How Long Do Pit Bulls Live. The short answer is typically between 10 and 12 years. But there are many factors that affect the lifespan of a pit bull.
Pit Bulls can vary widely in weight, size, energy levels, metabolism, etc., so it is difficult to give an average age for all dogs in this or any other breed.
Generally speaking, larger pit bulls tend to live longer than smaller ones because they experience much less strain on their bodies when performing everyday activities like walking upstairs or leaping onto couches (not that you should encourage your dog to leap onto couches).
Obese pit bulls typically suffer from joint problems earlier in life than active ones do – obese pit bulls also tend to have shortened lifespans. However, the number of obese dogs in this country is simply staggering, so one would naturally expect to encounter obese pit bulls with shortened lifespans on a regular basis.
How Long Do Pit Bulls Live
Dogs that are considered loyal and faithful can often live up to 13-15 years old with few conditions (hardy dogs). The health problems that afflict them most often are bone diseases, allergies, thyroid problems, and congenital heart defects.
What is a pit bull?
A very generic term, “pit bull” designates a number of breeds and mixes thereof: American Pit Bull Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (which is also known as The Amstaff), and sometimes even the American Staffordshire Terrier, which is essentially just a different name for the same breed.
There are several other bully breeds that resemble these dogs somewhat, perhaps most closely resembling the APBT, but they’re usually not referred to as pit bulls because they’re not full-blooded relatives – kind of like how you might call your sister’s kids your nieces and nephews even if their parents aren’t actually your siblings.
Do pit bulls have locking jaws?
No. This is a myth that seems to have originated with “research” done by Col. Chauncy Green, circa the early 1900’s – he took several young APBTs and literally tied their mouths shut so he could cut into them without having to worry about them biting him while they were sedated.
It’s also worth noting that these dogs did not simply “choose” not to bite while in this condition – they were completely unable to defend themselves, which makes it extremely unlikely that they’d still be alive today if no one had come back for them after the experiment was over!
The concept of locking jaws has since become part of pit bull folklore, exploited by unscrupulous people who want to sell their fighting equipment or guard dogs to the masses.
Are pit bulls really all that dangerous?
Yes and no. Pit bulls are powerful dogs with strong jaws, which makes them potentially dangerous in certain situations – it’s possible for even a well-socialized APBT to get into an altercation with another dog if they’re off-leash together in an area where there’s not much room to move around, or if one is particularly food or toy motivated while the other isn’t willing to share.
Usually, this results in a lot of noise but little real damage; however, because pit bulls can do serious damage when they fight (while also being extremely tenacious), many people who know nothing about them often see “pit bull” and immediately think “vicious killer.”
What about all those pit bull attacks are they really the fault of the breed?
This is where it gets complicated because you can’t necessarily blame an individual dog for doing what comes naturally to it. Pit bulls were bred specifically to be good at fighting; indeed, these dogs will fight (and kill) other animals given any opportunity.
The problem here is that people often forget how much power these dogs have when they’re in “game face” – this means that if your APBT has learned to go into a frenzy over something like toys or food, then he might end up seriously hurting another dog who tries to take his stuff… even if this other dog wasn’t showing any signs of aggression before!
That’s where responsible ownership comes in – if you know how to control your dog’s instincts, then there’s no reason why he can’t play with other dogs who share his toys or eat from the same bowl as them.
The problem is that most people don’t want their dogs to be aggressive, but they also don’t want to take the time (or make the effort) to teach them not to be; this is where all of these “pit bull attacks” really come from.
How do I stop my pitbull from getting so worked up around other dogs?
The first step here would be finding out what exactly triggers your APBT; every dog has certain stimuli that will send them into a tizzy, and it’s important for their owner(s) to figure out what these are.
The next step is to train your dog not to react the way they usually do this means rewarding calm behavior and ignoring (or punishing, if necessary) any attempts at aggression on their part. It can take some time for them to “learn” how to act normally with other dogs, but it’s worth it in the long run!
How long do pit bulls live?
On average, APBTs tend to live between eleven and thirteen years; while this isn’t quite as high as smaller breeds like Chihuahuas or Italian Greyhounds, it still makes them good pets for anyone who doesn’t want all of the hassles of having a really young puppy in their home. Some pit bulls, like American Staffordshire Terriers, even live into their late teens!
Do they cost a lot to take care of?
Not really! Many people assume that you need to buy large chains and thick metal cages in order to house an APBT properly, but the truth is that these dogs are relatively mellow if they have enough exercise.
Of course, it’s always important for them to have at least one room where they’re not allowed to go unless invited – pit bulls can be very stubborn when it comes to obeying commands, so having some kind of “off limits” zone will help keep your dog out of trouble when he refuses to to you or does something he wasn’t supposed to do.
Are they good with kids?
Yes! Pit bulls are very gentle with children, provided that their owner has trained them well and instilled the right kind of socialization in them (this basically means ensuring that your dog knows how to act around other people and pets without attempting to hurt or dominate them).