Red-Nosed American Pit Bull Terrier

Red-Nosed Pit Bull

Family: CanidaeCanis lupus familiarisPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Amber Bates

  The Red-Nosed Pit Bull is known for its gameness and pleasant disposition.

The Red-Nosed Pit Bull is a variation of the American Pit Bull Terrier. These dogs are athletic and non-aggressive toward humans, including children, when trained and handled properly.

The Red-Nosed American Pit Bull Terriers excel at obedience and make good guard dogs. When choosing a Pit Bull, it is important to check its bloodline. Cataracts, heart disease, and hip dysplasia are common hereditary problems.

Common Name(s) Red-Nosed American Pit Bull Terrier, Red-Nosed Pit Bull

Breed Type The Red-Nosed Pit Bull is a variation of the American Pit Bull Terrier. Originally bred for bull baiting and dog fighting, they have also functioned as working dogs on farms. The Red-Nosed Pit Bull prefers warm weather. Some localities have banned the breed.

Background The Red-Nosed Pit Bull is a result of close inbreeding of the "Old Family" strain of Pit Bulls in Ireland in the mid-1800s. These dogs made their way to the United States through immigration with their owners. Efforts have been made throughout the years to preserve the strain, but breeding with other strains has made Old Family Red-Nosed Pit Bulls less common.

Description The Old-Family Red-Nosed Pit Bull is usually red in color. Red-nosed dogs of other strains, or that are products of the breeding of various strains, may be any color. These dogs are stocky, and tend to be on the large side of normal for Pit Bulls. Average height is 18-22 inches for males and females, and average weight is 35-65 pounds, with females weighing slightly less than males.

Care and Feeding The Pit Bull diet should contain beef, poultry, brown rice, and corn. This breed needs lots of fiber and few carbohydrates. Essential fatty acids are good for the Red-Nosed Pit Bull's coat. Red-Nosed Pit Bulls shed moderately, so they require regular brushing. Baths should be given as needed. Red-Nosed Pit Bull owners sometimes have their ears clipped, but it is not customary to do so.
Annual checkups are recommended, with vaccinations as follows:

• 6-8 weeks: Distemper, Leptospirosis, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvo, and Corona virus (DHLPPC)
• 10-12 weeks: Second DHLPPC
• 14-16 weeks: Third DHLPPC and rabies
• Annually: DHLPPC and rabies booster

Pit Bulls shed moderately, so regular vacuuming is required if they are to be kept inside.

Housing Your Dog The Red-Nosed Pit Bull can be kept inside or out. They can live in apartments as long as they get plenty of exercise. These dogs prefer warm weather. They need durable toys, beds, and food and water containers.

Social Behaviors Old Family Red-Nosed Pit Bulls tend to have friendly temperaments due to the quality of their breeding. They may, however, be aggressive to unfamiliar animals. They are very protective of their owners and the owner's property, but are friendly when there is no threat present.

Handling and Training Red-Nosed Pit Bulls must be well socialized when they are young. They excel at obedience, tracking, and agility training.

Activities The Red-Nosed Pit Bull needs daily exercise and long walks. They love vigorous exercise, and they are great hiking partners.

Breeding/Reproduction The rarity of the Red-Nosed Pit Bull may make it difficult to find others of the strain for breeding purposes. A good breeder can help you find a suitable mate for your dog.

Common Health Problems The Red-Nosed Pit Bull is a healthy dog overall, but some have genetic and non-genetic health problems. These include heart disease, joint problems, cataracts, and allergies.

Availability Old Family Red-Nosed Pit Bulls are rare, and may be difficult to find. They often sell much higher than other Pit Bulls. The Old Family Red-Nosed is a Red-Nosed Pit Bull whose lineage goes back to the original ones from Ireland.

References "American Pit Bull Terrier", Dog Breed Info Center, Copyright 1998-2008
"American Pit Bull Terrier", Answers.com, Copyright 2007, Referenced online, 2008
Stratton, Richard, "About the Red, Red Nosed", Copyright 1975, and "The Color of Gameness", Copyright 2003. Referenced online, 2008
Harwelik, Mary, "Temperament", "History", The Real Pit Bull, Copyright 2000-2004
Cusick, William D., "What to Feed an American Pit Bull Terrier", Referenced online, 2008
Mann, Jason, "Pass the Fat! Or Why Essential Fatty Acids Are Vital to Pitbull Health", Copyright 2005, Referenced online, 2008
"Pet Library: Grooming Your Dog", Best Friends Pet Care, Referenced online, 2008
"Pit Bull Rescue", PitBullLovers.com, Copyright 2005, Referenced online, 2008

Lastest Animal Stories on Red-Nosed American Pit Bull Terrier View all 17 Animal Stories on Red-Nosed American Pit Bull Terrier Add Your Animal Story

