We should be thankful to nature for giving us the gift of dogs. Those cute, cuddly, warm, fantastic little creatures are a delight. But like every other living creature, they also have requirements.
You must deliver a few things if you want your dog to enjoy life under your watch. All dogs are different, and their exercise needs and preferences vary.
If you own a Pitbull or plan to get one, you should know how much exercise these dogs generally need. Continue reading to find out a typical Pitbull’s exercise requirements.
How Often Should You Exercise Your Pitbull??
Just like all dogs, Pitbulls have emotional, mental, and physical needs. And it is your duty to fulfill them. Besides, one general attribute, loyalty, of Pit Bulls is their love for physical fun.
Pitbulls are this way probably because of their ancestry from the terrier breed of dogs, who are often tireless. Your Pitbull needs as much physical exercise as you do.
Exercising is good for your doggy because it helps with blood circulation, which, in turn, keeps the dog healthy. It is also beneficial for your dog’s mental health as Pitbulls are very social, so they would love to go outside and make new friends.
They also learn to obey more commands on walks and exercise. The amount of exercise your Pit Bull should be getting depends on their age or stage of development. Your Pitbull’s life cycle comprises four important stages, puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.
Newborn Pitbulls
Newborn pit bulls are so liable and weak that it’s difficult to imagine them growing further into grown-up dogs. Your Pitbull puppy will participate in precisely four exercises during its first fourteen days of life, eating, sleeping, pooping, and peeing.
Between weeks two to four, the Pitbull will slowly open his eyes and start to hear. He will likewise fire, standing up and strolling around a piece. You may discover him looking, standing amazed at his newly discovered world, and beginning socialization.
Training can begin in about two months. By then, you must only keep teaching them no and come. Never at any point, scold your Pitbull. Training should be fun.
Keep the training short to 5 to 15 minutes a session, and combine exercise with playtime and hanging-out time. Give treats and positive reinforcements like praises to encourage your Pitbull.
Adolescent Pitbulls
Pitbulls take two to four years to develop into adulthood ultimately. Meanwhile, they’ll be in their adolescent stage from around four to six months until they fully grow up.
They’ll become bolder and more unrestricted each day, so keeping up the training and socialization is vital. Open them to new views, sounds, and sites by taking them out at any point, generally on a chain or leash.
Your Pitbull has a ton of energy at this phase, so engaging him in various exercises to use this pent-up energy will make sense.
Adult Pitbull
The adult stage is the most extended in your Pitbull’s life cycle. By 3 years old, your Pitbull will officially be an adult. Like when we become grown-ups, your dog’s character likes and dislikes are established.
A significant portion of their childish vibrancy and perturbation ought to have vanished. Older Pitbulls need regular exercise. But if you take a day off, they likely will not go off the handles and act wild and rowdy like they used to.
The reward for your hard work will be clear if you have been engaged and thorough with your training, exercise, and socialization. However, you should not stop because he needs as much exercise as possible.
Pitbulls are intelligent dogs. Adult Pitbulls need frequent exercise and stimulation for their bustling characters and analytical minds. Because of this, they need both physical and mental stimulation. They should continue considering advanced training or a demanding new sport to keep up with exercise and fitness.
Senior Pitbull
A senior citizen pitbull is about 12 to 14 years. When they are 8 or 9, they turn old. You’ll notice that they start moving all the more cautiously, and they may rest more. As the years pass, you’ll need to consider their expanding impediments and appropriately abbreviate strolls and different exercises.
This doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be involved in any physical activity. Inactivity is bad for your pitbull, and this will shorten its lifespan. You have to be cautious with your exercises. Do not let it go too far when you throw a ball or frisbee. Your old pitbull would require much attention, care, and a reviewed diet.
How Much Exercise Does a Pitbull Need?
As I’ve just shared, active dogs such as Pitbulls should have at least 1 hour of physical activity daily. Depending on their energy level, age, breed, and many other conditions, they might need up to 2 hours of daily exercise.
Apart from moderate walking and fun playtime, your energetic Pitbull will also need 30 to 90 minutes of vigorous exercise. Strength work, running, and intense games are great ways for him to work out efficiently.
However, the general guideline has a huge gap between the minimum and the maximum recommended. You should research further to determine how much exercise your dog needs!
What Happens if Pitbulls Don’t Get Enough Exercise?
If your Pitbull isn’t getting enough exercise, it can develop behavioral and physical issues. Most importantly, an inactive Pitbull will become lazy and overweight that is bored. A bored Pitbull tries to chew on everything to channel his energy in different ways.
If you try to discourage them directly from chewing, they will develop depression. For this reason, you need to exercise your Pitbull to tire them out and keep them from becoming bored and destructive.
A lazy Pitbull can also develop health issues such as obesity, heart issues, diabetes, etc.
What Kind of Exercise is Best for Pitbulls?
There are many various kinds of exercises to choose from for your Pitbull. Do not exercise your dog daily by walking the same path. Mix it up using games, puzzles, trick training, and trips to different places. You can exercise your Pitbull both on and off-leash.
Walking
All dogs love walks because they provide physical exercise, mental stimulation, and exposure. It would help to let your Pitbull sniff as much as it likes during these walks; sniffing is relaxing for dogs. In addition, it allows your Pitbull to explore the world with other senses.
Some dogs of the Pitbull breed tend to react to the leash. If this is the case with your Pitbull, use a muzzle(mouth covering) for your Pitbull to keep him and others safe.
