Pitbulls are responsible for the most dog attacks in the world. This is largely due to their aggressive and reactive nature. Despite their notorious fame, Pitbull doggies actually have a lot to offer if you want a loyal and loving companion. And the best part is that they live quite long so you will have your best friend around for a long time.
On average, Pitbulls can live for 8 to 15 years. The length and quality of life is determined by a number of factors including the Pitbull’s genetics and health status as well as how well you take care of the dog.
In the sections below, we shall take a closer look at all these factors and how they affect the Pittie’s lifespan. We shall also take a look at a few ways to help increase the length and quality of your doggy’s life.
How Long Do Pit Bulls Usually Live For?
Pit Bulls can live for 8 to 15 years.
From another perspective, a 13-year-old Pit Bull is about 74 years old in human years which makes these doggies among the longest living dog breeds.
Unfortunately, not all Pitbulls make it to this age with some only living less than 10 years.
Here are a few reasons for these differences in lifespan within the breed.
Gender
Generally speaking, female Pit Bulls live for longer than male Pitbulls. This is both as a result of environmental factors like trauma and genetic ones like hormones and aging processes.
Genetics
Genetics play a huge role in determining how healthy the Pitbull is and as a result how long they will end up living.
Pitties that inherit sickly tendencies or even diseases known to reduce the lifespan will unfortunately not live for as long as their healthier counterparts with unproblematic genes.
Lifestyle
This is where you come in as the dog parent. If you take good care of your Pitbull, they are more likely to live longer and happier lives. This includes everything from proper grooming practices to what you feed your pooch.
Size
The size of the Pitbull also has an effect on how long they live. This is generally a very eclectic breed with Pitbulls ranging in size from small 30-pound varieties to medium and larger Pitties around the 60-pound mark.
Smaller Pitbulls, like small dog breeds in general, are more likely to live longer if they are just as healthy as their larger counterparts.
What Do Pit Bulls Usually Die From?
The Pit Bull dog breed is known for a lot of things and being sickly is not one of them. They are generally very strong and healthy dogs which is largely due to their athletic build, active lifestyles, and very good genes. However, this does not mean that they do not have any health issues.
Here are just a few of the most common diseases and causes of death you may encounter with the Pit Bull dog breed.
Trauma
Trauma is one of the leading causes of death in Pit Bulls. It is usually due to their aggressive nature and occurs when they pick fights with much larger dogs or even with humans. The trauma could also be due to road accidents as Pit Bulls are outdoorsy and love to explore on their own.
Cancer
Cancer is another very common cause of ill health and death in Pit Bulls.
More often than not, cancer occurs in older Pit Bulls and can affect pretty much any organ or system in their body. Regular veterinary visits come in very handy here as they facilitate early diagnosis which will give your pooch a better chance at surviving cancer for longer.
Gastric Dilatation Volvulus
Gastric Dilatation Volvulus is a condition that occurs where the stomach of the Pit Bull twists on itself when it is full. It is a potentially life threatening disease at its worst and incredibly painful and uncomfortable for the Pit Bull at its best.
Skin Disease
Skin diseases in Pit Bulls are not always fatal but they can be especially if the infections cause sepsis. Despite this, they are a serious concern for Pitties as they negatively impact the quality of life.
Where Did Pit Bulls Come From?
Pit Bulls are a confusing breed to many.
In some parts of the world, it is a term used to describe a group of related dog breeds including American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Bulldog.
However, the term Pit Bull is more widely used to describe the American Pit Bull Terrier in particular. This is an important distinction to make especially when it comes to understanding the specific origin of Pitties.
Despite their massive popularity in the United States, Pit Bulls were actually created in the UK in the 19th century. They were developed from a mix between Old English Bulldogs and various terrier dog breeds like the Old English Terrier.
Below are just a few of the purposes they were created for.
Dog Fights
Pit Bulls were bred for their aggression which was used in blood sports like dog fights. Fortunately, the late 19th century and most of the 20th century saw the criminalization of this practice in most parts of the world.
Personal Protection
The aggressive and fearless nature of the Pit Bull also came in handy for the breed’s use as a personal protection dog. Here, they were and are still used to serve as guard dogs especially in domestic settings.