ADRIENNE - 2012-10-03 I am confused. A reputable breeder I trust told me there is no such thing as a red-nose pit bull strain and that byb are selling them as 'rare' to just make money. She said many red-nose pitbulls are born and they are not rare, just have noses of a different color...and that they do not descend from the the old family reds. Charlie Roche - 2012-10-04 Going back about 100 years there was a red nose pitt bull and they were being actively bred.  Because of the rarity, it was hard to find mates to assure that the line continued and now many say the line (breed) is probably extinct.  However, there are still some around.  As to whether they are directly descended from the Red Nose Pitt Bull being actively bred 100 years ago - I don't know.  However, they do exist, they are around and it is difficult to find a mate for them to insure the coloring.  Can someone just by chance come up with the coloring and the pup not be from the original breed - that is possible.  These are images of red nosed pitt bulls but as to whether they are from the original line - I have no idea http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=red+nosed+pitt+bull&qpvt=red+nosed+pitt+bull&FORM=IGRE Charlie Roche - 2012-10-04 It isn't just the nose that was red in the orignal breed it is 'The lips, nose, face, eyes, legs and toe nails are all red in color that can give a very exquisite and captivating look.'  Hope this helps.  So there is what there was 100 years back and what there is. Reply

Chris Holloway - 2009-07-09 Pit Bulls are not dangerous animals. They are a reflection of their owner. If the owner is aggressive then the dog is mean. It's like the old saying, "The gun doesnt kill people, people kill people". Its not the dogs fault if it's trained to kill, it's the person that trained it. Chris H. SD Todd O\'Hara - 2010-09-18 i couldnt have put that statement any better myself! you truly r a dog lover, on ya! Todd O'Hara of Auckland New Zealand. Alexis - 2011-07-25 Well I totaly agree. I have a red-nose pit and his name is Tank. He loves to be around people and he is nice to everyone well except to people that treat him wrong and that never happened before, when we leave him at home when we go on trips is that normal? sara - 2011-09-07 I disagree. I had a Pit Bull. I got him at 6 weeks old. He was the sweetest thing ever. I had him for 4 yrs. He was always handled gently. I only gave him possitive reinforcment. He would roll over for a belly rub any time a child came around. One day totally unprovoked he bit a family friend. OK so he tore him apart and the man needed plastic surgury. The man was well known to the dog. The dog liked him. I had to put my sweet baby down. Anyone who says its not the dog its the owner....has just been lucky so far. Pit bulls are totally unpredictable! A.Good - 2011-09-16 What dogs are predictable? I was bitten by a chow. He belong to a dear friend. I had been around and interacted with the dog several times prior to the incident. Just that day, I went to answer the phone and he attacked. I believe it was the quick movement on my part. At the time I had a chow myself when the incident occurred. Are all chows bad? NO! You are stating that all pit bulls are bad because of your situation. The way it sounds to me, you did not have control over your dog. The same as my friend, she loves her dog, but her dog lack obedience and she lacked controlling him. You as a dog owner should know your dogs temperment, likes and dislike and their body language. The dog most likely gave some sign that something was not right, you and the person who was bit did not notice it. Plus you have to remember they are not human they are still dogs not people. You can love your dog, but you have to maintain control over your dog especially around people. It's best to make sure your dog is properly trained and socialized. Reply

Michelle Bielawski - 2012-12-04 Hey I need to know if there is such a thing as a long snout full blooded red nosed pitt Charlie Roche - 2012-12-05 What I believe you are referring to is back in the 1800's there used to be what is known as the Red nosed Pitt Bull - brought about specicifcally as a result of inbreeding.  Today what is called a red nose pitt bull is a coloring - not an actual breed.  Obviously, there should be some descendents of the original red nosed pitt bull but as to who is actually descended from that group of pups vs who just has the coloring - I don't know how you can know.  Some say they do exist and some say they do not. Reply

Tricia Carter - 2011-08-29 We adopted a dog through the Cell Dogs program at a prison and she is listed as a lab/terrier mix. She resembles the red nose pit pictures I have been looking at. Anyone willing to view her pictures via email and let me know? Tricia Carter - 2011-08-30 Ok thanks..I will try and find a breeder around here and see if they are willing to check her out for me. Yes the Humane Society that runs the Cell Dog program was afraid no one would adopt her, so they listed her as lab/terrier mix. She is 16 months olds, very intelligent..she is crate trained and also hand command trained...We love her to death!! Reply

GLORIA CAMERON - 2010-02-22 Hi, I just became an owner of a 2. 5 month old rednose. He is so cute. I have a one month old, a 2 year old and 4 year old gd. Children who live with me as well as a 93 year old mother. Will this dog be okay with them? Also, how do I potty train this dog? I do know somethings about training ie. Have hand signals to go with words like 'no', 'sit' and I know they need excercise so I have a yard to play with him in. angela - 2010-07-12 I have two red nosed. They were adults when our first child arrived and it was a source of anxiety for me also. We had a bitch and one of her first puppies. They were 10 and 6 years old...The mother, used to sleep under the cot and if she wasn't inside, she slept at the bottom of the window. Take him to obedience and train him to listen to commands as they can be excitable and they sometimes forget that they are not a maltese! Get your children involved in this training as the dog will then listen to all the family members, not just you. Potty training....persistence, take him outside often and tell him to go just like any other dog. We had our girl trained to walk to the door, sit and speak if she wanted to go outside. It is all repetition...and that takes time. Reply

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