Pitbulls are one of the most infamous breeds in the canine world. They not only suffer from an unfavorable reputation because of their history of aggression, but they are also quite confusing to identify because there are actually four dog breeds that are called Pitbull. Not to mention that each breed has its own color varieties.
If you’re just beginning to become a Pitbull fancier, then you must know that the term ‘Pitbull’ is only an umbrella term often used to label the distinct breeds descended from bulldogs and terriers which are: the American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Bully.
As they’re quite similar to one another and often interchanged due to confusion, it’s more common that people identify Pitbulls based on their coat color. But have you ever heard of a grey Pitbull?
Well, if you haven’t heard much of them then this article should pique your interest.
Keep reading as I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the mysterious and often misrepresented grey Pitbulls.
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What Is a Grey Pitbull?
The Grey Pitbull is not actually a separate breed. Rather, they come from a lineage of Pitbulls that display the recessive blue hue on their coat, eyes, nose, and even toenails. In other words, Pitbulls that exhibit some sort of blue or grey coloration are called Grey Pitbulls.
In terms of their other features and traits, there’s no significant difference between them and their other-colored cousins. They’re pretty much the same in terms of courage, intelligence, and level of affection.
They only stand out among others because of their stunning color which is brought about by a dilution gene that altered their default black pigment.
What Does a Grey Pitbull Look Like?
No one can deny the fact that a Pitbull’s appearance speaks of power and strength. Their stocky and muscular build paired with their wide and strong jaws just prove this even more.
Interestingly, you can see most coat colors on different Pitbulls and one of its rare varieties is their grey coloration, also called ‘blue’ which is essentially the same.
As per their grey coloration, grey Pitbulls have a number of coat color variations including the grey brindle Pitbull, grey fawn Pitbull, and the grey tricolor Pitbull.
To see the differences between these different coat color variations of a gray Pitbull, check out the photos below.
Grey Pitbull
A grey Pitbull is basically a Pitbull variety with a blue-grey coat. Whether it be blue or red, their different nose color can easily be traced to their low melanin levels, which is a result of their recessive color gene.
Whatever the breed is, it’s common for grey Pitbulls to have a solid charcoal coat and accent white markings located on their chests, feet, and tails. Interestingly, most grey Pit breeds would be born with a striking bright blue eye color that slowly darkens as they mature.
Grey Brindle Pitbull
A grey brindle Pitbull can either have blue-grey stripe patterns on a light-colored base coat or a reverse blue brindle variation where the base coat would be a darker blue shade, while the stripes remain light-colored of either tan or fawn coloration.
Some can be heavily brindled while others can have only subtle brindle marks on their body. Also, most have no white patches but a few may still develop one.
From the photo above, you can see his dark grey base coat patterned with light-colored fawn stripes and accent white markings on his chest and feet.
Grey Fawn Pitbull
The grey fawn Pitbull is such a head-turner with its silvery-blue coat and distinctive light-colored red nose. Don’t get confused by grey fawn Pitbulls and grey Pits.
They’re essentially the same in terms of their robust appearance having broad flat skulls, deep muzzles, wide and strong jaws, whip-like tails, and muscular build.
Basically, a grey fawn Pitbull would have a unique silvery-blue coat and red-colored nose while a grey Pitbull would have a grey-looking nose and a brindle variety.
If you’re interested to learn more about this magnificent variation of a Pitbull, you can check out this ultimate guide to blue fawn Pitbulls.
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Grey Tri-color Pitbull
The grey tri-color Pitbull is another rare variation of the grey Pit since they have such a unique coat pattern consisting of three coat colors.
For a grey tri-color Pit, the color combination includes a dark blue base coat with splashes of tan and white markings on various parts of their body like the chest, nose, face, legs, paws, and even the tail.
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Grey Pitbull Size and Weight: How Big Do Grey Pitbulls Get When Fully Grown?
Grey Pitbulls are known for their stocky and muscular build. Based on the distinctive breed that they belong to, a Pitbull can grow as tall as 23 inches in height with the stockier American Bully breed or grow to only 14 inches high just like Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
Refer to the table below to see how big do grey Pitbulls get when they’re fully grown.
| Pitbull Breed | Height | Weight |
| American Staffordshire Terrier | 17 – 19 inches | 40 – 70 pounds |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 14 – 16 inches | 24 – 38 pounds |
| American Pitbull Terrier | 17 – 21 inches | 30 – 65 pounds |
| American Bully | Pocket: 13 – 17 inches Standard: 16 – 20 inches XL: 19 – 23 inches | May vary depending on their size. |
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Do Kennel Clubs Recognize the Grey Coloring?
