Pit Bull Colours: Every Coat Colour Explained (Blue Nose, Red Nose, Merle)

Pit bulls come in almost every coat colour a dog can have: black, blue, fawn, red, brindle, white, chocolate, tri-colour and endless white-patched combinations, all made from just two pigments. "Blue nose" and "red nose" are colours, not separate breeds, and only one pattern, merle, is rejected by the main pit bull registries because of its links to deafness and eye problems.

How pit bull colours work (the genetics, made simple)

Think of a dog's coat as a paint set with only two tubes. Eumelanin is black by default and also colours the nose and eyes. Phaeomelanin is red-yellow and only affects the hair¹.

The gene locations (loci) that matter most:

• B locus (brown): two recessive copies (bb) turn black pigment into brown, also called liver or chocolate. In red dogs, the same gene turns the nose and paw pads brown¹. That's your "red nose".
• D locus (dilute): two recessive copies (dd) lighten black to grey-blue and brown to a pale lilac (isabella) shade. It's caused by a variant of the melanophilin (MLPH) gene¹. That's your "blue nose".
• E locus (extension): controls the black mask and whether a dog can show black pigment in its coat at all. Two copies of the recessive "e" give a clear red or cream coat¹.
• K locus (dominant black): decides between solid black, brindle and fawn¹.
• M locus (merle): creates irregular diluted patches, but only on black pigment¹. It's an incompletely dominant insertion in the PMEL gene, so one copy shows the pattern and two copies make a "double merle"¹⁰.

The A locus (agouti) handles patterns like tan points, and the S locus adds white spotting¹.

Pit bull colours chart: every coat colour explained

Here's how the common pit bull colours (or "pitbull colors", if you're searching from the US) line up with the genetics. Breeder names vary, so treat this as a guide.

Colour	Genetics in plain English	Nose	Notes
Black	Full-strength eumelanin, usually from dominant black (K locus)	Black	Classic and common.
Blue	Black diluted by two copies of the dilute gene (dd)	Grey/blue	The "blue nose pit bull". Can be prone to colour dilution alopecia.
Fawn	Phaeomelanin coat (red-yellow pigment) with black points	Black	Pale sandy to deep tan, sometimes with a black mask.
Blue fawn	Fawn coat plus dilution (dd)	Blue/grey	Silvery fawn with a blue nose.
Red	Phaeomelanin coat, usually recessive red (ee) or deep fawn	Black or brown	"Red" covers everything from copper to mahogany.
Red nose	Red coat plus two brown genes (bb), which turn the nose and pads brown	Brown/copper	A colour variety, not a special bloodline.
Brindle	K locus brindle allele: dark stripes over a fawn or red base	Black (or blue/brown if dilute or liver)	Comes in black, blue and red brindle versions.
White	Extreme white spotting (S locus) covering most of the coat	Usually dark; pink areas possible	Pale skin burns easily. (Albinism is different, and a UKC disqualification.)
Pied / white patches	White spotting genes over any base colour	Matches base colour	Very common.
Buckskin	A breeder name for a warm golden fawn; genetically a shade of fawn/red	Black	Not a separate colour in any standard we checked.
Seal	Breeder term for a dark coat that looks black but shows brown or red tones in sunlight	Black	No agreed genetic definition.
Chocolate / liver	Two brown genes (bb) turn all black pigment brown	Brown	Lilac or "champagne" dogs are liver plus dilute (bb dd).
Merle	One copy of the merle insertion breaks black pigment into patches	Varies	Disqualified by the UKC; not registrable with the ADBA. Health risks, especially for double merles.
Tri-colour	Tan points from the A locus, plus white spotting, on a black, blue or liver base	Matches base colour	Genuine but uncommon.

Which pit bull colours do the breed registries accept?

For the American Pit Bull Terrier, the United Kennel Club (UKC) standard is short and generous: any colour, colour pattern or combination of colours is acceptable except merle. Merle and albinism are both disqualifications. The UKC also says the nose may be any colour, though blue eyes are a serious fault⁴.

