When looking to get a new puppy, we often wonder how long they will live and what is the best way to ensure they live with us for a longer time.
If you decide to get Pitbull and want to know how long they live, I have you covered. In this article, we will learn about the life of a Pitbull, the average lifespan, the stages of life, and the best way to increase life expectancy.
How Long Do Pitbulls Live?
On average, Pitbulls live from 8 to 16 years. The life expectancy depends on the specific Pitbull breed, genes, diet, and health.
But before we go any further, you must understand that Pitbull is a term used for four different breeds. Each is different in many ways but often referred to as one due to their physical and genetic similarities. The breeds of Pitbulls include:
- American Pitbull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- American Bully
The most common and prominent breed is the America Pitbull Terrier, and I will mainly talk about this breed.
The longest-living Pitbull in history was Max from Louisiana, who lived a long and healthy life of 26 years. So this proves Pitbulls can live longer if taken care of properly. Pitbulls are the perfect choice if you are looking for a companion to keep for a long time.
The Average Lifespan of Pitbulls
The average lifespan of Pitbulls differs from breed to breed and size to size. Bigger Pitbulls live shorter lives than their smaller cousins. The average lifespan of a Pitbull Terrier is 15 years, but the Staffordshire Terrier lives a little bit longer. Here is a list of all Pitbull breeds and their lifespans:
| Breed Name | Lifespan | |
| Minimum | Maximum | |
| American Pit Bull Terrier | 8 years | 15 years |
| American Staffordshire Terrier | 12 years | 16 years |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 12 years | 14 years |
| American Bully | 8 years | 15 years |
By taking an average of the total lifespan, the average life expectancy of the Pitbull breed is 15 years which is suitable for a dog of this size.
Factors That Impact Pitbull Lifespan
a Pitbull doesn’t need to its life to the fullest; it can sometimes die earlier or live longer than expected. The lifespan of a Pitbull is affected by a variety of factors which are given below:
1. Neutering and Spaying
Neutering and spaying are related to the health of your Pitbull and play an essential part in its total lifespan. Spayed or neutered dogs are less likely to develop health problems like prostate cancer, pyometra, and bowel movement issues.
If you are not looking to breed your Pitbull any further, it is highly advisable to have them neutered or spayed once they reach the right age. By doing so, you will significantly extend the lifespan of your Pit Bull.
2. Exercise For a Better Body
Exercise plays a significant role in your dog’s life expectancy because it is directly linked to the health of your Pitbull. According to vets and professional trainers, you should always keep your Pitbull active and give them lots of exercises.
The best way to keep your Pitbull active and give him exercise is to take him on walks, jogs, and hikes with you. You can take your dog to the dog park and play fetch, frisbee, or tug of war.
If you are sometimes out and need to keep your doing active, you can get him to mind puzzles and other indoor activities, including chew toys.
However, ensure you only overwork your Pitbull and provide enough water and resting time as these dogs can quickly overheat.
3. Diet Quality
For any living creature, a diet is necessary, and that too nutritious. Pitbulls are muscular and energetic dogs, and to keep up with their daily requirements, you must feed your dog a protein-rich diet, essential fats, and some carbs.
Ask your vet for correct food suggestions and dog food brands. Your vet may also prescribe some supplements, such as calcium or iron supplements.
You must give them a proper diet and feed them regularly according to their age and requirements. A healthy diet means a healthy Pitbull and a healthy Pitbull lives a long life.
4. Living Conditions
Dogs that live outside are more prone to accidents, diseases, dog fights, and other fatal incidents. Such dogs live shorter lives as they are exposed to disorders and disasters.
On the other hand, indoor dogs are less likely to face road accidents as they tend not to chase after stray animals or cars. Indoors live longer than dogs that stay outside most of their lives.
The thing that differs between them is the activity level; if an indoor dog is less active, it is doubtful that it to survive for long.
5. Health Issues
When buying a Pitbull, researching the breeder and finding its genetic history is crucial if you want it to live a healthy and long life. DNA screening ensures the puppies are genetically sound and free from hereditary health issues.
Some health issues a Pitbull could have been
Hip Dysplasia
Hip and elbow dysplasia is a skeletal malformation that usually plagues larger breed dogs. When the hips and elbow joints develop, a mutation occurs in their DNA, making joints not fit correctly.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a common condition in Pitbulls, where the thyroid is not as active as it should be. If untreated, a Pitbull with this condition will gain weight and have a lot of trouble losing weight.