You can walk several times a day; unless your puppy is sick or very old, you can only walk him a little. Every time you go out will make your Pitbull very happy and provide much-needed enrichment and exercise.
Some owners walk their Pitbull on a collar; others use a harness. A 6-foot leash works well for walks in residential areas. You can use a long line for more remote locations to let your dog wander and explore.
Hiking
Hiking is an excellent way to exercise your Pitbull while enjoying the beauty of nature. Pick a trail suitable for your Pitbull’s skill level, and bring plenty of water and snacks for both of you.
Swimming
Swimming can be a great workout exercise for your dog. This is relatively safe and does not hurt your dog’s joints. If your pitbull has joint issues or hip surgery, they usually have to undergo hydrotherapy, including swimming.
It is important to know that not all dogs can swim, so try a life jacket first. Always keep an eye on your dog. Some dogs distaste water, so you have to know which kind of dog you have.
Fetch
Fetch drills have immense benefits for dogs. It throws a ball or automatic ball launchers for dogs and asks the pitbull to “Go fetch.” Dogs love to do this! So rest assured that the dog will be more than excited.
You can use it to teach commands, obedience, and impulse control. What is also great about playing fetch is that it works indoors and outdoors. Before you do this, note if your dog has any issues with his joint.
Fetch is very stimulating for pit bulls because it increases their cardio and mental stimulation. Always play “fetch” in a spacious environment so your pitbull can jump high. This exercise adds the advantage of letting the dog do all the work. All you have to do is sit, launch the ball, and watch.
Closely related to playing fetch are playing fly ball and playing with Frisbees. The fly ball is way more athletic. It involves jumping through hurdles, while Frisbees is just like fetch.
The only difference is that a pitbull must jump higher to retrieve a Frisbee. This makes it way more physical than fetch. Fetch, and frisbee exercises are good because they don’t stress you out. Yet, they give your dog ample opportunity to engage in physical activity.
You can rub some meat on the stick or object to encourage your dog to pick it up and bring it back to you. Throw it and ask the dog to get it back to you. After a while, throw it further. This also helps the dog to exercise its sense of scent.
Agility training
This is usually a combination of various activities. This is necessary if your dog is developing some behavioral problems. Such issues could include refusing to respond to commands, being violent with other animals or people, or being destructive.
Agility exercises will ask your dogs to complete a prepared obstacle course with mental and physical challenges like jumps, tunnels, weave poles, tires, and balance beams.
They typically include single jumps, double jumps, triple jumps, hoop jumps, etc. This is a great way to combine mental and physical work. It is excellent for teaching pit bulls commands.
Tug
Playing tug is a game most dogs will enjoy. It satisfies their innate desire to work with other dogs to disassemble the prey. You can play tug with your Pitbull with a tug rope or a large stuffed toy.
This exercise helps dogs burn energy. Be careful with this exercise; you don’t want to increase your pitbull’s aggression or encourage it to bite into things.
A jolly ball is an excellent piece of equipment to use to play tug. It is a virtually indestructible ball, and dogs can push and chase it around. Your pitbull can also play fetch with a spring pole. It’s a rope you can attach to a tree or beam with a lure for your dog to tug.
Flirt Poles
A flirt pole is like a cat tickler. It has a long handle with a bungee-type rope with a lure attached at the end. You move the bait around the ground at different angles that your dog follows.
This is great for your pitbull as it is in tandem with their genetic nature to latch on to prey. Always have a command for them to leave it. You do not want them to destroy the toy.
Cycling
Some dog owners like to go cycling with their dogs. You can do this by making your dog stride by your side. This can be a fun bonding experience with you and your dog, but you’ve got to be careful.
This exercise can be dangerous if their leash gets stuck in the wheel, so you must be careful. Ride slowly, even if you feel your dog can go faster. It is way safer. Also, keep a two-foot distance between the dog and the bike when using the leash.
Mental Activities
Pitbulls are Terrier group members, which makes them incredibly intelligent.
You can teach your dogs many tricks like touching a target with their nose or paw or switching off the lights, sitting on command, picking up objects with their mouth and bringing it to you, or identifying their toys by name.
Your Pit Bull can also use various puzzle toys to increase mental agility and test problem-solving skills. You can also play mental games with your dog using chew toys.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should You Walk Your Pitbull?
You should walk your Pitbull daily for at least 30 to 60 minutes. It should be enough, so your Pitbull tires out and interacts with the outside world.
Do Pit Bulls Require a Lot of Exercise?
Pitbulls require a lot of exercises as they are energetic dogs, and to keep channeling all that extra energy into something, they need training. If Pitbulls are not exercised regularly, they can develop destructive behavior and become lazy.
You can exercise your Pitbull through walks, running, hikes, fetch, tugging, and other fun activities.
How Long Is a Good Walk for A Pitbull?
Walking for about 30 to 60 minutes daily, you can walk about 2 to 3 miles well. Such a walk is enough to stimulate the brain of your Pitbull and tire him out so he won’t cause any trouble to you.
Conclusion
Pitbulls need a significant amount of exercise to be happy and stay fit. Aim for 1-2 hours every day. Ensure that this time consists of exercises your dog partakes in with you. It is not enough to open the yard door and hope your dog will entertain himself.
The better you can plan a varied exercise schedule, the fitter, your dog will be. Mixing up walks, training, and brain games will also help him become more focused.
