Pitbulls are popular, despite their unfair reputation. Blue Nose Pitbull puppies, in particular, have become downright trendy in some circles. While these pups are pretty darn cute, part of their appeal is because they can sometimes be marketed as rare variances of the breed. But is this claim accurate?
A Look at Blue Nose Pitbull Puppies in Action
To understand the appeal of the Blue Nose Pitbull – and Pitbulls in general – it helps to see them as they truly are. This video does a good job of showcasing the pup’s knack for intellect, alertness, and a willingness to follow instruction.
When a Breed Isn’t a Breed
Savvy dog people know about the one big myth surrounding the Pitbull, but they may not be aware that Pitbulls technically aren’t a breed. It’s a collective term typically thrown out to cover a host of actual, recognized breeds, like the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, the Bull Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier.
While the term “Pitbull” tends to be scattered all over the map, the Blue Nose Pitbull does tend to rein in some of the menagerie. It’s ideally thought that Blue Nose Pitbull pups are descended from either the American Staffordshire Terrier or the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Blue Nose Pitbull pups don’t stand out because of their relatively pinpointed lineage. They tend to be noticed because they lack the trademark black or brown fur of a classic Pitbull. Rather, their coat is either charcoal gray or slightly silver, which can appear to be slightly blue.
As the name of the dog suggests, the Blue Nose Pitbull also has a honker that is considered “blue.” This is a bit of a misnomer – like the dog’s coat, the nose has a slight gray shade – but calling the nose blue does add a big chunk of appeal for those considering to bring a Pit into their home.
Noses, Genetics, and Marketing Schemes
If you’ve ever actively sought out a Blue Nose Pitbull Pup, you may have come across people touting the dog’s exotic nature or their rarity. Because the dog may not look like any other Pit you’ve ever seen, you might have been inclined to buy into what they’re offering. However, there are a few things you should note about these polished pitches.
For one thing, a Blue Nose Pitbull is not a product of something weird or exotic or a science experiment gone totally wrong. A Blue Nose Pitbull puppy gets his unique look solely due to genetics. Specifically, a recessive trait.
A Blue Nose Pitbull puppy gets his unique hue because he lacks melanin, the cellular secretion responsible for giving color to skin and hair. In the case of the Blue Nose Pitbull, the recessive trait triggers this melanin deficiency, thus causing a dilution of color in his nose and his fur.
Even though Blue Nose Pitbull puppies aren’t as common as regular Pitbull, this doesn’t mean that it’s a rare breed. There’s a perfectly rational explanation why they exist, and its recessive genetics is almost akin to blue-eyed humans on some level. If a breeder is trying to sell rarity as a selling point, he or she is pulling your leg.
Framing basic genetics as a template for exoticness is nothing new to the Pitbull. Several years ago, Red Nosed Pitbull puppies were all the rage and were marketed in a similar fashion, even though the condition was caused by a recessive trait that caused a lack of melanin to manifest itself in brown coated Pits.
The Blue Nose is Not a Blue Nose Pitbull’s Defining Trait
At first glance, you may think that a Blue Nose Pitbull puppy’s bluish honker is its calling card. After all, your rationale may go, if it doesn’t have a blue nose, they would be called a different name, right?
This, somewhat surprisingly, is incorrect. It’s possible that the pup may carry a nose that’s partially blue nose or even red. However, they are still considered Blue Nose Pitbull puppies because their coat will still have the distinctive charcoal gray/blue shade.
Nobody has pinpointed precisely why this anomaly occurs. The most educated guess would tie the nasal discrepancy back to the dog’s genetic code. Still, if you see someone selling a Blue Nose Pitbull that doesn’t have a blue nose, don’t assume that the person is trying to pull a fast one on you.
Use Caution When Buying a Blue Nose Pitbull Puppy
Blue Nose Pitbull puppies are quite the investment, in part because they tend to be so sought after. A pup could set you back $1,000 to $5,000 – which is definitely on the high end even for the “designer dog” market that these pooches are often associated. The variance of cost is determined by metrics like overall look, color pattern, and breeder reputation.
While they’re expensive dogs, it may behoove you to eschew courting the lower end of the price range. With Blue Nose Pitbull pups, there seems to be a rather good chance of running into disreputable breeders that are solely in the market for a quick cash grab. The dog may unscrupulously get marketed as “rare” or “exotic” by these breeders.
Frankly, buying a Blue Nose Pitbull puppy from an unscrupulous breeder is not much different than picking one up from a puppy mill, which is notorious for producing pups under horrific, squalor-fueled conditions. You may save a little up front, but you may pay for this savings dearly down the road.
Before you pick up your pooch, you should also be mindful that this one-time cost won’t cover all of the day-to-day expenditures of owning a dog. You need to consider the cost for essential things like licensing, vet visits, vaccinations, chipping, food, and bedding. Note that some things like vaccinations may have already been handled by the breeder.
Beyond the Blue: What to Expect from These Pups
A Blue Nose Pitbull puppy will grow up to look like a fierce, no-nonsense dog. But don’t let this hard shell fool you – a properly trained Blue Nose Pitbull will be a loyal, friendly dog who will love on you freely and easily. Their affectionate nature is also balanced by a strong patient streak, which makes them a great dog for families with children.
They are also highly intelligent dogs that are eager to please and follow directions. This trait makes them easy to train on basic tasks. Because their brains are accompanied by their raw athleticism and power, it makes it possible to train the dog on complex activities, like canine athletics.
Their brainpower can be a drawback in one respect: If you’re not careful, these dogs can develop a stubborn streak that may lead them to assume they’re the alpha dog in the relationship. However, you can avoid the development of this streak by consistently training him with a firm and gentle hand.
The Blue Nose Pitbull’s combination of brains and brawn also make him a very active, energetic pet that’s in need of a lot of exercise and playtime. If you cannot provide him with either means of stimulation, the pup could take matters into his own paws out of sheer boredom, which could lead to destructive behaviors.
Tackling the Unfortunate Myth of the Pitbull
Owning a Blue Nose Pitbull – or any Pitbull, for that matter – has one unique complication that does not come with any other dog. That is, you can almost count on being pre-judged by ignorant people for owning one of these beautiful canines.
We’re all familiar with the reputation that Pitbulls carry; that they are allegedly ruthless, bloodthirsty dogs that are prone to going off and creating dangerous chaos at the drop of a hat. It’s a reputation that has led to some communities seeking to ban Pitbull ownership.
This reputation couldn't possibly be further from the true nature of a properly trained Pitbull. In fact, they make horrible watchdogs, as a trained Pit will be much more likely to lick a stranger's face off than bite it off. Treat a Pit in the way that all dogs should be treated, and you may have the most loveable dog you've ever owned in your home.
Sadly, the myth of the bloodthirsty Pitbull remains as strong as ever, as the notion of these dogs being ruthless is continually fed to the masses by grossly misinformed media and watchdog groups. As such, you should prepare yourself for some unwanted and unwarranted scrutiny whenever you and your pooch is out and about.
This Dog Won’t Make You Blue!
The Blue Nose Pitbull may not be as "exotic" as some breeders may lead you to believe - it may not even have its signature blue nose. What it does bring to the table, though, is a lot of love, loyalty, and affection for his owner. If you have the capacity to provide him exercise and the tolerance to put up with ignorant people, this dog may fit your life greatly.
I think that is is awesome to know more about pit bulls themselves. I did not know they had so many different kinds. I like hearing about the warnings before hand. I do love hearing the positives a little bit more, just because I look forward to getting mine really bad.