This Pitbull’s Long, Silky Hair is Extremely Rare, and People Are Obsessed
Let’s be honest. Whenever we think of a Pitbull’s overall appearance, almost all of us picture their short, low-maintenance coat that perfectly accentuates their muscular physique. We’re so used to this signature short coat in Pitbulls that the thought of a Pittie looking otherwise almost feels like a wild fantasy. But you’ll be stunned to learn that not all Pitbulls are short-haired. There are rare instances where some Pitties are born with long, silky hair that looks nothing like the typical Pitbull appearance we all know. (Watch the video below)
Theodore is among these rare Pittie beauties.
Theodore’s entire body is draped in silky hair that flows in soft waves from the top of his head down to his legs. What makes Theodore’s looks unbelievably fascinating is that, though he has the distinct facial features of a Pitbull, his flowing coat may leave you questioning his breed. Recently, Theodore’s owner took to TikTok to enlighten people about the real reason for her pup’s rare looks. His backstory will blow your mind.
@joannaleighmeadow Hope this answered some questions!
♬ original sound – Around Sounds Music
A Genetic Surprise
In the video, Theodore’s owner @joannaleighmeadow revealed that his long, silky coat is a result of a hair gene mutation, which he inherited from both his parents. Amazingly, Theodore’s mom and dad are short-haired Pitbulls; there’s nothing unusual about their outward appearance. But they are both carriers of a recessive genetic mutation (known as the long-hair allele, I/I) in the FGF5 gene.
According to experts from Animal Genetics, the FGF5 gene in dogs is responsible for controlling canine hair length and the overall hair growth cycle. When there’s a recessive mutation of the FGF5 gene, that means the dog is a carrier of the long-hair allele (I/I). Usually, dogs that are carriers of the long-hair allele will pass it down to their offspring.
Experts further note that for a common short-haired breed to be born with long hair, they must have inherited two copies of the recessive long-hair allele, each from one parent. This is what happened in Theodore’s case. He inherited one copy of the long-hair allele from his mom and the other from his dad.
Interestingly, four of Theodore’s nine siblings have this silky, flowing coat. But you may be wondering, why not all of them?
Well, experts say that if two short-haired dogs who are both carriers of the long-hair allele mate, their litter will have a mix of both short-haired and long-haired puppies. Not all the puppies in the litter are guaranteed to inherit two copies of the long-hair allele. Therefore, without two copies of this mutation, some of the puppies won’t be born with unusually long hair.
Internet Obsessed With Theodore’s Looks
We’re not shocked that anyone who stumbles on Theodore’s TikTok videos for the first time presses pause for several seconds just to admire him. I mean, there’s just something about his flowing coat that gives him this unforgettable ethereal presence. Theodore is paws-down undeniably gorgeous, and everyone agrees in the comments section.
“Never in my life did I think I would see a Pitbull with long hair. He’s a beauty and a half!” reads one comment
“OMG, I love him! He looks like a little lion,” another added
“He looks like he’s wearing a fluffy costume. He’s adorable,” a third person commented