Heart Disease
Heart disease in any breed, or even humans, can shorten the lifespan.
Eye Conditions
Pitbulls are vulnerable to many eye issues leading down the same path toward blindness.
Allergies
Allergies can drastically weaken a Pitbull, leaving him vulnerable to other diseases and shortening his lifespan.
Why Do Some Pitbulls Live Longer Than Others?
The most common reason why some Pitbulls live longer than others is their size. But there are other factors as well that affect the life expectancy of a Pitbull.
Here are the reasons why some Pitbull live longer than others:
Genetic Configuration
If the genetic build-up of a Pitbull is not sound, they will be the most prone to catching disorders with severe consequences. Pitbulls from a well-established and proven bloodline are likelier to live a healthy life than those with mixed genetics and untested parents.
Often backyard breeders have no idea what they are doing and breed Pitbulls that develop genetic disorders that shorten the puppy’s life. So do your due diligence and get a puppy with the best genes.
Breeding Background
The breeding background means the methods used to breed the puppy’s parents. Often breeders try to make a quick buck and breed unhealthy females with a dog that is not the best. Such methods will produce sick puppies that live a painful and shorter life than others.
On the other hand, dogs produced through ethical breeding methods and whose parents are healthy and well-kept are usually healthy and stronger. Such dogs also live longer than most.
Shape and Size
Pitbulls are medium-sized dogs that live a moderate life. But some breeds are bigger than others, such as the Razor’s Edge Pitbulls are large XXL Pitbulls.
You might be aware that larger dogs tend to live shorter lives than smaller ones because of the huge mass they have to carry. Pitbulls are muscular dogs whose muscles make up most of the weight.
So bigger dogs such as XXLs are more prone to hip dysplasia and other joint problems that lead to a shorter life.
Nutritional Need
Pitbull owners can influence the lifespan of their dogs by giving highly nutritional diets to their Pitbulls. Some owners lag behind others, whereas some outdo others. A healthy diet can significantly affect the life of a Pitbull.
One thing determining how long your Pitbull lives is your capability to prevent them from becoming overweight. Compared to other Pitbulls, heavy Pitbulls are more likely to develop health issues like joint problems, bone problems, obesity, and heart disease.
If their weight grows as they age, the dog will soon find themselves at death bed at a younger age.
Environmental Factors
The longevity of Pitbull is also influenced by the type of environmental conditions they live in. For instance, XXL Pitbulls have a low heat tolerance, so a person with an XXL must take extra precautions to keep the Pitbull cold.
Another example is cold; all American Pitbull Terriers, Pitbulls, and Staffordshire Terriers have short coats. These coats provide poor insulation in the cold, so you need to ensure they stay warm in winter, and if you live where it snows, you can buy a Pitbull sweater that keeps them warm and cozy.
Tips for Increasing the Lifespan of Pitbulls
While it is impossible to change the genetic conditions of the Pitbull, there are some things you can do to give your Pitbull a chance at a long life. Here are a few tips for helping your Pitbull live longer.
Keep Your Pitbull’s Weight in Check
Sometimes we become careless, love our dogs too much, and feed them more than necessary. Just like with humans, obesity in your Pitbull can cause:
- High blood pressure
- Kidney disease
- Some types of cancer
- Arthritis
- Reduced quality of life
- Shorter lifespan
If you want to tell if your Pitbull is overweight, look at your dog when he’s standing up.
You must see your Pitbull’s waistline when looking at him from the side and above. He should also have ribs that you can feel but not see.
If your Pitbull checks all the boxes, he has a healthy weight; anything less or more is unhealthy.
The key to keeping your Pitbull under a healthy weight is to feed them a healthy diet and exercise. If you are giving your Pitbull treats during exercise, activities, or training, make sure you give him less amount of meals. And remember not to overdo it with the treats.
You can also substitute high-calorie treats with healthy and tasty fruits that will not affect the waistline of your Pitbull.
If, unfortunately, your Pitbull has become overweight, talk to your vet to help devise a plan for your dog to lose weight safely. Sometimes, feeding your dog less food is insufficient; you may need a reduced-calorie diet.
