Is the White Pitbull Worth Adoption?

Both partially and fully deaf, the white pitbull has the potential to experience lives that are satisfying and characterised by happiness.

It is advisable to conduct a comprehensive study on the appropriate methods for providing compassionate care and ensuring the safety and well-being of a deaf puppy.

However, we urge you not to hastily dismiss the prospect of adoption just due to the necessity to acquire new communication and interaction skills.

 

How Do I Describe the White Pitbull?

Presently, individuals commonly employ the designation “pit bull” as a comprehensive label to denote certain (albeit not all) canine breeds distinguished by truncated fur, a wide, brachiocephalic cranium and countenance, formidable mandibles, and a robust, compact physique.

The canine breeds officially acknowledged by the American Kennel Club (AKC) or United Kennel Club (UKC), commonly referred to as “pit bulls” in colloquial terms, encompass the American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bully, and occasionally the American bulldog.

In this manual, the discussion will be limited to the American pit bull terrier and the American Staffordshire terrier when referring to pit bulls with white coats.

 

Read also: How Do I Take Care of My Pitbull Poodle Mix?

 

How Do I Describe the History of the White Pitbull?

In the year 1835, the government of England implemented a legislative measure aimed at prohibiting the activity commonly known as bull and bear-baiting.

This kind of entertainment involved the forced participation of particular types of dogs, such as bulldogs, in confrontations with bears or bulls that were physically confined by chains.

After the official ban, some breeders chose to invest in maintaining a covert version of this cruel practice.

They shifted their focus towards breeding a specific type of dog that would exhibit exceptional skills in dogfighting, rather than participating in fights involving bulls or bears.

A selective breeding programme was undertaken to enhance the athleticism, agility, and slender physique of the bulldog lineage traditionally employed for the purpose of baiting restrained animals.

This endeavour involved the deliberate hybridization of the venerable English bulldog with several other bulldog-like breeds, alongside the incorporation of several English terrier breeds.

The Staffordshire bull terrier emerged around the year 1860. This novel breed migrated to the United States alongside English immigrants following the culmination of the American Civil War in 1865.

The American Staffordshire terrier was recognised as a distinct breed by the American Kennel Club (AKC) after years of selective breeding in the United States focused on increasing the canine species’ height and weight.

 

When Did the White Pitbull Become Popular?

Throughout the early and mid-20th century, the popularity of the pit bull began to rise as people other than abhorrent dog fighters became enchanted with the grace, athleticism, and loveable personality of this beautiful breed.

Farmers and city folk alike took note of the pit bull’s fondness for people, and especially their gentleness with children.

As general society’s disdain for the cruel act of dog fighting grew, pit bulls integrated more and more into homes as family pets.

Today, while some pit bulls are tragically still victims of forced fighting in the US and around the world, many more are cherished household companions and loving friends to their human caretakers and animal pals they share their homes with.

 

Read also: Why Has the Blue Merle Pitbull Become So Rare?

 

Is the White Pitbull a Rare Breed?

Presently, the American Kennel Club (AKC), the organisation responsible for acknowledging the American Staffordshire terrier breed, allows registered individuals of this breed to possess white coats.

However, the AKC discourages the presence of entirely white coats or coats that exceed 80% white in colouration.

The American Pit Bull Terrier, acknowledged by the United Kennel Club (UKC), is officially recognised with a wide range of coat colours, with the exception of the blue coat colouring variation.

The prevalence of purebred American Staffordshire terriers with predominantly white coats, including 80% or more of their fur, is relatively low, which can be attributed to the AKC’s dissuasion of such colouration.

The rationale behind several clubs discouraging the choice of white coats in pit bulls stems from the heightened susceptibility of these canines to congenital deafness.

The correlation between white coat colour and deafness appears to be more prominent in certain breeds compared to others.

Research findings suggest that certain dog breeds, including bull terriers, Dalmatians, boxers, and Australian shepherds, exhibit an increased susceptibility to congenital deafness in either one or both ears when their fur is predominantly white or all white.

The heightened susceptibility to deafness observed in the American pit bull terrier and the American Staffordshire terrier can be attributed to the presence of the piebald gene, which is responsible for the manifestation of white coat colouration.

The prevalence of congenital deafness in white bull terriers is estimated to be 20%.

The aforementioned percentage experiences a notable decline, reaching approximately 1%, in the case of bull terriers exhibiting colourful coats or patches of colour.

 

Is it Advisable to Adopt the White Pitbull?

If one were contemplating the adoption of a white pit bull observed at a nearby shelter, concerns regarding their auditory capabilities may arise.

One initial step involves doing a preliminary auditory assessment for canines through the process of evaluating their responses to auditory stimuli.

The presented stimuli should not induce fear or aversion but rather aim to capture their attention.

In a shelter environment characterised by high levels of noise, it is advisable to make a formal request to relocate the puppy to a more tranquil area.

This change in setting will provide a more accurate assessment of the puppy’s response, or lack thereof, to auditory stimuli.

If there is a suspicion of partial or complete hearing impairment in this puppy, it is possible to make a formal request to the veterinary clinic at the shelter for a comprehensive examination.

The process of determining auditory perception in early puppies is more challenging due to their limited ability to hear and comprehend their environment until approximately three weeks after birth.

At approximately six weeks of age, it is expected that a veterinarian would possess the capability to deliver a precise assessment regarding the auditory abilities of the puppy in each ear.

When contemplating the adoption of a white pit bull puppy, it is imperative to adhere to a minimum age requirement of 8 weeks.

At that juncture, a veterinarian should possess the capability to ascertain auditory function, including the presence of hearing, partial hearing impairment, or complete hearing loss.

 

How Do I Communicate With My Deaf White Pitbull?

In the event that one chooses to adopt a deaf pit bull with a white coat, it is possible to employ several visual communication methods, including hand signals, eye contact, and the utilisation of visual cues such as the activation and deactivation of lights.

Implementing a system of incentivizing education, which encompasses the utilisation of non-coercive positive reinforcement techniques, can contribute to fostering a sense of security and enthusiasm in your canine companion, thereby encouraging active participation in interactions with you.

As an illustration, one may employ a thumbs-up gesture to signify affirmation or approval, afterwards reinforcing this signal with a reward or plaything during the process of imparting skills or commands.

In general, dogs sometimes have a greater ease in comprehending hand signals as compared to spoken cues.

In order to ensure the safety of deaf puppies, certain carers opt to utilise a dual leash system, consisting of a non-restrictive harness and a comfy collar, during their excursions.

The presence of a fenced-in yard might assume even more significance in safeguarding the well-being of canines with hearing impairments.

 

Read also: How Do I Describe the All-Black Pitbull?

 

Conclusion

Typically, pit bulls exhibiting white coats do not possess the characteristic of albinism.

Dogs exhibiting albinism manifest a notable insufficiency or complete absence of the pigment melanin, resulting in the manifestation of pink eyes, pale pink skin, and a pink nose.

Although white-coated pit bulls who are not albino may have areas of skin without melanin, they typically exhibit pigmented skin as well. Thanks for reading!

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