American Pit Bull Terrier

Breed

Dog

Athletic, loyal breed with a strong drive. Recognized by ADBA and UKC. Often confused with the American Bully but a distinct breed with different conformation standards.

Trait profiles

Heritable traits and their typical frequency in this breed population.

Extension (MC1R)

Em (mask) common; ee (red/cream) common in various lines.

Common

Black (CBD103)

Brindle is extremely common in APBT. Dominant black also common.

Common

Spotting (MITF)

White markings are very common in APBT -- blaze, white chest, white feet. White-and-colored APBTs are accepted.

Common

Agouti (ASIP)

Fawn (Ay), tan points (at), and recessive black (a) all present in the breed population.

Common

Brown (TYRP1)

Chocolate (bb) produces the "red nose" phenotype with brown nose leather. Very common in APBT.

Common

Intensity (MFSD12)

Present

Dilute (MLPH)

"Blue nose" APBT (dd) exists and is popular. UKC accepts blue.

Present

Merle (PMEL)

Merle is NOT historical in APBT. UKC and ADBA consider merle in this breed to be evidence of crossbreeding. UKC DQ.

Introduced

Harlequin (PSMB7)

Harlequin locus does not occur in APBT.

Absent

Long Hair (FGF5)

APBT is a short-coated breed. Long hair locus not present.

Absent

Morph names & registry status

Breed-specific naming conventions and recognition status across major registries.

Tri

Common

UKC:Accepted

"Tri color pitbull" drives 3.6K monthly searches. UKC accepted.

Blue

Common

UKC:Accepted

"Blue nose" APBT (dd on black base). UKC accepted. Very popular type.

Red

Common

UKC:Accepted

Full phaeomelanin. Common in APBT. Distinct from "red nose" (which is bb).

Unknown

Common

UKC:Accepted

"Blue tri" APBT. UKC accepted. Popular pattern.

Chocolate

Common

UKC:Accepted

bb. The "red nose" APBT has a liver/brown nose due to bb genotype. UKC accepted. Historic OFRN (Old Family Red Nose) lines.

Fawn

Common

UKC:Accepted

Brindle

Common

UKC:Accepted

Brindle is extremely common in APBT. UKC accepted.

Unknown

Common

UKC:Accepted

Chocolate with tan points. UKC accepted.

Unknown

Common

UKC:Accepted

White with colored patches. Common in APBT -- significant white markings are typical for the breed.

Unknown

UKC:Disqualified

Merle component = UKC DQ.

Unknown

UKC:Disqualified

Merle component = UKC DQ.

Unknown

UKC:Accepted

bb dd. UKC accepts. Produced in some APBT lines.

Cream

UKC:Accepted

Black and Tan

UKC:Accepted

Unknown

UKC:Disqualified

Merle component = UKC DQ. Produced in non-UKC-registered lines.

Merle

UKC:Disqualified

UKC and ADBA DQ. Merle in APBT is widely considered evidence of crossbreeding. 12.1K monthly searches for "merle pitbull" despite DQ status.

Unknown

UKC:Accepted

bb dd + at/at. Less common in APBT than in bully breeds.

Unknown

UKC:Accepted

Unknown

UKC:Accepted

Unknown

UKC:Disqualified

Merle component = UKC DQ.

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