Tan Pitbulls are beautiful, with a light to dark tan colored coat. Their sleek muscular appearance can make them appear intimidating, but they have a gentle, friendly nature that makes them an excellent pet.
Tan Pitbull Facts
Tan Pitbulls are playful. In fact, you’ll never find yourself bored if you own one. They develop very close relationships with their family, which makes them great canine companions.
What’s a Pitbull?
Technically, pitbulls aren’t a breed, but a type of dog. These dogs were bred from Old English Bulldogs and Terriers.
Pitbull type breeds include American Bulldogs, Staffordshire Terriers, American Bullys, and American Pitbull Terriers.
However, most people are referring to the American Pitbull Terrier when they say Pitbull, so that’s the breed we will look at today.
Pitbull History
Pitbulls have an unfortunate and bloody history. It starts in England, where English bulldogs were used for bull baiting. They would fight with a bull, attempting to bring it to the ground through injury or fatigue.
This practice was outlawed in 1835. Instead of giving up their bloodsports, participants simply changed the game. They began digging pits, and placing rats inside. The bulldogs would kill the rats. At times, dogs were also fought in these pits.
The English Bulldog was perfect for bull baiting, but it was too large and bulky for pit fighting. So, they were bred with English Terriers.
The resulting dogs were muscular, strong, agile, and gamey. They were perfect for pit fights, so the Pitbull was born.
They eventually found their way to America, where they were used for dog fighting. Despite laws against it, this still occurs underground today.
However, the Pitbull soon found a better life. Most were able to leave their bloody history behind. They became farm dogs and loved companions.
Tan Pitbull Appearance
The tan Pitbull often has a reddish brown appearance. However, the color can range from a light tan color to a darker brown.
It’s common for tan Pitbulls to have white patches, known as points. Solid tan Pits are less common. Both colors meet the UKC breed standard. The brown color is the result of Phaeomelanin.
They can have a rounded or square shaped head. They have muscular necks and broad chests. They have a muscular but sleek body that gives them a graceful appearance.
Tan Pitbull Price
The price of a tan Pitbull typically ranges from $1,000 to $3,000, if they are registered dogs from a reputable breeder. Puppies without registration can be found for $200-$800.
The color also affects the price. Tan and white Pitbulls are pretty common, so they won’t be that expensive. Solid tan Pitbulls are less common, so they can be a little more expensive.
Their bloodline will also affect the price. Pitbulls from well known bloodlines are more expensive. These begin at $2,500 to $5,000 in price. They can cost from $10,000-$30,000, if they are from a highly prized bloodline.
Tan Pitbull Rarity
Tan Pitbulls are not the rarest color, but they are fairly rare. Tan Pitbulls with no other color are rarer than those with white areas.
Tan Pitbull Life expectancy
You can expect a tan Pitbull to live for 10-16 years, with the average being 12-14 years. Occasionally, they can live for 20 years or longer. The oldest Pitull on record is Max, who lived for 26 years.
A Pitbull’s lifespan is partially determined by genetics. However, their lifestyle also affects their lifespan. A healthy diet, exercise, and routine veterinary care can help your Pitbull live as long as possible.
Tan Pitbull Size and weight
Tan Pitbulls are medium sized dogs. Females are a bit smaller than males. You can expect a female Pitbull to reach 17-20 inches tall, and weigh 30 to 50 pounds. Males grow to 18-21 inches tall, and weigh 35 to 60 pounds.
Tan Pitbull Health
Tan Pitbulls are considered to be a healthy breed. However, they are prone to some health problems that you should be aware of. Some of these can be prevented with genetic testing.
This applies to conditions that are inherited. If testing reveals a dog has a condition that can be passed on to its offspring, it is not bred. This reduces the amount of puppies that are born with the condition.
Allergies and Skin Issues
Pitbulls are prone to allergies, particularly skin allergies. These are typically caused by environmental factors, like grass or dust, or food ingredients, including dairy and wheat.
Symptoms of skin allergies include itching, which causes frequent scratching or licking. It can also lead to rash, skin lesions, or hair loss.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a common issue for medium and large sized dogs, including Pitbulls. It typically occurs when the hip joint doesn’t form correctly.
It’s an inherited condition, but lifestyle affects risk as well. Proper exercise and a healthy diet can reduce the risk or severity of the condition.
Hip Dysplasia causes pain and mobility difficulties. If it’s mild, it can lead to pain with movement. More severe cases can make it difficult for the Pitbull to jump or walk.
Eye Conditions
Pitbulls are prone to a few eye conditions. One of these is Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA. This condition causes blindness, usually at 2 or 3 years old. Essentially, the eyes are genetically programmed to stop working.
Cataracts are another condition that can occur in Pitbulls. Cataracts occur when a film forms over the eye, which impairs vision. This is typically an issue in older Pitbulls, just as it is in humans.
Degenerative myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy is one of the most concerning diseases that are common in Pitbulls. The condition isn’t very well known, but it’s unfortunately common. It’s estimated that 10% to 18% of Pitbulls are affected.
