Healthy Weight Gain for a Pitbull

Pit bulls are strong and powerful dogs, full of energy, long-living and genetically vigorous. A pit bull is at an ideal weight when he has an hour glass figured when viewed from above or from the side. Pit bulls should be muscular but lean. The average newborn pit bull weighs approximately four pounds at birth, but if the litter is large it can weigh less.

  1. Active Breed

    • Because this breed of dog is so active, the dog must be fed a healthy diet that includes quality dog food. The ordinary pit bull eats approximately 20 pounds of food every month. If your pit bull is extremely active he will probably eat more than that. The best diet to give your pit bull combines plant-based nutrients with meat.

    Size

    • A grown pit bull weighs anywhere from 22 to 110 pounds and is 18 to 22 inches in height. The average size is between 35 and 55 pounds. A pit bull can be very large or small. Most pit bulls, although the tendency is to think otherwise, are not vicious (muscle bound) brutes that weigh 85 pounds. When your puppy is between four and six months old, reduce his feedings from four times a day to three. At six months, reduce this to twice a day. If you think your puppy is gaining weight too quickly, don't feed him as much.

    Type of Pit Bull

    • His ultimate and ideal weight is based on what particular breed of a pit bull he is. Some pit bulls are intended to be much larger than others. The American Staffordshire terrier should weigh between 40 and 50 pounds at maturity. The Staffordshire bull terrier should weigh between 24 and 38 pounds at full growth.

    What To Look For

    • If your pit bull is a healthy weight you will be able to see his waist when you look at it from above; he won't have a sagging stomach (his abdomen is tucked) and you can easily feel his ribs. If he is overweight, he will have a sagging stomach, you won't be able to feel his ribs and he won't have a waist. His back will be flat and broad. This is true for all dogs. Pit bulls need a lot of protein in order to build muscle. However, a pit bull should not undergo training until it is at least 1.5 years old because doing so earlier will interfere with the maturation and growth of bones, muscles and joints.

    Amounts

    • When a dog of any breed becomes overweight this is going to make him susceptible to heart problems and joint injuries. If your dog appears to be getting too heavy, give him a low fat, high fiber, medium protein diet. Feed your pit bull 1.5 to 2.5 cups of quality dry dog food every day; you can divide this into two meals. Resist giving him table scraps. Keep in mind that the better the dog food, the better it is at fulfilling your dog's nutritional needs and the less you'll have to give him. If your dog is a bit lazy, don't give him as much food. If there is food left over in the dog's dish after he is finished eating, remove the bowl and the food.