Companionship
More recently, Pit Bulls have gained a lot of popularity as companion dogs. Despite their aggressive side, they are very loyal dogs with surprisingly sweet and affectionate personalities. However, Pit Bulls may not be ideal for first-time dog owners or even for family settings.
Do Pit Bulls Get Aggressive With Age? Temperaments Of Pitbulls
For most people, the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Pit Bulls is violence and aggressive behavior. To be fair, these doggies have earned their bad reputation with the breed’s attack statistics.
However, what many people do not realize is that Pit Bulls calm down as they get older. Most will have lost their wild and volatile tendencies by the time they are 4 years old.
It is then that you will truly get to appreciate some of this dog breed’s other very endearing traits. Here are some of these.
Confident
Pit Bulls are very confident dogs that will have no problem being the center of attention in your home. This is also a trait that comes in handy if you want to raise your Pittie as a guard dog.
Affectionate
Pit Bulls are also very affectionate dogs that are known to get very close to the humans that they spend the most time with. This is particularly the case if you happened to raise your Pit Bull from the time they were a puppy.
Playful
Pit Bulls are awesome if you want a fun and playful dog to liven up your day. They are always looking for a way to get you to play with them and will not know when to quit when you do give them a bit of your time and attention.
Intelligent
Pit Bulls are very smart and intuitive doggies. They pick up very quickly on skills you teach them as well as your routines and preferences. You will appreciate this when you are training the dog especially if you use reward systems to keep them motivated.
How To Take Preventive Care Of Pitbulls And Reduce Health Problems?
You have a huge role to play when it comes to determining how long your Pit Bull will end up living. You must therefore be intentional in your care practices.
To make your life easier, we have compiled a list of the most important care practices to prevent and reduce health issues in the Pit Bull dog breed.
Regular Exercise
Obesity is not very common in Pit Bulls with their muscular build but it is still a real possibility you need to prepare for.
Regular exercise is a great way to prevent obesity in any dog, not only Pitbulls.
This will also help you deal with a lot of personality issues from hyperactivity to aggression triggered by boredom.
We recommend about 1 to 2 hours every day of exercise whether it is walking or a game of fetch. Great toys also make a huge difference in which case iFetch Interactive Ball Launchers For Dogs is definitely worth looking into for an automated launcher you can use both indoors and outdoors.
A Healthy Diet
What you feed your Pit Bull also matters a lot when you are trying to get them on a healthy path. Pet Plate is by far the best dog food on the market for a Pit Bull. The brand uses your dog’s specific traits from their gender and age to the breed to customize a meal plan. They also use high-quality, human-grade ingredients.
Multivitamin Supplementation
In addition to a healthy and balanced diet, you should give your Pit Bull supplements for nutritional components like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, probiotics, and bone-friendly compounds. These are usually in inadequate amounts in even the best of dog foods.
We recommend you start simple with something like Multivitamin Treats Supplement – Zesty Paws Probiotics. These soft chew treats contain probiotics for gut health as well as vitamins to help with immunity and general well-being.
Regular Vet Visits
A regular visit to your vet will also help you a lot in your quest to give your Pit Bull a long and healthy life. If the dog is healthy, you could get away with going 2 to 3 times a year. However, if you have a sickly pooch, you may have to go more frequently as per your vet’s advice.
Related Questions
What Is The Longest A Pitbull Has Lived? The oldest that a Pit Bull has been recorded as living was 26 years. This was a Pittie named Max from Louisiana in the United States of America. There have also been other unverified reports of Pit Bulls living up to 20 years of age in different parts of the world. However, these occurrences are very rare.
How Long Do Pitbull Mixes Live? Pitbull mixes can live for anywhere from 8 to 16 years. It all depends on the dog breed that the Pit Bull is mixed with. If the mix is with a small dog breed or a healthy one, they may reach and exceed the 16 year mark. On the other hand, if the mix involves a large and/or sickly dog breed, the Pitbull mix will have a shorter lifespan.
Why Do Pit Bulls Scratch Themselves? Pitbulls scratch themselves quite a bit. This can either be due to psychological conditions or physical ones. Here is a short list of the most common causes of excessive skin scratching by Pitbulls:
- Skin allergies
- Skin infections
- Parasite infestation including fleas, ticks, and mites
- Neurosis
- Separation anxiety
