Tri color Pitbulls are a new and rare pattern variety of American Pitbulls and bully breed dogs. These Pitbulls have three colors in their coat, combining black, white, tan, lilac, red, fawn, chocolate or blue in a cool patterned trio. There are no proven links between these markings and aggressive tendencies, but they might be less healthy than other fur types.
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History and Origins of Pitbulls
Pitbulls themselves have a bit of a muddled past, and are not actually a specific breed. They are an umbrella term for several related “bully” breeds.
Breeds currently considered to be Pitbulls include:
- American Pitbull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier,
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
- and the American Bully.
Sometimes even the American Bulldog is included. Once upon a time, Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs were considered Pitbulls too!
Many of these varieties of dogs were originally bred to be fighting dogs, bull baiting dogs, working terriers. They were also bred as hunting dogs for large game such as wild hogs or feral cattle.
The various breeds considered “Pitbulls” are usually, squat, muscular dogs with a wide head, strong legs, and a barrel chest.
Coat and Colors Varieties
The most common coat color combinations found in tri color Pitbulls has tended to be combinations of black, brown, and white. However, any combination of the Pitbull colors is possible!
Contrasting color splashes are commonly seen on the chest, nose, face, paws, legs, and even the tail. Patterns include:
- solid
- masked
- brindled
- ticked
- freckled
- spotted
- merle
- piebald
- patched
Why So Rare?
The gene that creates the three colored coat is recessive. This means that both parents must have this recessive gene in order for any of their pups to end up with the three colored coat.
Intentionally breeding dogs with recessive genes is risky. It can potentially increase the risk of disease and genetic disorders.
Are Tri Color Pitbulls Show Dogs?
The United Kennel Club was the first to recognize the American Pitbull Terrier. However, The American Kennel Club didn’t recognize the Staffordshire Bull Terrier until 1974. To date it has not recognized the American Pitbull Terrier.
Even within the organizations that recognize the Pitbull breeds, the narrow range of acceptable coat colors doesn’t include the tri.
With this in mind, if a tri colored Pitbull is the dog of your dreams, don’t expect to be able to enter them into any shows.
Health of Tri Colored Pitbulls
Many breeders feel that intentionally breeding tri color Pitbulls is risky. The gene that creates the tri color variation is recessive. It requires putting two parents with the recessive genes together.
The main concern is that tri color Pitbull puppies with two sets of recessive genes are at greater risk for disease and genetic disorders.
However, the tri color Pitbulls are still relatively new and rare. Therefore, there has not yet been enough time for researchers to conduct any in-depth scientific studies. Certainly these studies would help to investigate any potential health risks.
In general, you should expect the same health risks for tri color Pitbulls that you would be ready and aware of for all the Pitbull color varieties.
The most common health issues that Pitbulls face can include:
- Allergies (mostly skin)
- Bloat (gastric dilation)
- Cancer (bladder, lymphoma, melanoma)
- Cataracts
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Hip Dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
Intelligence & Training of Tri Color Pitbulls
Pitbulls were originally bred for dog fights. However, this also means that dogs with aggression towards humans were unlikely to be kept in the gene pool. A dog that attacks it’s human handler isn’t desirable.
Modern Pitbulls tend to be very family oriented dogs, with confident and loving personalities. They are sweet, smart dogs who want to please their humans, and respond well to proper and consistent training.
They are entirely trainable with the right tools and patience! And there is no reason that a tri color Pit will be any less intelligent or trainable than any other.
Are Tri Color Pitbulls Aggressive?
Some breeders feel the tri color Pitbulls are calmer and have less of a prey drive than other Pitbull varieties. The tri color variety of Pitbulls are still new and rare. There simply hasn’t been enough time to see real trends and patterns of behavior.
In general, many breeders, trainers, and dog lovers find Pitbulls undeserving of their reputation as mean, aggressive dogs!
There have been no peer-reviewed studies that concluded Pitbull type dogs to be inherently more dangerous or aggressive than other dog breeds! In fact, a study conducted by the American Temperament Test Society placed Pitbull Terriers as the second most tolerant breed!
The Pitbull Terriers tested passed with an 86.8% rate when it came to the tests of low aggression, panic, and avoidance behaviors.
Any dog of any breed has the potential to be aggressive if not properly trained and socialized. Or if they are subject to neglect or abuse.
