How to Make Pit Bulls Muscular

Pit bulls are a naturally strong breed equipped with broad heads and wide, muscular chests. According to the United Kennel Club's standards, pit bulls are powerful and solidly built dogs with a well-defined musculature. However, they should not appear bulky or muscle-bound, nor fine-boned and rangy. The ideal pit bull must appear strong, but yet still have the grace and agility to perform the work they were bred for. If you want to make your pit bull look muscular, you must provide the right balance of optimum physical exercise and nutrients.

Things You'll Need

  • High-quality kibble
  • Collar
  • Leash
  • Running shoes
  • Weight-pull harness
  • Treadmill
Show More

Instructions

    • 1
      Nutrition plays a vital role in building strength, endurance and muscles.

      Feed you pit bull a high-quality commercial dog food. This will ensure your pit bull gets all the nutrients necessary for staying in top shape and develops proper muscle mass. Stay away from cheap kibble, which is mostly inflated with excessive carbohydrates and unhealthy additives. Look for foods with meat as the primary ingredient.

    • 2

      Start at the right time. A mistake many pit bull owners make is to think they should start exercising their puppies from a young age. Subjecting pit bull puppies to extensive exercise regimens or long walks makes them prone to injuries and potential future degenerative joint diseases. Pups are still developing their muscles and joints, therefore wait until your pit bull is at least 12 to 18 months old.

    • 3
      Put the collar on and get ready for a cardio workout.

      Put the collar on your pit bull and wear your best running shoes. While walking your dog is good exercise, a pit bull really does best with a 20-minute jog, which offers a great cardio workout. If your pit bull is not in top shape, make sure you go gradually in order to get him accustomed to your exercise program.

    • 4

      Invest in a quality weight-pull harness once your pit bull is 18 to 24 months old. Start by allowing him to drag 3 to 5 lbs. for short distances.Gradually, add 1 or 2 lbs. of extra weight as your dog builds endurance. Avoid adding any extra weight after this to prevent injuries, but rather work on gradually increasing distance. Pulling weight helps condition your pit bull while building muscles and increasing stamina.

    • 5

      Use a treadmill if you live in an apartment or lack access to a yard. A treadmill is a great solution for those bad weather days or when lack of time is a factor. Five to 10 minutes on a treadmill are a better workout than a half hour walk on the leash.