Long Haired Pitbull is a Pitbull with a long coat instead of the conventional short-coated Pitbulls. Many of us would be surprised to see the less frequent long coat variants in Dalmatians, Rottweilers, Akitas, German Shepherds, and Pointers. Occasionally we see puppies with long hair that mostly have short-coated dogs in their bloodlines. Many factors can affect the coat length of a canine. Most dogs’ coat length is determined by a single gene called FGF5.
For Pitbulls to have a long coat, a recessive variant of FGF5 coding for long hair is inherited from parents. However, if both carry this trait, two short-haired dogs can produce long-coated puppies. In addition, Crossbreeding, diet and nutrition, and grooming can affect a dog’s coat to grow long. So be ready to embrace your fluffy Pitbulls and get engaged round the clock!
Table of Contents
Long Haired Pitbull Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Great Watch Dogs
Hyperactive breeds
Easy to train
Prone to become aggressive if not trained properly
Breed Recognition: International Designer Breed Registry (IDBR)
Pitbull Vs. Long Haired Pitbull – A Comparison
Features
American Pitbull Terrier
Long Haired Pitbull
Image
Origin
The United States, United Kingdom
The United States, United Kingdom
Height
17 to 19 inches
17 to 19 inches
Weight
30 to 85 pounds
30 to 85 pounds
Size
Large
Large
Group
Terrier
Terrier
Children Compatibility
High
High
Family Compatibility
High
High
Pets Compatibility
Low
Low
Barking Level
Medium
Medium
Shedding Level
Medium to High
Medium to High
Hypoallergenic
No
No
Grooming Needs
Low
Low
Overall Health
Medium to High
Medium to High
Energy
Medium to High
Medium to High
Exercise Needs
Medium to High
Medium to High
Trainability
Medium to High
Medium to High
Activities
Agility, conformation, obedience, tracking
Agility, conformation, obedience, tracking
Complication in breeding
No
No
Litter Size
5 to 10 puppies
5 to 10 puppies
Other names
Pits, Pitbull, Pitbull Terrier
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Long Haired Pitbull Personality
A long-haired Pitbull is a medium-sized dog with a long, glossy coat and sturdy muscles. Their features, temperament, exercise and training needs, grooming, and diet are the same as Pit Bulls but for coats. Pitbull’s eyes are round and almond-shaped, ears are small to medium length and half floppy, and tails are short, thick, and pointed. Their noses are medium-sized, but their nostrils are prominent.
The coat ranges from solid black, red, and white to brindle, tri-colored, pie-bald, blue, fawn, cinnamon, and buckskin. Long-haired Pitbulls have squarely built bodies with solid and agile forequarters and hindquarters. This gives long-haired Pitbulls an overall appearance of a bull, just as the name suggests.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level
Medium to high
Family-friendly
High
Kid-friendly
High
Pet-friendly
Low
Stranger-friendly
High
Adaptability Overview
Good for apartment living
Medium
Good to new owners
Low to medium
Sensitivity level
Medium to high
Tolerates being alone
Low
Cold-tolerance
Low to medium
Heat-tolerance
Medium
Long Haired Pitbull Temperament
Long-haired Pitbulls are enthusiastic, energetic, loyal, and happy dogs. They carry themselves confidently and are always ready to please their pet owners. They are good at agility and aggressive towards animals. Hence, tall, sturdy fencing is required to stop them from jumping off the fence. Since they are friendly with strangers, they are unsuitable as guard dogs. Long-haired Pitbulls are brilliant, hardworking dogs who can perform well in dog agility and sports. They are intolerant of being lonely.
Long-haired Pitbull requires appropriate obedience training. They should be trained to be calm and mannered when given commands. They should be handled with gentleness, as they get easily hurt when punished or scolded. They bark to alert. The long-haired Pitbulls tend to be mouthy, so train them not to chew, nip, or bite unnecessarily.
