Brindle Pitbull Dog Information, Temperament & Facts

Brindle Pitbulls are everything people love about Pitbull dogs! They just stand out because of their beautiful stripes.

Their coats are made up of two colors that create a mesmerizing “tiger-like” pattern.

Underneath that tiger-like coat is a heart of pure gold. They will be one of the gentlest and sweetest dogs you will ever own.

These dogs might seem very exotic but they are actually very common and just like any other Pitbull. Brindle just adds a tiger-like eye-catching twist to their coat.

Keep reading to learn more about this exotic looking dog…

Brindle Pitbull Dog

The Brindle Pitbull is a type of Pitbull dog with a special coat that looks tiger-like. Brindle is not a coat color, but rather a coat pattern made of two colors which create stripes.

Their base coat is usually a lighter color like fawn, though it can be blue or red too.

Overlaying this light base color are darker brown to black stripes that give the classic tiger appearance.

There are also different types of brindles that are named based on the color of their base coat. The most common type is the fawn brindle, which has the color fawn underneath the dark stripes. But you can also have Red Brindle and Blue Brindle.

The Red Brindle Pitbull is known for its fiery looks. Not only does its base coat look like a bright red fawn, but so do its eyes and nose.

Blue Brindles are similar but instead have a much cooler slate blue-gray color. They also have a captivating blue nose and light eyes to match their calming coat.

Some pitbulls can also have large patches of brindle on top of a mostly white coat. These dogs are sometimes incorrectly known as tri-colored.

Brindles are one of the most popular types of Pitbulls because of their unique coats. No striped pattern will be the same so when you get a brindle pitbull, you know that you will be getting a completely unique dog!

What makes them different is just their coat. Coat color doesn’t have an effect on temperament, health or training.

One thing to keep in mind is that the term Pitbull itself is not a dog breed. It is used to describe four different related bully breeds. These breeds are the American Pitbull Terrier, American Bully, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Only the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier carry the brindle gene. A purebred brindle puppy can only be one of these two breeds.

Are Brindle Puppies Rare?

Many people think that such a unique coat pattern is rare to find in Pitbull dogs. This is a common myth.

The brindle gene occurs naturally within two of the Pitbull breeds, the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier.

This means a Brindle Pitbull is not rare at all. Brindle puppies are actually quite common and will not cost more than most Pitties. A typical fawn brindle puppy will cost you between $300 and $500.

Varieties like the Red Nose or the Blue Nose Brindle are rare and harder to breed. The cost of these puppies can be $3,000 or more.

Breed Appearance

Brindle Pitbulls have the same defining traits that everyone recognizes in this sweet breed. They are muscular, deep-chested dogs with broad heads and short muzzles. Their eyes are small and their ears are naturally rounded and flopped, though they are often cropped.

If you do get a brindle American Staffordshire Terrier or American Pitbull Terrier know that there is a slight variation between them.

American Staffordshire Terriers tend to be a bit shorter, bulkier and heavier, while the American Pitbull Terrier is leaner and a little more athletic.

How Big Is a Brindle Pitbull?

When fully grown a brindle pitbull can be between 18 and 21 inches tall and weigh between 30 and 60 pounds. Females are usually smaller in size than the males. But because they are often mixed, their size might vary a bit from these averages.

If they are a purebred American Staffordshire Terrier then they will be 17 to 19 inches in height and weigh 40 to 70 pounds. American Pitbull Terriers are 17 to 21 inches in height and weigh 30 to 60 pounds.

Coat and Color

You will instantly recognize a brindle pitbull once you see one.

There is no mistaking their stripes! It is very different from a merle pitbull.

Most commonly they have a light fawn base coat with dark brown or black parallel stripes. The thickness and amount of stripes is different between each dog.

Some stripes are so dense and thick that they create what appears to be a black dog. These Pitties are what are known as ‘reverse brindle’ and they are not black at all. It happens when the dark stripes overwhelm the light color to the point where it is nearly hidden. If you take a closer look, you will notice that there are patches of fawn between the black.

Types of Brindle Pitbulls

Fawn Brindle is the first image that comes to people’s minds when they think of a Brindle Pitbull. But there are other types that exist too. What mostly makes them different is the color of the base coat, which is how they are named.

Fawn Brindle

Fawn Brindles are the most common type and are recognized for their light colored fawn coat and dark brown-ish black stripes. Together the fawn and black stripes alternate in a tiger-like pattern. Sometimes the stripes can be scattered and almost lost in a sea of fawn hairs. A lot of the times you will see that they have white markings on their face, chest and paws.

Reverse Brindle

Reverse brindles are the opposite of fawn. Some people might confuse them for a pure black dog, but this type of brindle pitbull does not have a black coat. If you are not careful you might miss it, but they actually have a little bit of light brown peeking through the densely packed black stripes. The fawn is just barely visible. Look closely at these dogs because at first glance you might miss the subtle fawn among the black stripes.

