When you bring home your Pitbull puppy, you may have some questions about their growing process and just how big your pup will be. Though you may have a rough idea of how large your Pitbull will be as an adult, it’s helpful to understand their growth period and just how quickly your Pit will reach its full size.
In this article, we’ll discuss the Pitbull’s growth process, just how big a Pitbull will get and at what age Pitbulls stop growing.
Your puppy’s growing process will take place in the bones. Similar to the process of growth in children, the magic takes place in the growth plates.
The growth plates are located at each end of the long bones and contain cartilaginous regions in which new tissue can be created. During the process of the developing puppy, this tissue is flexible and pliable and will continue to extend during the puppy’s first year to 2 years of life. Once time has passed and the bone has reached its final size, this tissue hardens and becomes an adult calcified bone.
This action of bone growth in young dogs is why it’s so important to prevent puppies from activities that can possibly injure their growth plates. Jumping from high places, vigorous activity, and any other activity that puts a strain on their bones and joints can damage the growth plates and hinder the development of your Pitbull.
The Pitbull is generally considered a medium-sized dog, but breeding processes have resulted in a large range in size. With many different types of Pitbulls with titles like Pocket Pitbulls, Bully Pits, and standard Pitbulls it can be challenging to know exactly what you’re getting when you bring a Pit home.
We’ll cover the Pitbull size averages and ways you can better understand how large your Pitbull will be.
Female Pitbull size
An adult female Pitbull will generally weigh anywhere from 30-50lbs and can reach up to 20 inches in height.
Male Pitbull size
An adult male pitbull will generally weigh anywhere from 35-60 pounds and can reach up to 21 inches in height.
The most accurate way to know how large your Pitbull will become is by taking a look at their parents. No matter the averages that are listed for each breed, there is no better way to predict their future than by considering their genetics.
If you are unaware of your Pitbull puppy’s history, there is one other way to estimate their ultimate size. Though this is not certain, some experts state that by doubling their weight at four months of age, you can have a close guess of their final adult weight.
Since the standard Pitbull is a medium-large sized dog, they have a lot more growing to do in such a short time period. Because of this, you will see changes in their weight and height as each week passes.
In general, the growing process in a Pitbull slows down significantly at the 1 year age mark and stops completely between 2-3 years of age. Since the majority of their growing is during the first year of their life, you will see the majority of their physical changes during this age period.
Since the dog’s physical development takes place over a significantly smaller time period than it does in humans, any major health condition, hormonal change, or injury during this time period can have a great impact on their overall growth. Some factors that can also affect the growth in Pitbulls include:
A quality puppy food is important for your growing pup, as they need the extra nutritional support during this period of growth.
During their first year of life, they are developing at a fast rate that requires extra vitamins, calories, and minerals to support their body during this process. If your Pitbull puppy does not receive the nutrition they need, this can put a huge strain on the growing process and make them more susceptible to injury.
While each breed will have an average on how large they can become, it all comes down to their genetics. With a breed like the Pitbull that has been genetically modified in so many ways, it makes it even more challenging to accurately estimate their adult size without knowledge of the parent’s size.
Since the growth plate plays such a significant role in physical development, any injury to the plate can result in stunted growth of the bone or complications that can later arise in the bone. Since the growth plate contains fragile material during this time period, it’s best to avoid vigorous activity that could injure your Pitbull puppy.
Spay and Neuter has been a topic of debate in the world of animal health. While some believe that spay/neuter at a young age (between 4 months-8 months) can result in a smaller dog, it’s actually not true.
Recent studies show that desexing a dog at a younger age will actually extend the growing period within the growth plates, meaning that your Pitbull pup can grow to be taller than the average unaltered Pitbull.
Desexing at a young age can result in a taller dog, but some people do still believe that holding off on desexing will result in increased body mass, meaning the dog will be more stout and bulky.
This topic is still being researched extensively, but in those who prefer to have a more “bulky” Pitbull, they generally wait until the 1-year mark to neuter and spay.
In order to keep your Pitbull on the right track while they grow, there are a few tips to guide them in the direction for a healthy future. Some ways to ensure a healthy growing period include:
Always make sure to offer your growing Pitbull a food made specifically for puppies in order to make sure they are getting every vitamin and mineral they require for healthy growth. Failing to feed them a puppy diet can result in complications as they grow, and leaves them more susceptible to injury.
Since the growth plates are so important, it’s essential to protect your Pitbull puppy from injury as often as you can. Try your best to prevent her from jumping off furniture, make sure she is not involved in vigorous physical training during this period, and make sure to provide adequate each day.
Any major medical complication during a Pitbull’s puppyhood can result in possible difficulties as they age. By vaccinating your Pitbull puppy you can help protect your pup against infectious disease, and help them have a healthy and happy “childhood.”
Though the size of a Pitbull can range depending on breed, you can generally expect your Pitbull to be anywhere from 30-60 pounds. No matter how big or small your new Pit puppy can become, you can count on the fact that you’re welcoming a lovable and loyal furry friend into your family!
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A big-dog lover, successful marketing executive, and website developer, Brian founded Canine Weekly in 2016. Brian lives just outside of Seattle with his wife and child. Brian grew up with labs and the family is eager to get another Labrador once their newborn is a little older. Brian is the former owner of Canine Weekly.