Grey Pitbulls are recognized by most kennel clubs. However, it’s important to note that among the four distinctive Pitbull breeds, some breeds are only recognized by one kennel club and not by the others.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) only recognizes the grey or blue coloring from American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, whereas the United Kennel Club (UKC) only recognizes the blue coloration in American Pitbull Terrier, American Bully, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Also, the grey coat color is usually described as the ‘blue’ coloration, so please don’t get confused.
Are Grey Pitbulls Rare?
Yes, grey Pitbulls are among the rarest yet most sought-after coloration among Pitbull fanciers. Why are they rare? Well, the answer lies with the fact that their coat color is only a dilution of the dominant black pigment caused by a recessive gene.
As mentioned earlier, grey Pitbulls, both blue-nosed and red-nosed Pits, experience a deficiency in melanin which results in additional health issues and diseases that breeders should be aware of.
Due to the increased health risks, many veterinarians strongly recommend that you only purchase grey Pitbulls from ethical and reputable breeders.
Do Grey Pitbulls Have Blue Eyes?
In most cases, grey Pitbull puppies will be born with bright blue eye color. While some may retain this coloring, most would usually transition gradually to a much darker shade of brown or hazel coloring.
Note that this blue coloration from birth is normally caused by a lack of melanin in their eyes.
The gradual transition to a darker eye color will occur shortly after a few weeks when the melanin production in the eyes begins. It takes about 9 to 16 weeks since birth before a grey Pit’s eye color permanently settled in.
The usual grey Pitbull true permanent eye color can vary from a light brown, dark brown to amber, and the rare permanent blue color.
Although blue eyes are no direct indication for grey Pitbulls to suffer from various health issues and diseases, having permanent blue eyes on your Pit can increase their likelihood to develop major health risks.
So, yes, you can still have a perfectly healthy blue-eyed grey Pit so long as you make sure that you get them from reputable breeders.
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Do Grey Pitbull Puppies Change Color as They Grow?
Yes, Pitbull puppies can change color as they mature. For instance, a grey Pitbull puppy can turn their grey coloring to a darker brown shade brought about by the progression of their coat pigmentation. Don’t worry, this process is quite common and natural.
However, keep in mind that if your grey Pitbull already at the peak of their age yet you see subtle color changes in any part of their body, then it might be caused by any of the following:
- Skin Disease
- Medications
- Nutritional Status
- UV Rays (Sunlight)
Grey Pitbull Temperament: Are Gray Pitbulls Good Family Companions?
Despite the numerous unfavorable notions about them, Pitbulls are actually perfect guard dogs and are great family companions. Grey Pitbulls, with their stocky and muscular bodies, are often falsely tagged as aggressive dogs.
However, keep in mind that aggression is not something that can be traced to their genes but rather on their past experiences and the status of your current owner-pet relationship with them.
If you’re able to train them correctly and fill them with so much love, you’ll get yourself the best companion dogs that will be loyal and protective of you and your family’s safety.
Make sure to socialize them early so that they’ll be tamed enough and not show fear aggression against other dogs.
Overall, their bad reputation as one of the most feared dogs by humans is uncalled for.
More Pitbull lovers should raise awareness among other dog enthusiasts that Pitbulls are the best nanny dogs because they’re very sweet, they love the company of others, and they have such sensitive souls that greatly adore humans particularly children.
Check out this grey Pit’s morning routine and see how fun it is to have a Pitbull for a companion:
My Dog's Morning Routine!
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Grey Pitbull Lifespan and Health Issues: Are Grey Pitbulls Healthy Dogs?
Pitbulls can generally live around 12 years on average, while others can live more or less. Perfectly healthy grey Pitbulls can even live as long as 18 years. In the end, the length of their lives would highly depend on how much care they get from their pet owners.
Most common health concerns for a grey Pitbull that you should know about include:
- Hip Dysplasia: When your dog’s ball of the femur doesn’t sit properly in the hip socket, this can cause dysfunction and pain. As your Pitbull matures, untreated hip dysplasia can result in arthritis, muscle atrophy, and limited mobility.
- Food Allergies: Pitbulls are commonly allergic to fish, lamb, beef, pork, dairy, and some other carbohydrates such as wheat, corn, and soy. Common symptoms that your Pitbull is experiencing an allergic reaction to food include vomiting, constant gas, hives, paw biting, nausea, ear inflammation, and diarrhea.
- Skin Conditions: Apart from their food allergies, these short-haired dogs are easily susceptible to several skin allergies and conditions. Common skin conditions and allergic reactions include swelling of feet, face, or joints, constant scratching, cracked or raw skin, and hair thinning on various parts of their body.
