluish pigment, giving the Blue Pitbull this unusual characteristic. Without a doubt, this trait makes it all the more desirable, since its genetics are what make it unique.

Its coat is grayish-blue, with the legs, tail, neck, forehead, and chest in white.

This distinctive coat is classified under the name Blue Fawn. It should be short and dense. Naturally, the coat's sheen usually reflects the dog's health, making it a vitally important sign to watch.

The skin should be thick and loose, but without folds, except at the neck and chest, where it should be loose enough to show a few vertical wrinkles.

Another feature we recognize this breed by, beyond its incredible coat color, is its weight. This ranges between 14 and 28 kilos, although some individuals have been seen at up to 40 kilos — though that's usually not healthy.

Breed Morphology

The Blue Pitbull is a medium-sized dog with a solid, compact build. In fact, females can be slightly longer in body than males.

Height at the withers in males ranges from 38 cm to 48 cm, and in females from 35 cm to 45 cm. Males typically weigh between 17 and 27 kilos, and females between 13 and 22 kilos.

A well-proportioned Blue Pitbull head should appear about two-thirds the width of the shoulders and be wider at the cheeks than at the neck, at the base of the skull.

The muzzle should be straight and square-shaped, wide and somewhat blunt — though not as much as a Bulldog's — and can be more or less long, without reaching the length seen in some herding breeds. The depth from the top of the head to the bottom of the jaw is a very important trait.

The head has a wedge shape when viewed from above or the side, and appears round when viewed from the front. The eyes can come in different shades of blue, though this is uncommon, which is why most Blue Pitbulls actually have honey-colored eyes. When the coat is gray, the nose should match that same color down to the lower lip.

The ears are small to medium in size, carried high or with a slight fold — this is their natural shape, although unfortunately many dogs can still be found with cropped ears. The neck should be strongly muscled all the way to the base of the skull.

The front legs are long, muscular, and well angled, with the elbows held close to the body. Viewed from the front, the front legs are set moderately apart and perpendicular to the ground. As for the hind legs, they are strong, muscular, and moderately long.

As for the torso, the chest is deep and full. Its width should never exceed its depth. The back is short, muscular, and arched. The dog carries strong, well-defined musculature, being a highly athletic breed.

The tail is relatively short, wide at the base, gradually tapering toward the tip.

Blue Pitbull Temperament

Despite its unfair reputation, the truth is this is an intelligent, lively, playful dog that enjoys human company. That said, we can't forget it must be socialized from puppyhood, since we're talking about a breed whose bite, urban myths aside, can cause very serious injury.

Generally speaking, the APBT is a friendly, well-balanced dog that, contrary to popular belief, isn't known for being aggressive.

The Blue Pitbull's character is defined by emotional stability, tolerance with children, affection toward family, wariness around strangers it perceives as a threat, an aptitude for guarding, and dominance with other dogs.

It's a confident, cheerful, fun-loving, and highly enthusiastic dog. It thoroughly enjoys the company of other dogs and people alike, since it's a very sociable, friendly breed, even with strangers — as long as it doesn't sense any danger.

The aggressive reputation this breed has picked up in recent years isn't down to some inherent trait. Cases of aggression clearly come down to poorly socialized or mistreated dogs — something that can happen to any dog, purebred or not.

Blue Pitbulls have a highly charismatic, genuinely friendly character. They're obedient and calm. Despite their tough appearance, they make some of the best pets an owner could ask for.

Above all, these dogs are loyal, intelligent, and gentle with all kinds of people. For that reason, they shouldn't be judged by their looks, since their sturdy build can easily be misread as a reflection of their temperament.

Living With a Blue Pitbull

They've proven themselves to be excellent guard dogs and companions. A Pitbull's aggression only develops if the owner encourages it — or, put another way, if its training is built around attacking.

Of course, living with a Pit Bull isn't discouraged — it simply calls for responsible breeding and being well informed. Specialists also point out that it isn't the Pit Bull itself that should be feared, but rather the people who breed this breed indiscriminately.

Beyond that, it's a breed with obedient behavior and little tendency to destroy objects or furniture.

Training these Pitbulls requires giving firm commands, but violence should never be used under any circumstances. Violence can be exactly what triggers aggression in your Blue Pitbull or leaves it unable to behave properly — use firm, clear commands instead to train your pet successfully.

Puppies absorb every stimulus around them, including aggressive behavior. So a dog raised aggressively will grow up aggressive. Always keep in mind that a Blue Pitbull's temperament is shaped by its own owner.

Dogs of this breed are often blamed for being overly aggressive or unmanageable, but the truth is that without proper care and respectful treatment, no dog can be expected to have the best attitude.

It's important to consult a trainer or carefully study training guides to avoid making mistakes.

Blue Pitbull Health

Blue Pitbulls are quite hardy and don't tend to suffer from the illnesses common to other breeds.

The Blue Pitbull is, generally speaking, a healthy breed. It doesn't tend to present breed-specific diseases, and individuals are usually very healthy and resilient.

Of course, it can still be affected by any of the conditions common to dogs in general, with particular attention to hip dysplasia. At the slightest sign of dysplasia, you should see a vet for a check-up.

You should also watch for possible heart issues, given the amount of exercise these dogs are typically given.

As for skin problems, this breed is prone to pyoderma and demodectic mange. Some individuals can develop allergies to fleas or certain foods, leading to dermatitis that causes them to scratch constantly.