The American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA) went further. Its policy links merle to health defects and stopped registering merle dogs from 21 February 2005. It recommends merle pups be desexed and placed in pet homes⁵.

Close cousins have their own rules. The American Staffordshire Terrier standard, used by both the American Kennel Club and Dogs Australia, allows any solid, parti or patched colour, but says all white, more than 80% white, black and tan, and liver should not be encouraged^6,7. The AKC version also asks for a nose that is "definitely black" and penalises a Dudley (pink) nose⁶, so a red nose AmStaff wouldn't do well in the show ring.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier standard on Dogs Australia lists red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any of these with white, plus any shade of brindle. Black and tan or liver are "highly undesirable"⁸.

Does colour affect a pit bull's health or lifespan?

Short answer: we couldn't find any study showing blue (or red) nose pit bulls live shorter lives because of their colour. A blue nose pit bull's lifespan should be the same as any other pit bull of the same breed, size and health. For breed-by-breed figures, see our guide to how long pit bulls live.

Colour isn't completely irrelevant, though.

1. Blue and fawn dogs: colour dilution alopecia

Colour dilution alopecia (CDA) is an inherited, recessive condition seen in dogs with dilute coats, most often blue or fawn. Puppies are born with a normal coat, then from about six months or later develop patchy thinning or hair loss, sometimes with flaky, itchy skin². The MSD Veterinary Manual notes signs usually appear before one year of age and are confined to the blue or fawn areas³.

The good news: both sources describe it as mainly cosmetic, with the dog's overall health not at risk. It isn't curable, but it's manageable with medicated shampoos, rinses or treatment for skin infections^2,3. VCA advises that affected dogs, their parents and their siblings shouldn't be bred from². If your blue pit bull's coat is thinning or its skin is scaly, see your vet, and have a read of our post on dogs with sensitive skin.

2. Merle: deafness and eye problems

Merle is where colour genuinely matters for health. In a 2009 study of 153 merle dogs tested with BAER hearing tests, 3.5% of single merles had some deafness, compared with 25% of double merles (15% deaf in both ears)⁹. The authors note merle dogs, particularly double merles, may also have eye disorders⁹, and genetic research links double merle and some merle variants to hearing and vision impairment¹⁰. That's why researchers recommend merle testing before breeding¹⁰, and why the pit bull registries keep it out.

A single merle can be a happy pet. The real worry is merle-to-merle breeding, including "hidden" merles that don't show in the coat¹⁰.

3. White and pied dogs: sunburn

White fur usually means pale, unpigmented skin underneath. VCA lists white-haired, short-coated breeds, including the American Staffordshire Terrier, as more prone to solar dermatitis, a sun-damage condition that can progress to a skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma¹¹. Bellies, flanks, the top of the nose and eyelids are common spots¹¹. Our guide can dogs get sunburn? covers shade, dog-safe sunscreen (check with your vet first) and covering up.

What about breeding for colour in general?

A University of Sydney-led study of over 33,000 UK Labradors found chocolate Labs lived shorter lives, with more ear and skin disease, and suggested breeding for one colour may narrow the gene pool¹². It wasn't about pit bulls, but the lesson carries: chasing a colour can quietly cost a breed its health.

What's the rarest pit bull colour? (And should you pay more for it?)

Merle is usually sold as the rarest pit bull colour, followed by lilac, champagne and tri-colour. The ADBA says merle was once rare in the breed precisely because of its health flaws, and that it had seen a trend of breeders developing "innovations" for marketing purposes, including rumours of other breeds being crossed in to get merle⁵.

Our honest take:

• Rare doesn't mean better. Colour has nothing to do with temperament, and no registry standard rewards a "rare" colour.
• A premium price for colour is a red flag, not a selling point. Good breeders talk about health testing, temperament and the parents, not the paint job.
• Ask for health and DNA testing, especially for merle, blue or lilac litters. Ask whether both parents have been tested for merle.

Are pit bulls legal in Australia?