Blue Nose Brindle

Blue brindle pit bulls are unique for their blue noses. This is why they are also called blue nose brindles. Their base coat is a blue fawn color and overlaying it are light gray stripes. What makes them extra special is their blue-grayish noses and light or gray-blue eyes that match their coat color. Their eyes and noses really make them stand-out from your average fawn brindle.

Red Nose Brindle Pitbull

Red brindle pit bulls are very similar to the blue. Instead of being blue-gray, they are red. You will instantly recognize its intense red fawn base coat under dark brown stripes. The red color is so bright that there is no confusing it. They also have matching red noses and eyes. These dogs will remind you of a tiger the most and are the rarest.

How Are They Different?

The tiger-like pattern of the brindle pitbull is the only thing that makes them different.

They are not very different from other Pitbulls as coat color does not affect their size, personality, health or temperament.

Their pattern won’t stop them from loving you just the same. These dogs will be just like any other Pittie.

This means that they will be equally loving, playful, protective, and energetic.

What makes them extra special is their pattern. Brindle pitbulls will steal the hearts of anyone who lays eyes on them. Their pattern is just so unique and eye-catching that no one can ignore them.

Temperament and Personality

What people love most about Pitbulls is their caring and friendly nature. The Brindle Pitbull is no exception. In them you will find a dog that is full of life and love. All it wants to do is to be with you all the time and share its abounding love.

You will find that they will just want to do fun things with you all day.

They are really energetic dogs, so if you let them they could be running in the yard and chasing after their favorite toy for hours without end. They are such an eager and playful breed.

Loyalty

Brindle pitbulls are actually very loyal and form very strong bonds with their humans.

They are the type of dogs that will never leave your side, but this also means that they are prone to developing separation anxiety.

Pitbulls hate every moment in which they spend away from you. Affection is one of their strongest qualities, but you have to teach them that sometimes it is okay to be alone. This is why socializing from a young age is important.

A properly trained brindle pitbull will be the perfect family pet. All they want to do is please you and make you happy.

Unlike what many people assume they are not dangerous dogs.

They are very protective dogs and have “nanny” tendencies towards kids. They are very gentle when they are around children and will give the side-eye to anyone who seems suspicious or intrudes on the family.

It is not common for them to bark excessively so they aren’t exactly guard dogs, but they will take great care of your family.

Their sole purpose is to be the family companion and bring joy and a sense of safety into the house. They are nurturing and patient by nature, but you should never leave kids alone with any dog breed.

Caring For A Brindle Pitbull

Feeding

Muscular and energy-driven dogs like pitbulls need lots of protein-rich food to keep them healthy and in good shape. These dogs need at least 45 minutes of intense exercise each day.

For a full grown brindle pitbull they should be fed two cups of high-quality kibble a day. This helps to replenish all of their energy and will keep them healthy.

It will cost around $1 to $1.50 a day to feed them depending on the kibble you choose.

Never over feed a Pitbull as they can become obese. If necessary adjust how much you feed them based on their activity levels. An older, less active dog does not need as much food as a young and active dog.

Grooming

Brindle pitbull dogs are really easy to groom. Like all Pitbulls they have a short and single layer coat that sheds very little. Their coats are very smooth and the hairs should feel stiff as you pass your hand over them.

When they stand under sunlight their coats should gleam. They should always have a glossy touch to their beautiful coat.

Pitbulls shed more heavily during the Fall and Spring. During this time you might want to brush them daily to remove all the dead hair and keep it from spreading around the house.

Apart from that you will not have to brush them that much. Once a week will be enough and grooming them is no different from other Pitbulls. Their pattern has nothing to do with how to maintain their coat.

Bathing

These dogs do not need a lot of bathing.

You should only really bathe them when their coat gets too dirty as their skin is very sensitive. Brindle pitbulls are very prone to developing skin allergies.

Food allergies and skin parasites are the most common causes of skin irritation. Too much bathing can also dry out their skin and cause irritation. Over bathing can also and strip their hair of its natural oils.

If you do need to bathe them then make sure to use a mild shampoo. Their coat can easily become irritated with products that are too harsh.

Training

Brindle pitbull puppies need to be trained from a young age to prevent behavioral issues. Properly house and crate training them can also help avoid separation anxiety. Since they are so smart under stimulating their brains can make them reckless.

The best way to train a pitbull is with positive re-enforcement. Be patient with them as sometimes they can be stubborn, despite being very eager-to-please.

Never shout at them if they do something wrong. Instead only treat them when they do something right and always keep training sessions short, exciting and fun.

It is also important to socialize a brindle pitbull because they can be territorial and not welcoming to other dogs. If they learn to accept other dogs from a puppy, you won’t have any problems with them sharing your attention when they grow older.