Long-haired Pitbulls would require a regular walk as a part of their exercise needs. The more they exercise, the better the dog will be. A lazy Pitbull can be a destructive dog. While taking the Pitbulls to walk, take them on a leash.
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy level
Medium to high
Exercise needs
Medium to high
Intensity
High
Playfulness
High
Long Haired Pitbull Grooming
Pet owners must brush the coat of long-haired Pitbulls at least twice a week. Since their fur is long, they would be tangled or knotted. Pet parents should bathe them regularly. In addition, you must trim his nails, clean his ears and maintain proper dental care. It is better to subject your dog to weekly examinations to avoid severe illnesses. Some shampoos can also help nourish the coat and influence the dog’s hair growth. The below-mentioned shampoos are the best ones you must try to grow your Pitbull’s long coat.
Generally, long-haired Pitbulls are healthy dogs; however, like other breeds, they may also be susceptible to illness and health conditions based on gene play. Some of the health conditions are listed below:
Health Overview
Overall health
Low to medium
Weight gain tendencies
High
Size
Medium
Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is a painful, life-threatening condition caused when the bones of the rear legs don’t fit properly in the joints. Hip dysplasia is primarily hereditary, but injuries, and excessive weight gain, wrong exercises can cause hip dysplasia. Some dogs might exhibit symptoms, while some might not. Treatment ranges from medication to replacement of the hip through surgeries. To prevent this condition, avoid breeding long haired Pitbull with hip dysplasia parentage. Regular checkups are suggested.
Elbow Dysplasia is an inherent structural defect in the elbow joints because of cartilage damage, inflammation, or disrupted anconeal, causing arthritis and leading to pain or organ malfunction.
Patellar Luxation: Knee Dysplasia, also known as Patellar Luxation, is a condition that affects American Pitbull Terriers. The kneecap dislocation can be excruciatingly painful, causing the dog to avoid leaning on the injured leg.
Heart Diseases: Heart Diseases can cause abnormal heart murmurs and heart rhythm. The best way to diagnose is through an X-ray, an ECG, or an echocardiogram. Treatment includes medication and weight control.
Parvovirus: Pitbulls are more susceptible to parvovirus than other dog breeds. So they should be vaccinated when they are thirty-nine days old. This vaccination should be scheduled every two weeks till they turn four months old, then again when they are eight months old, and finally vaccinated annually.
Demodex mites cause Demodicosis in the hair follicles. Demodicosis is passed on to the pups from their mother, and the dogs with compromised or weak immune systems are prone to the disease. The symptoms include scaly red patches, hair loss on the head, neck, and forelegs, or extreme skin conditions all over the body.
Thyroid Dysfunction: A condition where the thyroid hormone levels are abnormal, which leads to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
Skin Allergies: Long-hairedPitbulls with dilute coat color may face skin allergies. This may lead to hair fall, rashes, and sores.
Long Haired Pitbull Diet and Nutrition
It is recommended to feed your pet high-quality dry dog food, with an appropriate quantity divided into two meals, or as mentioned by your vet. Your long-haired Pitbull’s diet matters when it comes to getting a healthy long coat; Ensure a healthy lifestyle for your pet.
You can give your long-haired Pitbulls a diet rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. It also enhances the coat’s texture by giving it a shiny and lustrous look. Some natural and rich sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids are Walnuts and fish (Salmon especially).
Long-haired Pitbulls are suitable for both climatic conditions. They need securely fenced yards to play or romp around. They are mouthy and intolerant to separation; hence, they would need someone to take care of them and spend time with them. Long-haired Pitbulls are suitable for families with small kids and share their affection. They would only need moderate exercise to keep them stimulated.
Adding a Long Haired Pitbull to Your Family
Things to Remember Before Adding a Long Haired Pitbull
Pet owners must spend time with these dogs since they love their families.
Long-haired Pitbulls are not suitable for households with pets.
Separation anxiety can result in nipping and chewing the furniture since they can not tolerate loneliness.
It is best to take your Long haired Pitbulls on a leash while you go for a walk.