This matters before you fall in love with any colour. The American pit bull terrier (or pit bull terrier) is one of five pure breeds banned from import into Australia, alongside the dogo Argentino, fila Brasileiro, Japanese tosa and Perro de Presa Canario¹³. Inside the country, each state sets its own rules. A few examples:

• Queensland: from 28 August 2024, the American pit bull terrier is a prohibited breed. A person must not own or be responsible for one without a reasonable excuse, or supply one to someone else¹⁴.
• New South Wales: pit bulls are restricted dogs. Owners must register them and pay an annual permit fee, and it's an offence to sell, advertise, give away or transfer one¹⁵.
• Victoria: restricted breed dogs (pure or cross) must be desexed, microchipped, wear a prescribed red-and-yellow collar, be kept in a secure enclosure, and be muzzled and leashed in public. Breeding one is a criminal offence¹⁶.

Rules change, so check with your local council. Read more about the breed's reputation in pit bulls: the misunderstood breed.

Got a Staffy or AmStaff? Same colours, different breed

Most Aussies searching "pit bull colours" actually live with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier or an American Staffordshire Terrier. Both are recognised by Dogs Australia, and Victoria, for example, lets owners show their dog is an AmStaff to avoid a restricted breed declaration¹⁶. Both share most pit bull colours, including black, blue, red, fawn, brindle and pied, with liver and black and tan discouraged^7,8.

FAQs

Is a blue nose pit bull a separate breed?

No. A blue nose pit bull is a pit bull with two copies of the dilute gene, which turns black pigment grey-blue, nose included¹. It's a colour, not a breed.

How long do blue nose pit bulls live?

We found no evidence that blue colouring itself shortens a pit bull's life, so expect the same lifespan as other dogs of that breed. Blue dogs can develop colour dilution alopecia, a manageable coat and skin problem rather than a threat to overall health^2,3.

What's the difference between a red nose and a blue nose pit bull?

A red nose has a red coat and brown nose from two brown genes¹; a blue nose gets its grey-blue coat and nose from the dilute gene. Neither affects temperament.

Why is merle not allowed in pit bulls?

The UKC disqualifies merle in the American Pit Bull Terrier⁴, and the ADBA stopped registering merle dogs in 2005, citing research linking merle to health defects⁵. Double merle dogs have much higher rates of deafness than single merles⁹.

Do white pit bulls need sunscreen?

Often, yes. Short white fur over pink skin is prone to sunburn and solar dermatitis, which can lead to skin cancer¹¹. Use shade, skip the middle of the day, and only use a vet-approved sunscreen¹¹.

Can I own a pit bull in Australia?

It's tightly controlled everywhere we checked. They can't be imported¹³, they're prohibited in Queensland¹⁴, and they're restricted in NSW and Victoria^15,16. Check with your local council before taking on any dog that could be identified as a pit bull.

References

1. VCA Animal Hospitals, Genetics Basics: Coat Color Genetics in Dogs
2. VCA Animal Hospitals, Color Dilution Alopecia in Dogs
3. MSD Veterinary Manual, Hereditary Alopecia and Hypotrichosis in Animals
4. United Kennel Club, American Pit Bull Terrier breed standard (revised 1 May 2017)
5. American Dog Breeders Association, ADBA Merle Color Pattern Policy
6. American Kennel Club, Official Standard of the American Staffordshire Terrier
7. Dogs Australia, American Staffordshire Terrier breed standard
8. Dogs Australia, Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed standard
9. Strain GM et al. (2009), Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Prevalence of Deafness in Dogs Heterozygous or Homozygous for the Merle Allele
10. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA), Coat colour, merle in dogs
11. VCA Animal Hospitals, Solar Dermatitis in Dogs
12. University of Sydney, A dog's colour could impact longevity, increase health problems
13. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Category 3 step-by-step guide for dogs
14. Queensland Government, Laws for pet owners in Queensland
15. NSW Office of Local Government, Restricted dogs
16. Agriculture Victoria, About restricted breed dogs