- Hypothyroidism: This illness happens when the thyroid gland in your dog’s neck can’t provide enough of the hormone needed by your body. Common symptoms include flaky skin, dull and thin coat, black patches in the skin, and weight gain.
Grey Pitbull Puppy Prices and Expenses: How Much Does a Grey Pitbull Cost?
High price tags accompany this rare coloration. Usually, blue nose Pitbulls can cost you about $2,000 to a whopping $10,000 if they come from a reputable bloodline and are bred by a professional breeder.
The cheapest grey Pitbull variation you can probably get from a reputable breeder would be the blue fawn Pitbull (red nose), priced at around $800 to $5,000 since more people seem to gravitate towards the blue nose colored grey Pitbulls.
As for the other expenses, expect to pay the highest for the first-year costs of owning your grey Pitbull and save up around $2,000 which should cover startup supplies, food, licensing, spaying, vet and vaccinations, and other preventive medical needs.
On the other hand, annual expenses for owning a grey Pitbull can range between $800 to $3,000 which already includes routine vet care, preventive medications and supplements, food and treats, pet insurance, professional training sessions, grooming, and pet boarding or walking expenses.
It’s also important that you save up a little more in case emergencies happen and your pet insurance refuses to cover other vet hospital costs that may arise.
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Places to Find Grey Pitbull Puppies for Sale and Adoption
If you’re planning to purchase or adopt a grey Pitbull, it’s highly recommended that you only get them from reputable breeders or institutions. This way, you’d be able to ensure that they’re healthy and socialized properly.
Some of the places where you can fin grey Pitbull puppies for sale include:
- AKC Marketplace – Take your chance and search this kennel club’s directory since sellers are usually trusted AKC members and with badges proving that they’re reputable breeders.
- Trevinos Pitbulls – This breeder is located in the western part of Arkansas and they even provide sales contracts. All their Pitbull pups are registered under the American Dog Breeders Association and American Bully Kennel Club. If you’re planning to purchase a grey Pitbull from them, note that an initial deposit is required to reserve a puppy.
- Finest Pitbulls Made – They’ve been professionally breeding and training Pitbulls since 2008. Their main goal is to provide their clients with well-trained family-friendly Pitbulls. Check out their website to see their wide variety of Pitbulls for sale.
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Are you hoping to save some bucks? Don’t go to puppy mills or unethical breeders to find cheap grey Pitbulls. Instead, try out your options on places that offer adoptions.
Adopting a healthy grey Pitbull can be way cheaper than purchasing them, plus you’re giving a Pitbull a new home, wouldn’t that be great?
Here are some rescues and shelters you can check out if they have an available grey Pitbull up for adoption:
- Bobbie’s Pitbull Rescue and Sanctuary – Established back in 2016, their work is focused on rescuing, rehabilitating, and giving new homes to Pitbulls. Also, they work with their surrounding local animal shelters which only increases your chance of finding a grey Pitbull available for adoption.
- Pitbull Rescue Central – They have been around since 1996 and they’re known for continuously sharing correct Pitbull education, funding, and listing directories for Pitbulls that can be adopted.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do Grey Pitbulls Shed?
Due to the short length of their hair coat, grey Pitbulls are considered to be extremely low shedders. They are also very easy to care for and don’t require frequent grooming.
Although not quite visible, there is still excess fur that gets into our clothes and furniture since they regularly shed throughout the year.
Always check the reason why your grey Pitbull is shedding. Note that not all shedding is a natural occurrence. Some may result from health-related concerns such as food and skin allergy reactions, dehydration, poor diet, and anxiety or stress.
What Is the Rarest Pitbull Color?
The rarest Pitbull color is the tricolor coloration. In fact, a blue tri-color Pitbull can be considered as one of its rarest varieties since it’s only recently that breeders have come to produce them professionally.
Also, it requires mating parents with both recessive genes that are potentially risky for many breeders due to the health issues and defects that can result from this type of breeding.
The merle type of Pitbull is also extremely rare; however, merles are not considered to be officially purebred Pitbulls since the merle gene doesn’t naturally occur among Pitbulls and they need to be mated with other breeds to achieve such coloring.
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Final Thoughts
Remember, a rare coloration will always come with a higher price tag. There are many variations of a gray Pitbull and each variation could still be divided depending on the distinctive breed on which they fall under.
After reading this article, you should be able to assess whether you’re fully ready to own a grey Pitbull or not. Check if caring for them is within your budget and if you have space and lifestyle that can match their high-energy personalities perfectly.
Keep in mind that whichever grey Pitbull variety you get, their color and sizes are their only major differences. If you’re looking for great loyal and loving companions, then a grey Pitbull would be perfect for you!
