Pitbulls are a high-energy and athletic breed. As Pitbull owners, it is our responsibility to ensure they are getting the care they need, and this includes the right amount of exercise.
One great and easiest exercise you can set for pitbulls is walking. But just how often should they be taken for a walk? Additionally, is there anything that you need to put into consideration first hand before deciding on your pitbull exercise plan? Well, let’s find it out together.
How Often Should I Walk My Pitbull?
Well, upon research, on average you should be taking your Pitbull for a walk at least once a day for 1-2 hours, or two times a day for 30-45 minutes.
However, there are many factors to consider when determining how often you should walk your Pitbull. The thing is, no two animals are the same. Hence the frequency of walk and duration can differ from one pitbull to another.
All in all, factors such as age, health condition, lifestyle, etc., do play some role in planning your Pitbull’s exercise program.
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Factors To Consider On How Often A Pitbull Should Walk
Age & Health
Typically, a healthy pitbull that ages from 5 months or older requires anywhere from 25 minutes to 2 hours of walking time a day. However, you can’t do the same for puppies under 4 months old.
Reason is they are not old enough to get their vaccination. Thus, bringing them out at that young age can increase their chances of getting sick. Therefore, instead of walking, you can substitute the exercise regime to indoor play.
As your Pitbull becomes a senior dog — which is around 8 to 9 years of age — they might only be able to handle a limited amount of walking or exercising due to low stamina and poor health.
Hence, it’s advisable to take your Pitbull on a trip to the vet for an overall health check up. Through the check up, your vet can give recommendations on the appropriate amount of walking time and exercise routine your Pitbull should have.
Lifestyle & Environment
The lifestyle and environment should also be considered when determining how often you should walk your Pitbull. If you have a residence with a large backyard, then you can be flexible with the walking routine.
Reason is your Pitbull already has enough space to play, move freely, and exercise on its own throughout the day. Thus, you won’t need to walk them frequently.
On the contrary, you will need to walk your pitbull often if you’re living in an apartment or flat. Apartments or flats in general have smaller areas for movement activity. With that being said, your Pitbull is unable to move around as much on their own in such confined spaces.
Hence, it is important to take them out for walks every day (walk your pitbull on a loose leash if possible) to ensure they get sufficient exercise.
Why It Is Important To Walk Your Pitbull
Physical Health
The most obvious reason to walk your Pitbull is to maintain and improve their overall physical health. Frequent walks can help to maintain your Pitbull body weight and keep your pitbull in shape. Consequently, it lessen down their chance of becoming obese — a prevalent health issue among pets.
Walking can also improve their digestive and urinary tract health as they can release themselves regularly. In addition, their joint health will also benefit from this activity since walking helps to keep their joints loose and mobile.
Mental Health
Bringing your pitbull out for walks can also improve their mental health. In other words, it makes them happier.
Reason is walking allows them to release built-up energy that may cause them to feel tense, stressed, or even depressed. So with a regular walk, your pitbull can unwind, relax, and stimulate their minds.
Emotional Health
Pitbulls are social animals. They love to play, make new friends, and like attention. By taking them for a walk, their emotional health will be taken care of since they are able to mingle and socialize with other dogs.
Plus, walking is a great activity for you to spend quality time with them and strengthen your bond.
What If I Do Not Have Time to Walk My Pitbull?
Most Pitbulls have the energy and stamina to walk and play all day. Of course, this is not realistic since most owners have other things going on in their daily lives.
Between work, school, errands, and other day-to-day activities, it can be difficult to find time to walk the dog. Still, it is your responsibility to make sure your Pitbull gets sufficient exercise. So, what can you do in a situation where you don’t have much free time on hand.
Firstly, you can start by trying to develop a walking schedule for your Pitbull. Review your daily schedule to see which day you have the most free time. Develop a walking plan for your Pitbull based on your schedule.
This may be during a lunch break, shortly after work, before your afternoon activities, or even at the very end of the day before bedtime.
If you can’t sort out free time for a particular day, then seek help from your family, friends, or even neighbors. They may be willing to walk them regularly if they have the time, either for free or with some small payment.
If none of the options work, then you might need to consider exploring local doggy day care centers or hire a personal dog sitter. These are available in almost all areas and are very convenient for those with super busy schedules.
Plus, putting your Pitbull in a doggy daycare, or hiring a dog sitter is a guarantee that your dog will have plenty of walking time and exercises.
However, before you proceed with the option, do some background check beforehand to ensure the person or place is the right fit. It’s crucial for them to be reliable, trustworthy, and have experience in handling Pitbulls.
Final Thoughts
Pitbulls require lots of physical activity to stay healthy. On average, they should go for a walk once a day for 1-2 hours or twice a day for 30-45 minutes, depending on their age, health, and lifestyle. Walking them daily can improve their overall physical, mental, and emotional health.
As a Pitbull owner, there is nothing we should want more than to make sure our pittie remains healthy and happy. Thus, although it may be difficult to find time to walk them, we must utilize any available resources in getting the walking time they need!