How Much Exercise Does A Pitbull Need?

[The Complete Guide]

We can’t help but thank nature for giving us the gift of dogs. Those cute, cuddly, warm, super-duper awesome little things are a delight to have around. But like every other living thing, they also have needs. If you want your furry friends to enjoy life under your watch, then you’ve got to offer a couple of things. Some of them are nice-to-haves while others are must-haves. Exercise falls in the latter category.

Dogs are different, and their exercise needs and preferences can also vary. If you own a pit bull or plan to own one, then you should know how much exercise these dogs generally need. Read on to find out a typical pitbull’s exercise requirements, among other things.

The Adult Pitbull

This stage is the longest in your pitbull’s life cycle. By 3 years old, your pitbull will formally be a grown-up. Like when we become grown-ups, his character, likes, and aversions are truly set at this point.

A large portion of their youthful exuberance and restlessness ought to have disappeared. Older Pitbulls require regular exercise. But in the event that you take a day off, to a great extent, they likely will not get off the handles and act wild and unruly like they used to. If you have been diligent and thorough with your training, exercise, and socialization, the reward of your hard work will be clear. However, this doesn’t mean you should stop now. He needs as much exercise as he can get.

Pitbulls are brilliant and intelligent dogs. Adult pitbulls still need regular exercise and incitement for their bustling personalities and analytical minds. Because of this, they would need both physical and mental activity. They should continue to consider advanced training or a demanding new sport, so they can keep up with exercise and fitness.

The Senior Citizen Pitbull

A senior citizen pitbull is about 12 to 14 years. When they are 8 or 9, they turn into a senior. You’ll notice that they start moving all the more cautiously, and they may rest more. As the years roll by, you’ll need to give close consideration to their expanding impediments and abbreviate strolls and different exercises appropriately.

This doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be involved in any physical activity. Inactivity is bad for your pitbull, and this will definitely shorten their lifespan. You just have to be cautious with your exercises. When you throw a ball or frisbee, do not let it go too far. Your old pitbull would also require a lot of attention, care, and a reviewed diet.

Agility Exercise

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 just 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, triples jumps, hoop jumps, and so on. This is a great way to combine mental and physical work. It is excellent for teaching pitbulls commands. 

Playing Fetch

Fetch drills have immense benefits for dogs. It is merely throwing a ball or automatic ball launchers for dogs and asking 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 and obedience, as well as impulse control. What is also great about playing fetch is that it works but indoors and outdoors. Be sure to note if your dog has any issues with his joint before you do this. Fetch is very stimulating for pitbulls because it increases their cardio and mental stimulation. Always play “fetch” in a spacious environment so that your pitbull would be able to jump high. This exercise adds the extra 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 is playing fly ball and playing with Frisbees. Fly ball is way more athletic. It involves jumping through hurdles while Frisbees is just like fetch. The only difference is that a pitbull will have to jump higher to retrieve a Frisbee. This makes it way more physical than fetch.

Fetching and Frisbee exercises are so good because they don’t stress you out so much. 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.

Playing 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 dog with a tug rope or large stuff toy. This exercise helps dogs burn energy. Be careful with this exercise, though; you don’t want to increase your pitbull’s aggression or encourage it to make a habit of biting into things.

A jolly ball is an excellent piece of equipment to use to play tug. It is a ball that is virtually indestructible, 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 at the end for your dog to tug.

Cycling

Some dog owners like to cycle 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 indeed be dangerous if their leash gets stuck in the wheel, so you have to be careful. Ride at a slow pace 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.

Stair Exercise

If you have stairs in your house, you can use them for some exercises. Have your dog stay at the bottom of the stairs, throw a ball down and ask your pit bull to go for it. Have them retrieve it as fast as they can.  

Provide a Digging Area or Pit

Many Terriers love to dig. It would be nice to provide an area or a digging box so you can give them time to dig satisfactorily. If your pitbull is a toddler, you can give him a paddling pool, fill it with sand, and hide his toys or bone inside for him to find. If the weather is hot, the sand gets hot, so pour some water on it.

Mental Games

Pitbulls are a member of the Terrier group, and this makes them incredibly intelligent. You can teach your dogs many tricks like how to touch a target with their nose or paw or how to switch off the lights, sit on command, pick up objects with their mouth and bring it to you, or how to identify their toys by name. Your pitbull can also use various puzzle toys to increase their mental agility and test their problem-solving skills. You can also play mental games with your dog using chew toys.

Swimming

Swimming can be a great workout exercise for your dog. This is relatively safe and does not hurt your dog’s joint. If your pitbull has issues with their joint or had hip surgery, they usually have to undergo hydrotherapy, including swimming. It is essential 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.