Shannan Paynter says
I have 13 year old tri colored pit. She is mainly a buckskin with fawn markings and white socks and a perfect white colar. I saved her fro. Being bate from a fighting ring. ( and yes the breeder was prosecuted). She was6 wks old and was only 2.5 lbs. I took her home and she has been by my side since.she has been very healthy and has been a clown. She is not totally calm as ppl tendvto believe and she is very prey driven . In her hay day was known to snatch low flying birds out of the air. This was un no way ever encouraged . It was just something she did given the chance and only age has stopped her from doing it. However now she tends to try to catch the random bumble bee buzzing around the yard. She has always been good natured and despite being an only child for 5 years accepted a brindle boy pit i rescued. Introduced them at my local shelter and they’ve been best friends since. Then 5 years after that rescued 2 sisters at 2wks old from someone who bred a dog to sell the puppys. Rescued mom and the only 2 survivors. Had mom fixed and was adopted. Ended up keeping the two girls. After they wereweened frk. Mom and bottle my Ginger became their trainer and serogant mother. Never being exposed to small pups and being fixed young i was impressed but not surprised how suited she was with the position. We have been a 4 fur kid house since.
Now her twighlight years have brought challenges and health isdues. However they are the standard fir any breed. She slow but still healthy and still good natured and silly. Even when i know shes having a difficult day she still has had not one behavior issue.
So if youve actually spend the time reading my shirt novel of my best friend and the live of my life i would say to you. If you happen to find a tri colored pit( which i say look at shelters etc before having one bred ) they are out there i promise. But if you find one they will be a shining star and an amazing friend for a long time.
Bo-Lo Goodie the Tornado says
you have breeders that mix in other breeds like Rottweiler to get tri colors, true tri color pitt bulls are rare, i have been breeding pitts for years and came up watching older men breed pitts, i have seen mabe 3 tri in all those years, they might roll them but they never bred them. this is why you arejust seeing them, they were never bred in the past when they popped up.
Joseph says
My blue fawn and my blue bully just had 10 pups 7 boys and 3 girls 6 are 3 colors I am curious to know what if the price of selling hey tri color Pitbull
Chip says
Try to find one, I’ve been trying
Shelby says
I have a male chocolate tri piebald Pitbull and he’s amazing with my kids and a great family dog 🖤
Melissa McElroy says
I have a mix breed pit female. She has been tested and is half American Bulldog and pit. She is chocolate, fawn and white
With freckles in the white. While chocolate, fawn mask and chest and white and fawn stockings on all legs. She is beautiful. But was born with renal displasia. The whole litter had it.
Jeff says
I have a dog that looks identical to this dog, but nobody can tell me or even guess what breed he is, it’s crazy!
Charles says
Hi I have a 4 year old American pitbull bully female that I believe to be a tricolor pitbull but she is just now get her 3rd color she is black,white, and she has Blond coming in under the black fur is this normal
Caitlin donohue says
I have a male blue nose and a mostly white and red brindle female(she literally has Mickey mouses head in brindle on her butt). They just had puppies 5 almost 6 weeks ago. This is her second litter. She had 7 females and 3 males. 2 all white with a Mickey mouse spot on their butt(ones male and ones female), then she had a beautiful blue fawn tri-color male, a brindle and white male, a blue nose and white female, a blackish blue and white female, and a all white with fawn spot on butt and a heart shaped fawn spot on its side female. They are absolutely gorgeous puppies.
Sun says
Stop breeding. So many dogs in the shelters, especially bully breeds. Adopt, don’t shop.
Cleo says
I have a 3yr old Tri Blu (blu, tan, and white) mixed pit thinking of breeding her with also another tri blue pit (black, tan, white) do you all think with just 1 color difference that the pups will face growth deficiencies? Cancer, hips, blatter,etc.??? *Even with parents being up to date on shots and everything
Chris says
I have an 18 month old tri American pitbull,7year old male & a 12week puppy. She is well behaved n very protective of my family, 11&9year old daughter. She only show aggression towards strangers and outside of our home animals
Veenie says
I have a purebred blue American stafford shire terrier with white chest and white feet and I’m thinking of putting her over a tan rednose purebred American pitbull terrier what do you’s all think what coloured puppies are they likely to create? Just curious
Robert Mcgill says
Champagne lilac
Jasmine says
I have a blue nose pit bull named Jersey who is blue, light brown, and white and recently has ended up pregnant from the neighbor’s dog, who is pit bull mix. Is there any way the puppies will look like her?
Jackie says
I would assume it’s the same as 2 people having a child it may come out looking more like one or the other or a mixture of both.
Shelley says
Our TCB came to us with a couple of different, severe skin rashes, sensitive digestion issues, & wasn’t properly socialized. We cleared up her skin & social issues & found that she is incredibly brave, intelligent, & loyal. We still have to monitor her diet, b/c stomach upsets are fairly frequent.
Mike says
the Facebook group of Embark DNA begs to differ. They say that they’ve seen too many tri’s for them to be considered rare. What are your thoughts?