Pitbull Life Cycles

What do you think? Pit bulls are seven times older in human years than they are in canine years. The answer is a resounding yes, but not quite. Calculating your dog's age in human years is a lot more difficult.

While young, dogs develop at an accelerated pace and then level out as they age. The pace of aging in various breeds varies. They also go through the stages of canine life at various times of the day and night.

The life cycle of a pit bull

The four key phases of your pit bull's existence are puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. When it comes to pit bulls, there are no fixed ages at which they transition from one phase to the next; rather, each phase is flexible. Even while your pit bull is still a puppy, several of these traits overlap.

You can influence some of the elements that determine how long your pit bull stays in each stage and how long she progresses from one stage to the next. The most we can do is guesstimate the ages of the pit bulls in each phase.

Breed and breeding are factors over which you have no control. The fact that she is a pit bull is unavoidable. Her ancestry is mostly determined by her parents. Diet, exercise, training, and socializing are all things you can influence.

Pit bull puppy only a few hours old

Newborn pit bull pups are so tiny and defenseless that it's difficult to image them growing up to be the robust, intimidating adults that we are familiar with today. During his first two weeks of life, your pit bull puppy will do nothing but eat, sleep, poop, and pee.

As a result, he is unable to see, hear or control his body temperature throughout the first two weeks of his life. He's already beginning to expand when he feeds and snoozes.

The newborn pit bull puppy is adorable.

The pit bull puppy's eyes and ears progressively expand up from weeks two to four. Eventually he'll be able to stand and move about. It's possible you'll find him staring in awe at his brand-new surroundings.

By the fourth week, he'll be starting to take notice of his surroundings. This is an ideal moment to introduce your child to new people. A puppy may be introduced to the whole household, including people and pets. Pit bulls need constant and early socialization.

The young pit bull puppy is a pit bull.

Keep a camera accessible because pit bull puppies will do things that are beyond adorable as they learn to navigate their surroundings. Her antics will bring a smile to your face as she slither and slide about on your tile flooring, fall headlong into her food dish, and display absolute disbelief at her own sneeze.

As she gets more comfortable in her surroundings, she will begin to search for trouble. Items that might harm her as well as things you treasure will need to be kept out of her reach during this stage of her development, just like human children.

Training a puppy to be a dog

As early as eight weeks, you may begin basic training. You'll want to concentrate your efforts on teaching no and come at that moment. For the first few months of his life, he will want to remain close to you and you will have an enormous edge over him.

Do not yell or hit your pit bull—or any dog, for that matter. Make your workouts entertaining. Play time and hanging out time may be used to reinforce fundamental instructions in addition to brief training sessions (5 to 15 minutes at most). As soon as your dog wakes up, give him a tasty treat and lavish him with praise.

Instead of hammering your pup with orders all day, spend a few minutes here and there outside of scheduled training sessions working on the fundamentals. Make sure he has all he needs to succeed. Before putting his food dish down, pick up a toy and urge him to come or say "sit." At this point in his life cycle, he'll be able to move at two speeds: full speed and sound slumber.

The young pit bull

It is generally accepted that a dog is considered an adult when it has reached the age of 18. There is, nevertheless, a great deal of variation among different breeds. It takes pit bulls two to three years to evolve into full-fledged adults. Between now and the time she becomes an adult, she'll be in the teenage stage for roughly four to six months.

It's critical that you continue to socialize and train her since she'll grow more adventurous and autonomous as time passes. Whenever you can, take her along with you so she may experience new sights, sounds, and circumstances.

Pit bulls are witty and intelligent, and they make great pets. A pit bull's sense of humor is a joy to see, even in its puppy years. As they get older, they'll keep you entertained with their sheer zaniness.

The teenage pit bull adolescent

Your pit bull's brains and personality will develop along with his size, but not necessarily in that order. Depending on when he gets to his third birthday, your dog can get the moniker "ball of fire Bailey," or "silly Sammy." Your dog will begin to appear and behave like a mature adult, but it won't.

In this time of year, hormones begin to surge. When you ask your pit bull to perform anything, you may find him absolutely oblivious. Please do not penalize him. Remind him of what you've previously taught him with rewards and plenty of praise.

The good news is that pit bulls aren't prone to pimples, and they won't attempt to purchase booze at the local convenience store, either. But if you want to avoid sofa-eating and accent pillow shredding, you'll need to boost his workout to match his energy level. All that walking is going to be hard work.

Remember that it won't be around forever.

Unprepared dog owners tend to give up on their "problem dogs" throughout the teenage years. This is, however, a totally natural stage in the life cycle of your pit bull. It's a hassle, but it'll pass.

In addition, it may be a lot of fun at times. Think beyond the box. In order to prevent your pit bull adolescent from destroying your favorite shoes, store all footwear out of reach and conceal toys and snacks in plain sight for her to locate and consume.

Get aid if you've had enough of her antics. Enroll her in agility or rally sports, or hire a professional trainer to help you get her the extra exercise she needs. When your pit bull reaches middle age, you'll look back on this time period with fondness and anecdotes to share with family and friends.

A full-grown pit bull

This is the longest stage of your pit bull's existence. Your pit bull will be considered an adult when he becomes three years old. Like when we reach adulthood, his likes and dislikes are firmly established at this point in life.

Surely, he'd lost some of his naiveté by this point. Despite the fact that he'll still need frequent exercise, if you let him rest every now and again, he may not be as energetic as he once was. Even if you've done a good job of teaching and socializing him, don't stop there; you still have a long way to go.

Despite their reputation, pit bulls are intelligent animals. Adults still require frequent physical activity and mental stimulation. It's time for your dog to get some work. Consider taking up a new activity or pursuing advanced obedience training.

The oldest pit bull

There is a 12- to 14-year life expectancy for a pit bull. She'll be a senior by the time she's 8 or 9. Her movements will be more deliberate, and she may also sleep more. As time goes on, you'll want to be on the lookout for her growing restrictions and adjust your activities and walks appropriately.

Do not let her become a couch potato, though. Her life expectancy will be significantly shortened as a consequence of her inactivity and weight. It's OK if you don't toss the ball very far, but offer her a little massage while watching TV, too.

In order to ease the aches and pains that accompany old age, your pit bull may need a special diet, vitamins, and/or medicine. For the most part, this is not a problem. To find out what's best for your "silly slowing-down Sammy" or "not such a ball of fire Bailey," speak to your veterinarian.