As a pit bull owner, you must ensure your best friend gets adequate exercise to preserve their long-term health and cheerfulness. Pit bulls are enthusiastic and energetic pets that need a lot of physical activity daily to develop, but it’s not always easy to figure out the amount of exercise they require.
Pit bulls have different exercise needs depending on age, health, and personality. This guide will dive into the factors determining how much physical activity they need and the consequences if you make them do it too much or little. We also give you helpful advice and tips you can utilize to ensure your pit bull stays active and never bored with outdoor activities. Lastly, we include specific exercises customized for your breed and how to develop a solid fitness routine that doesn’t leave your dog exhausted. Whether you consider yourself an expert with pit bulls or you just adopted your first one, this guide has something for everyone so your pet gets the healthiest life possible.
How Often Should You Exercise Your Pit Bull?
Pit bulls are sturdy and active canines that need physical and mental stimulation daily to feel happy. You must give your dog a little of both as a loving owner.
But you can’t consider it enough to leave your dog in your backyard to care for itself because it needs more than that. Pit bulls are attached to their owners and need shared activities to keep them engaged and practicing socialization skills. Because of this, you must be present during the exercise session to be the leader and ensure your dog does what it needs to do to stay fit.
Types of Activities
Various activities are available that you can attempt with your pit bull. You should always change it up and try a different one every week to avoid boredom. Some ideas include playing games, solving dog puzzles, and hiking to unique neighborhood locations. Depending on the exercise and the people around you, some activities can be done with or without a leash.
1. Walks
Every pit bull loves to be walked. This activity is excellent for physical exertion but keeps them alert with all the exciting things to explore during the walk. Encourage your dog’s curiosity by allowing it to sniff everything it desires outdoors because it helps them feel comfortable and relaxed in its surroundings.
Remember that certain dogs of this breed like to display leash reactivity, so if your pit bull is one of them, then you should make it wear a muzzle to keep the people around you safe.
We encourage you to take your dog on a walk 1 to 2 times daily or more if you aren’t busy. The only reason you should not do this is if your dog is in its golden years and doesn’t have the energy it used to have. However, no matter the age, your pit bull will be ecstatic to walk outside with you exercising and tightening your bond.
Not every owner agrees about what to use when walking their dog because some prefer a traditional collar, but others like using a harness. If you love a good leash, ensure it can extend 6 feet long when walking your pet in a suburban area. You can buy a longer leash if your home is in a more rural location, so your dog can go further on its own and enjoy its curiosity.
2. Yard Play
If your pit bull is not appropriately trained enough to walk in public because of its reactivity or if you are disabled, there is nothing wrong with getting exercise together in the yard.
There are several recall games you can try. Some of our favorites include ‘take treats,’ where your pit bull comes to you to get a treat, or you can try running away from your dog while yelling their name to make them follow you.
Some owners prefer more relaxed activities like scattering food around the yard until their dog finds every piece. It’s a great way to feed them a whole meal while exercising. The best way to play this game is by hiding the food from your dog’s bowl in the bushes, next to rocks and grassy surfaces. Your pet will get a good workout in locating every morsel of food.
We recommend the last game for pit bulls that are easily excitable or suffer from anxiety due to past traumas. Sniffing makes them feel blissful and at peace after the game is over.
3. Trick Training
Exercising indoors is acceptable if it’s snowing and you cannot leave your home. You can teach your pit bull most tricks indoors and will still feel exhausted if you pick the right ones.
We love trick training because it enhances your dog’s focusing abilities while helping you build an unbreakable, rewarding relationship with your best friend. Initially, your dog will need some time to figure out how to learn. A good rule of thumb is to expect them to be rusty when teaching the first five tricks, and it’s smooth sailing when you introduce other tricks in the future.
4. Swimming
Most pit bulls love a good swim and learn to do it quickly. Swimming is an exercise that is easy on the body, so if your dog has joint problems or any other limitations, this is the perfect activity. But never leave them swimming alone because watching them all the time is important to keep them safe in the water.
How to Develop an Exercise Schedule for Your Pit Bull
When designing your pit bull’s fitness routine, don’t forget to include exercises stimulating both its mind and body. Whether you own a puppy or a more senior dog, 70% of your session should go to brain-related activities and the other 30% to physical exercises.
Your daily sessions should run anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how much time you have. Always mix things up to keep activities spontaneous. For example, you can use Mondays to focus on trick training, Tuesdays for taking slow walks in the park, Wednesdays for yard training, etc.
For owners having pit bulls with dark fur, stay away from times when the sun is hottest because direct heat will be on their back, causing exhaustion. Examples of pit bulls with darker fur include dark Razor Edge Pits and Merle pit bulls.
Remember that pit bulls are very clever dogs, and they require high levels of stimulation and need to feel like they are learning all the time. If you don’t challenge them, it’s more likely that your pit bull will misbehave and be disobedient when you want them to listen to you.
Conclusion
Your priority should be to ensure your pit bull lives a happy and healthy life, which means exercise is the key to accomplishing this goal. All you need is a daily routine of 1 to 2 hours of exercise, but you must join in on the activities with your pet to keep it engaged. Some owners think leaving their dogs alone to run in the yard will be enough, but that’s not true.
Lastly, remember that variety is essential, so planning a diverse exercise regimen filled with walks, traditional training, and brain games will keep your dog interested and never bored. If you follow this guide, your pit bull will feel stronger, healthier, and have a sharper focus.
