Pitbulls are gentle, loyal and courageous dogs known for their agility and athletic qualities.
They are a mix breed of the bull and terrier breed of dogs and can be used for hunting, drug detection, therapy and a lot of other things because they are solidly built with robust bodies.
They are capable of doing different things competently and are very reliable. Fierce in nature, they serve as very good companions to families.
SEE MORE: 5 Different Pitbull Breeds You Should Know
If you have pitbulls under your care as a pet, I’m sure one of the questions that may have popped up in your mind is “When will my Pitbull stop growing?”
If you need answers to your questions, read on to get information about pitbull growth.
When you hear the word “Pitbull”, it has to do with a mix of the bulldog and terrier breed including the American Pit Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. All Pitbull breed grow at different sizes.
Before adopting a pitbull, it is very important to know how big or fast your pitbull can grow so that you won’t have to take it back to it’s shelter when it starts getting very big as it grows into maturity.
We have four main pitbull dog sub breed which are, The American Pit Bull Terrier, The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, The American Staffordshire Terrier, and The American Bully. All these breeds grow at different rates and The American Pit Bull Terrier is the most common of these breeds.
It takes about a year for pitbulls to reach their full size but larger pitbulls may take up to 18 months to build up their chest.
At this age, it is assumed that they have attained their full height although its weight can vary based on its lifestyle and other factors.
Factors That Affect The Growth of Pitbulls
There are many factors that contributes to the growth of your dog. Listed below are some of those factors.
1. Gender
Gender is one of the factors that can affect the growth of your dog. It is important for you to know when a male pitbull and a female pitbull stop growing.
One thing you should know is that the male pitbulls will always outgrow the female.
For a fully grown male American Pit Bull Terrier, its average height is about 18 to 21 inches while 17 to 20 inches is for the female. The male weigh about 35 to 60 pounds and the female weighs 30 to 50 pounds.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier when measured from the paws to the shoulder has a height of 14 to 16 inches. They are of a small size. The male weigh 27 to 38 pounds while the female 23 to 34 pounds.
SEE MORE: Things You Should Know About Baby Pitbulls
The male American Staffordshire Terrier has an average height of 17 to 30 inches with weight of 40 to 70 pounds while the female is about 16 to 18 inches tall and has a weight of about 35 to 60 pounds.
The male American Bully pitbull which is actually the smallest breed has a height of 13 to 23 inches with a weight of 25 to 60 pounds while its female is 12 to 22 inches with a weight of 20 to 50 pounds.
2. Diet
It is important you know what food your dog eats and how much quantity of food it takes in. Feed your dog properly so that they won’t look smaller than their actual height and size. Don’t leave your dog without food and water for a long time as this can also affect its growth rate.
3. Exercise
Actively train your dog regularly as this help to build its body structures, make them agile and also keep it in good conditions. An active dog has a lower chance of getting sick than an inactive one.
4. Genes
The genetic qualities of your dog can affect its growth level especially if its parents are a cross breed of different sub breeds.
For instance, if the parent of your pitbull are both large breeds, then there is every possibility that your pitbull will be large when it attains maturity.
5. Sub breed of Pitbulls
We have 4 different sub breeds and each of them grows at different rates. The sub breed of your pitbull can affect its growth rate since some breeds grow faster than others with a difference in their heights and weights.
Conclusion:
You will also know that a pitbull is still growing if its paws are oversized compared to its legs and body.
Pitbull puppies most times stop growing when they are about 18 months old but you can tell how much bigger it can get by looking at the size of its paws.
Provide your pitbull with a healthy lifestyle and ensure to avoid whatever will affect its health and growth level.