The disease is progressive, which means that it gets worse over time. Symptoms begin at 8 or 9 years old. It affects the spine, which will eventually cause the legs to become paralyzed.
At first, you may only see a slight change in their gait. As the disease continues, they have more difficulty walking, and eventually become paralyzed. The condition progresses slowly. Often, it takes years for a Pitbull to become paralyzed due to the condition.
Once paralyzation occurs, the dog must use a wheelchair to move around.
Tan Pitbull Behavior/Characteristics
Tan Pitbulls are friendly and playful. They will often perform antics to get your attention. Despite their aggressive reputation, they are actually very gentle dogs.
They are fearless, which actually contributes to their docile nature. Many dogs will become aggressive out of fear, but this isn’t an issue for a Pitbull.
They are often known as nanny dogs, because they are great with children. They have endless patience for them. They won’t snap if they have their tail pulled or a child lays on them. They are also protective, particularly of children.
The American Temperament Test is one way to understand a Pitbulls temperament. 86% of Pitbulls pass the test, compared to 85% of German Shepherds.
This shows that they are not more aggressive than most breeds. Some breeds perform significantly worse. In fact, Chihuahuas only pass the test 70% of the time, making them much more likely to be aggressive than the Pitbull.
How to care for a Tan Pitbull
Pitbulls are relatively low maintenance, but they do require care, like any dog. Before you choose a Pitbull as your new canine companion, you’ll need to know how to take care of them.
Time and Attention
Pitbulls get very attached to their families. They do not do well if they are left alone for long periods. They require lots of attention and love from their owners. Without it, they can develop anxiety or even depression.
Interaction is one of the biggest needs Pitbulls have. Before you choose them as a pet, be sure that you have the time to give them lots of love.
Exercise
Pitbulls are very athletic dogs, so they need plenty of exercise. You should plan on giving them at least 1 hour of exercise each day. You can split the exercise up into two sessions, if needed.
Walking, jogging, and games like fetch or tug of war are great ways to keep your Pitbull active.
In addition to physical exercise, they need mental stimulation. They are intelligent dogs, so they will get bored if they don’t have enough mental exercise.
You can give them mental exercise by playing games, puzzle toys, and teaching them new tricks or commands.
Without enough mental and physical activity, Pitbulls become bored. This leads to behavioral issues. They may become destructive or develop anxiety.
Unfortunately, this often leads to them being surrendered to shelters.
Training and Socialization
Pitbulls live to please their owners. This makes training them easy. However, training is absolutely essential. They are easily excited, so you’ll need them to obey commands.
Socialization is also important. Pitbulls who were aggressive towards humans were undesirable, and often eliminated. However, they were bred to be aggressive towards other animals, including other dogs.
This means you should start socializing them early, and continue socialization throughout their lives. When properly socialized, they are not aggressive towards other animals.
You’ll also need to socialize them with people. They arent’ typically aggressive towards humans, but they are very protective of their family. In fact, they will fight to the death to keep their family safe.
This is an admirable trait, but you’ll need to teach them the difference between friend and foe.
Diet
Pitbulls are muscular and energetic, so they need a quality diet. It’s best to feed them a high quality food that is 30% protein or higher. Look for a food that has a protein source as the first few ingredients.
Puppies should be fed a puppy food 3 times a day. Once they reach 1 year old, you can transition them to an adult food, twice a day.
You’ll need to watch their portions, however. Pitbulls love to eat, so they can overeat if served too much food. You can find feeding guidelines on the dog food package.
How do you buy a Tan Pitbull?
If you want to buy a tan Pitbull, you should be sure that you are getting them from a reputable breeder. This takes a little patience and research.
Adopting a Tan Pitbull
One way to get a Tan Pitbul is to adopt. This provides a home to a Pitbul who wouldn’t have one otherwise, and helps control the pet population.
Adoption fees are less expensive than purchasing a Pitbull from a breeder, and range from $100 to $5000. You should be aware that finding a tan Pitbull is possible, but puppies are hard to find.
You can check your local shelter, and rescue agencies in your area devoted to Pitbulls. You can also consult Pitbull Rescue Central. They are a nationwide Pitbull rescue.
Pitbull Breeder Registries
The easiest way to find a reputable Pitbull breeder is to go through a breeder registry. Breeder registries have high standards that prevent unethical breeders from using them.
The AKC doesn’t recognize the Pitbull. However, you can find registries at the American Dog Breeders Association(ADBA), and the UKC (United Kennel Club).
Determining if a Breeder is Ethical
If you can’t find a breeder through a breeder registry, you can perform an internet search. However, you’ll need to use caution to be sure the breeder is ethical.
Breeders who register their puppies are typically ethical. They must meet standards that prevent most unethical breeders from registering their dogs.
Another way to decide if you’ve found an unethical breeder is to ask them questions. How do they determine which dogs to breed? How do they ensure their dogs and puppies are healthy?
Ethical breeders focus on the health and temperament of their dogs first. Unethical breeders simply focus on profits, with little concern for the health of their animals.
You should also expect a responsible breeder to ask you questions. They care about their dogs, and want them to go to good homes. Expect them to ask about the living conditions the dog will have, and what your intentions for them are.