Buy from a Reputable Breeder
Pitbulls are hereditary and prone to several health issues, including hip dysplasia, thyroid problems, heart disease, and allergies.
Reputable breeders work hard to reduce most of the genetic conditions passed through bloodlines, and they do specific tests to ensure the dog is healthy before breeding them.
On the other hand, backyard breeders, pet stores, and puppy mills are more interested in making money than producing healthy puppies.
Dogs from unknown or disreputable breeders like these are more likely to suffer from genetic problems, and they are also more likely to suffer from deadly infections.
Here are several techniques to check the reputation of the breeder you’re considering:
- They ought to examine the parent’s dogs’ health.
- It would be best if you were allowed to see the puppies on site
- They should respond to your inquiries and pose a few of their own.
- You ought to be permitted to speak with at least the mother dog.
- If you cannot keep the puppy for whatever reason, they should offer to take it back.
- They may provide health guarantees
Get Regular Vet Consultation
Take your Pitbull to the vet regularly for vaccinations, supplementation, and deworming and to detect any health issues at an early stage. The earlier a problem is discovered, the easier it is to treat.
Take your Pitbull to the vet once a year when young puppies and then twice a year when they are seniors. Doing so will help ensure catching any conditions before it can shorten the life of your Pitbull.
Give Them Plenty of Exercise and Training
Pitbulls are very active dogs thanks to their extra stamina due to being initially bred for hunting. Pitbulls will likely become bored and develop destructive behavior without enough exercise.
A bored Pitbull will try to keep itself entertained by chewing up and swallowing things it should not, leading to indigestion and or choking that can be deadly and may require expensive emergency surgery.
Pitbulls are less likely to attack any humans or other dogs, but they can deliver heavy damage cause of their strong muscular jaws.
The best way to prevent your Pitbull from aggressive behavior is to socialize and train them from a young age. You must be firm yet loving towards your dog and give them plenty of time and exercise.
In addition, give them plenty of reinforcement and no punishment when training and playing with them.
Feed High-Quality Food
Generally, those who eat junk food live a shorter life than those who eat healthily. The same goes for dogs, as cheap food is almost junk food.
Most cheap foods contain filler ingredients without nutrition, like corn or animal products(beaks and hooves). Look for food that has natural meats as the first three ingredients, no by-products, and no corn.
There are plenty of Pitbull foods you can choose from.
Dental Hygiene
Many people don’t know that Pitbull’s teeth need brushing and cleaning. The dental health of dogs can impact the overall health of the dog.
If you don’t brush the teeth of your Pitbull, bacteria can multiply and grow out of control inside the gums, then enter the bloodstream and affect the dog’s stomach and other organs.
In addition, plaque and bacteria build-up leads to cavities and tooth decay that causes extreme pain that hinders your Pitbull from eating properly. Buy a special toothbrush for your Pitbull that suits him perfectly to avoid dental issues.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Pitbulls Normally Live?
Pitbulls normally live from 8 to 16 years, but that time can be increased if you provide your Pitbull with a happy, tension-free, healthy, and active life.
What Is the Longest-Lived Pit Bull?
The longest-loving Pitbull was Max, from Louisiana, that lived happily for 26 years. The example of Max also proves that you can extend the life of a Pitbull if you care for them properly.
Is 13 Old for A Pit Bull?
Depending on the size and the type of Pitbull, 13 years could be an old age for a Pitbull. Most Pitbulls live from 8 to 16 years, so 13 is old. It would be best if you took extra care of senior dogs as they need help with different activities they cannot do now.
At What Age Do Pit Bulls Slow Down?
After 8 to 9 years of age, you will notice a decrease in speed and daily activities as your bodies age. Your Pitbull is a senior dog at this age, and you shouldn’t exert it beyond its limits.
How Long Do Pit Bulls Stay in The Puppy Stage?
Before 18 months, your Pitbull will stay in its puppy stage. The puppy stage is divided into three sub-stages: newborn, infant, and toddler. After 18 months, your Pitbull becomes a young adult, or you can call him a teenager.
Conclusion
Pitbulls are loving, loyal dogs who deserve the best life possible. As dog parents, you must provide exceptional care, exercise, health, diet, and medical assistance to the Pitbull.
If you genuinely love your Pitbull, then no matter how long you live together, you will no doubt make your time memorable. I hope your friend stays with you forever.
