How Much Exercise Does a Pitbull Need?

How much exercise does a pitbull need? If you're asking this, you're in the right place! Pitbulls with their energy and strength, need the right amount of exercise to stay happy and healthy. But, how much is right? It depends on whether your pitbull is a bouncy puppy, a full-grown adult, or a slower-moving senior. Each stage of their life needs a different amount of activity.

In this guide, we'll break it down for you, from young pups to older dogs, and give you some fun exercise tips to keep your pitbull fit and happy. Let's  find out how to keep your pitbull in top shape!

How Much Daily Exercise Does a Pitbull Puppy Need?

The answer to this question lies greatly on the age of the puppy. In general, very young pitbull puppies (<2 months old) do not need much exercise. Keeping them active during the day is enough to benefit from physical activity. As they reach 2 months of age, exercise can be initiated. You can incorporate 5 - 7 minutes of exercise a day for each month of age. Below is a simple guide you can follow.

Although this recommended guide is applicable to most pitbull puppies, scant scientific studies are available to support this. If your puppy has certain hereditary or health conditions, it is best to work with your veterinarian to come up with an exercise plan. It is also helpful that you do some research about your puppy’s pedigree.

Adequate exercise promotes proper physical and mental development in puppies. Conditions such as obesity are common in puppies with sedentary lifestyles. However, keep in mind that exercising your puppy too much may lead to problems. For instance, the most dangerous consequence is exercise induced collapse (EIC). Orthopedic problems such as torn ligaments, hip dysplasia and juvenile osteoarthritis may also result from excessive exercise. Make sure to not overexert your puppy and have him exercise during the coolest hours of the day to prevent these problems.

How Much Exercise Does an Adult Pitbull Need?

For a healthy adult pitbull, the recommended exercise duration is 1-2 hours a day. This can be divided two to three times a day. Various factors may be considered in determining the specific exercise needs of an adult pitbull. For instance, high energy pitbulls may need more intense exercise like strength work and running. This may take up to 90 minutes of the recommended exercise duration. On the other hand, other pitbulls may only need 30 minutes of intense exercise to be physically satisfied. Adult pitbulls with underlying health conditions, such as hip dysplasia, should be examined by a a veterinarian before beginning an exercise program.

How Much Exercise Does a Senior Pitbull Need?

In general, senior pitbulls can do well with a light exercise routine of between 30 to 45 minutes per day. This duration can be divided into multiple manageable sessions. Long sessions and intense exercise are not recommended for senior pitbulls. Those senior dogs with underlying health conditions may need an even shorter duration than the recommended one.

Tips on Pitbull Exercise

Include walking and jogging in your dog’s daily exercise routine.

Never underestimate a good walk or stroll in the park. These are great ways to warm-up your dog’s entire body before doing intense exercise. Moreover, warm-ups like these are important in reducing the risk of injury during exercise. Let your dog explore its surroundings through smell so they will enjoy going on walks more.

Engage your dog in muscle-building activities.

Pitbulls are highly energy driven and need intensity exercises to strengthen their muscles. Such muscle-building activities include fetch, frisbee toss, flyball, tug, and weight-pulling. Try these exercises to find out which one your pitbull loves.

Provide post-workout supplements.

Dogs need a refractory and recovery period after exercising. Bully Max Recovery Support Chews for Post Workout are perfect following a tough workout or a day full of exercise. These chews contain five vital electrolytes to help your dog rehydrate safely and effectively.

Indoor Dog Exercises

Tug

You will need a durable canine friendly rope to do tug with your dog. This game is great for building muscle in their jaws when clamping down and their upper body when pulling back. Many pitbulls love this exercise.

Fetch

It is ideal to find the longest hallway in your home to do this. Throw a ball or your dog’s favorite toy for him to fetch. Give treats as a reward for returning and dropping the ball. You can repeatedly do this until he gets tired.

Hide and Seek

This game is physically and mentally stimulating which requires one or more people. The goal is to hide in different rooms or areas and call your pitbull. Once he finds you, reward him with treats and lots of affection.

Spring Pole

A spring pole is a great tool used to help build muscle in dogs. Because pitbulls were historically used in bull baiting, they have a natural instinct to jerk on things. This is one great exercise to do indoors.

Stair Ball Toss

If you have stairs in your home, this is also one excellent game indoors. Stand either at the top or bottom of the stairs and toss a ball for your dog to fetch. This will easily tire him out and a great cardio and muscle workout.

Conclusion

Whether you have a playful puppy, an energetic adult, or a gentle senior pitbull, the amount of exercise they need changes. We've talked about how to adjust their activities as they grow and shared some awesome exercise tips for every age. Remember, the key is to keep your pitbull moving. Learn more to know how to train your pitbull. 

Now, we'd love to hear from you! How do you keep your pitbull active and engaged? Leave a comment below and share your experiences with fellow pitbull lovers.