They are attached to you so much that they just want you all for yourself. Their territorial nature comes from jealousy, it has nothing to do with wanting to be the “tougher” dog.

Health Issues

Brindle Pitbulls are generally healthy dogs and will live between 12 and 15 years.

Like many bully dogs they can inherit health issues that are specific to the breed. None of these conditions have to do with their brindle coat, they are just conditions all Pitbulls are at a risk of getting.

The most common diseases are:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia.
• Skin disorders such as allergies.
• Hypothyroidism.
• Cataract eye disease.
• Cardiac disease.

Hip and elbow dysplasia is the abnormal growth of the joints within the hips and joints. If dogs inherit this disease it can cause them to limp and “bunny hop”. In the future it can progress to degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis.

Hypothyroidism can cause them to become overweight and lethargic.

Cataract eye disease causes their eyes to cloud and prevents them from seeing properly.

The most common cardiac problem seen in pitbulls is aortic stenosis. This is a condition that is present from birth and is characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve. This eventually causes heart failure if untreated as the muscles of the heart need to work harder to push the blood through the valve.

If you do buy a puppy from a reputable breeder you will not have to worry about most of these health issues. Tests are available for these conditions so they should have tested the parents to make sure that none of these conditions are passed on to the puppies.

Brindle Pitbull Puppy

If you decide to adopt a brindle puppy you will need to buy one from the right kind of breeder. There are many kinds of breeders out there and you want to avoid puppy mills or backyard breeders. These kinds of breeders focus on selling puppies and not their health or happiness.

A brindle pitbull puppy that is not socialized properly, or bred from the right kind of parents, can have lots of behavior or health problems. This can include showing aggression, jealously, fear of humans and skin issues.

The right type of breeders are incredibly thoughtful of their puppies.

They do not just want to sell you a puppy. They want to give you the best brindle pitbull puppy that suits you and your family. They will also want to make sure that the puppy is well taken care of and has no health issues.

This type of breeder will also provide you proof of pedigree and medical records of the parents so you know that you are getting a happy and healthy puppy.

You have two options when getting a brindle puppy from a reputable breeder. They can either be an American Staffordshire Terrier or an American Pit Bull Terrier. These are the only kinds of pitbulls that have the brindle gene.

Once you have brought your brindle puppy home you must begin training and socialization within the first week or so.

Brindle pitbulls can be clingy and are a bit jealous of other pets. It is important that you start teaching them that it’s okay for them to be alone sometimes. You should also give your puppy lots of time to meet other dogs and pets. This will help them learn how to be comfortable around dogs so your puppy doesn’t become jealous.

Puppy Price

There are a lot of factors that can affect the price of a puppy. These factors can include pedigree, type of breeder and location.

For a brindle pitbull puppy the type of parent breed can affect its price significantly.

A purebred brindle American Staffordshire Terrier can cost $1,500 to $2,000. However, the brindle American Pitbull Terrier only costs $500 to $1,000 so is a cheaper option.

These puppies are cheaper than the American Staffordshire Terrier because they aren’t considered a standard breed in America. This means breeders do not need to spend money on fees registering them with kennel clubs.

If you are not concerned with having a show dog, then either breed will be just fine for your family. They are very similar when it comes to temperament and appearance.

Another factor that can affect price is the color.

Blue Nose and Red Nose Brindle Pitbulls are rarer varieties. For these kinds of puppies you could pay $3,000 or more. Fawn brindle dogs are closer to $500.

The cheapest option is to adopt a brindle pitbull from a rescue organization. You could pay as low as $250 for a shelter dog.

Unfortunately many older pitbulls end-up in shelters. It is estimated that 30% of all shelter dogs are Pitties. These shelter dogs most likely won’t be purebred brindle pitbulls, but if you aren’t worried about pedigree then you should consider adopting!

You can find both puppies and adults at shelters and not only will it be cheaper, but you will also be giving a home to a dog that deserves one.

Summary

Brindle pitbulls are a common type of Pitbull dog that are famous for their tiger-like coat.

The ‘brindle’ coat pattern is made from a lighter base color with dark stripes. Some dogs have such thick stripes that they make them look black; these and are known as reverse brindles.

Fawn and reverse brindle are the two most common coat patterns. There are also blue nose and red nose pitbulls that can be brindle too.

Brindle pitbulls might look very exotic, but they are not Exotic Bullies. They have all the same traits many people love about pitties. Brindle does not affect their size, personality, health or temperament.

You can expect to pay between $300 and $1,000 for a brindle puppy from a breeder. For rarer varieties or a purebred you could pay as much as $3,000.

If all you want is a loving and friendly family dog then you should consider this beautiful, loving and unique breed. They will be your most loyal companion and will always protect you.