Recommended Care for a Pitbull

Every dog breed has its own needs, which is why care for American Pitbull Terrier dogs is very different from that of other breeds.

You don't need a master's degree to take good care of your Pitbull, but you do need some basic knowledge and tips, which we're happy to share below.

Care for a Pitbull dog

We'll go through all the important points one by one, to learn how to keep our dog in good shape and prevent health problems from lack of care.

So we'll start with the simplest explanations, moving on to the more complex or lesser-known ones among owners of this breed.

How should I care for an American Pitbull Terrier's coat?

The Pitbull has a very specific coat, short and rough to the touch, covering their whole body except the belly and groin.

We should get a special brush for large, short-haired dogs, of medium thickness. You'll be amazed to learn there are as many types of brushes as there are types of coats — not every brush works for every dog.

Brushing our Pitbull a couple of times a week will keep their coat always looking healthy and shiny, since we'll remove dead hair, dirt, and possible parasites.

How many times a month should I bathe a Pitbull?

It depends a lot on where you live — if it's a mountainous area and our dog tends to get very muddy... obviously we need to bathe them quite often.

• Practical tip: How to bathe a dog correctly

However, if we live in a town or city where they generally don't get as dirty, once or twice a month is ideal.

Remember to always use a soap made specifically for dogs, since human soap won't work — it causes dandruff and skin problems for them (their skin pH is different from ours).

Basic maintenance for an American Pitbull Terrier

Feeding them and taking them for walks isn't enough — just like us, our Pitbull will need certain maintenance care, like cleaning their ears, keeping their nails at a proper length, and preventing dental problems.

These are small details we often forget, but they're completely necessary. We can do them once a week or once every two weeks, depending on our dog.

How to clean the ears, and how often

A Pitbull's ears are especially sensitive because they get dirty easily, and if they're not cleaned, infections will develop.

Simply soak gauze (sold cheaply at pharmacies) in special ear-cleaning solution for dogs (sold at vet clinics). With our pinky finger and the gauze, we'll gently clean inside our dog's ear to remove dirt.

We can't use cotton swabs, or any cloth with a bit of water, since we could end up causing an infection ourselves. Ears are very sensitive, so clean them with great care.

Generally, cleaning every two or three weeks is enough, but if we notice our Pitbull's ears getting dirty more often, we should clean them once a week.

How to trim a Pitbull's nails

Another important aspect to consider is their nails, which usually wear down naturally. If our dog tends to walk on hard surfaces like sidewalks or asphalt, typical of city streets, their nails will file down automatically.

But if they're more of a countryside dog, they may need a nail trim from time to time. We need to be very careful when trimming their nails, since even though we can't see it, there are many nerves and blood vessels underneath.

If we notice their nails clicking against the ground, we should see a vet so they can give us special nail scissors and show us how and when to trim them — above all, how, to avoid hurting them when we do it ourselves.

A Pitbull's teeth and their care

Due to Pitbulls' diet, which involves eating commercial kibble, they develop a lot of tartar on their teeth. Tartar buildup ends up forming small infections that can lead to serious health problems.

The ideal approach in these cases is to occasionally give our dog a chicken carcass — since these are soft, cartilaginous bones, they'll bite them easily and, in the process, clean the tartar off their teeth. Other types of bones approved for dogs are also good for cleaning tartar.

There are even small toothbrushes made specifically for dogs (careful! never use human toothpaste, since it's very toxic to dogs). But if all this seems like too much, our vet can do a tartar cleaning whenever we consider it appropriate.

A Pitbull's eyes: extreme care

We all know how dogs of this breed are — very active and very nosy! If they see something moving in the bushes they'll run to check it out, and could end up with a scratch on their eye from leaves or branches.

If we notice any of these symptoms in our Pitbull, we should see the vet to prevent bigger problems:

• Excessive tearing
• Blood in the eyes
• Excessive scratching from itching
• Eye discharge buildup

How to care for my Pitbull's paws?

Their paws are also very important, since without them... they couldn't burn off the excess energy they have every day.

In summer we should make sure the ground isn't too hot, to prevent their paw pads from getting hurt. To check, simply place your hand on the ground — if you can keep it there for five seconds without getting burned, there's no problem.

In winter, it's a good idea to dry their paws when they get home, if they're wet. This will prevent fungus and bacteria from growing and spreading between their toes.

Every week we should check all their paws, looking for small objects lodged in them that could cause an infection. Dogs are very tough, especially Pitbulls... and they might have a thorn stuck in their paw without even complaining about it.

Exercise needed for a Pitbull dog

If you were looking for a couch potato dog, you've got the wrong breed, since the Pitbull is possibly one of the most active and energetic breeds out there.

This means we need to go for lots of daily walks, and also do some exercise with them (or at least, have them do it).

How many walks a day does a Pitbull need?

The more, the better. It's common to take Pitbull puppies out five or six times a day, so they gradually socialize and learn to relieve themselves outdoors.

With adult Pitbulls, things can be a bit calmer, though we should still take them out at least three times a day with long walks and exercise.

How much exercise does an adult Pitbull need?

A lot, but gently and gradually. This means we shouldn't force them to run constantly for a full hour at top speed without stopping... there's no need to wear the dog out to exhaustion.

It's best to run at a calm pace so they burn energy without overdoing it, gradually and continuously over a longer period. There's nothing better for a dog than playing with another dog — it's the best way to burn off energy.

Having them join us for rollerblading, biking, or a mountain trail is a great idea to help them feel happy and fulfilled.

Remember that if your Pitbull doesn't burn off their energy daily, they'll start showing behavioral changes, and possibly even aggression.