Pitbulls are naturally intimidating dogs due to their appearance. Their muscular build not only shows the beauty and physical capabilities of the breed but also reflects the capacity of the owner to maintain their overall health.
Building your Pitbull’s muscles is more than doing physical exercise alone. There are many ways you can approach this and introduce an effective workout and diet routine for your dog. Like with a lot of things in this world, it’s important not to overdo it.
If you’re looking for a helpful guide in making your Pitbull more muscular, you’re on the right page. This article will make your mission a success story!
Pitbulls are naturally built more muscular than other breeds because they have both bulldogs and terriers lineage. These breeds are known for their stocky and solid build.
Out of all the Pitbull breeds, the American Pit Bull Terrier is considered the most muscular.
At first glance, you can already tell that these dogs showcase strength and power. Their shoulder blades and forelegs feature well-defined muscles.
Back then, many breeders and owners took advantage of the Pitbull’s athletic ability by subjecting them to bloody dog fights and bull baiting.
Now that these practices are banned, Pitbull’s sporting abilities are used in dock jumping and weight pulling.
Proper Diet for Pit Bull’s Muscle Gain
The approach to creating a muscular and athletically adept Pit Bull is two-pronged, much the same as it is for the human athlete. The first prong being your bullys diet.
A well-balanced diet is important for any dog, but for a dog that is athletically inclined, it is even more important. Canine athletes eat differently and this needs to be monitored.
Your dog’s diet should provide the basic nutrition needed by his body, but it should also provide the additional nutrients needed to repair muscle fibers and build new muscle. Selecting the right diet for your dog is definitely something that should be discussed with your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist before you make any changes yourself.
The first step in a healthy diet for an athletically built dog is to invest in a good quality dog food.
Just as a human athlete will not bulk up by eating junk food, a dog cannot bulk up by eating a food that is full of fillers and other “junk” ingredients and is low in protein.
So, where do you start on the search for a high-quality dog food for pit bull muscle gaining? Learn how to read dog food ingredients label first.
Look for named meat protein sources like “beef”, “buffalo”, “lamb,” or “chicken” and avoid foods that are filled with artificial ingredients like food dyes, unnamed meat sources like by-products or unnecessary ingredients like “corn gluten meal”.
The aim is to get dog food that is as efficient as possible by cutting down the ingredients list to whole foods that all provide nutrition. Organic dog food brands are usually a good point to start, but there are some other healthy dog foods that may fit your Pit Bulls diet well and provide him all the nutrition for regular exercise and training.
Speaking of nutrition, in addition to finding high-quality ingredients, you must also focus on finding dog foods with macronutrients that cater to an athletic lifestyle specifically. Look for dog food brands that are rich in protein and fat; carbs dont need to be avoided.
Protein will help to build muscle and repair muscle fibers damaged during exercise. Fat will help to maintain body weight despite physical exertion. It is important to ensure that fats included in food are healthy fats, however, because Pit Bulls can also become obese.
Striking a good balance in the diet of the athletic dog is very important. Without enough protein, your Pit Bull isn’t going to gain any muscle and will recover much slower from conditioning and heavy exercises.
On the other hand, vets also say that too much protein may cause your dog to suffer from damage to his kidneys. Too much fat and your dog will become obese, not enough fat and he will begin to lose weight due to the insufficient caloric intake.
So, what kind of balance are you looking for in a dog food that is optimized for an athletic or working dog? Ideally, the canine athlete requires a diet that is around 30% protein and 25% fat. Adding supplements for dogs like omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin may also be extremely beneficial and improve your dogs performance.
How often and how much should you be feeding this food to your bully? Its a tricky question, and thats why you must consult with a vet beforehand.
The American Pit Bull Terrier’s weight ranges so drastically that there is no definitive answer to how much you should feed him. The best place to begin is to follow the recommended feeding instructions on dog food labels and specifically on those that have been developed for a working or athletic dog.
Base your feeding amounts on your dog’s current weight. If you notice that he is losing weight or still seems to be hungry after eating, increase the amount of dog food per serving just so slightly. Just be sure not to overfeed your canine.
FURTHER READING: The Low Down On the Paleo Diet for Dogs
There are many supplements on the market that target Pit Bull owners in particular. The truth about these supplements, however, is that they contain the same ingredients as multivitamins. The problem with that being that when you feed your dog a healthy and high-quality diet, he will not need to take a multivitamin.
If, after consulting with your vet, your vet recommends multivitamin support, consider a multivitamin rather than a more expensive formula with the same ingredients. There are some supplements that your bully can benefit from when bulking up, including:
A high-quality joint supplement – the levels of glucosamine, chondroitin and omega fatty acids in dog food are often not high enough for the needs of an athletic dog. To offer your Pit Bull complete joint support, consider a vet approved joint supplement. The more you train your Pit bull, the more stress his joints receive, so its vital to provide nutritional support to avoid any complications and especially arthritis.
Electrolyte formula – Depending upon the time of year, the exercise routine your dog is taking part in, and his overall health, an electrolyte formula is always good to keep on hand. This should not be a daily necessity, but it is perfect for rehydration after exertion and helping to promote recovery time after training.
There are specific dog food brands for Pit Bulls that are formulated for their lifestyle and heavy duty training and muscle gain. Bully Max 30/20 High Performance dog food is one of the better known brands, but any other performance dog food would work just as well and you dont necessarily need to use this specific formula.
Additionally, there are also protein powders for Pit Bulls that are said to improve their athletic performance and help gain muscle. Muscle Bully Protein Supplement is currently the most popular option. However, many argue whether this is necessary at all, since many dogs can get all these nutrients from regular dog food.
Picking the Best Dog Food for Pitbulls to Gain Weight
First, youll need to discuss this with a veterinarian to rule out any possible health problems in your Pit Bull that may be causing weight loss or lack of weight gain.
Pitbulls have been overbred, causing many genetic issues and health ailments in the breed, interfering with their muscle and weight gain. Their common disorders include skin conditions, allergies, thyroid disease, knee problems, hip dysplasia, nerve disease, and bladder stones. Adjusting their diet may help with some of these issues, which subsequently will help with weight gain.
Feeding athletic dogs like Pit Bulls is not the same as feeding a mostly sedentary home pet. If youre focused on muscle gain, youll need to balance between high protein (for muscle recovery and growth post-exercise) and high fat (for energy and recovery).
Pit Bulls are in the intermediate athletes category. Studies show that 70% to 90% of their energy will be sourced from fat metabolism (not carbohydrates, unlike endurance athletes or sprint athletes).
Besides high protein and high fat, your Bullys food will need to contain a higher than average calorie content per meal. The protein source must be meat-based (not plant-based). Additional vitamins and minerals (particularly for joint and hip protection) are just as crucial if your Pit Bull is exercising regularly.
Other than a specific brand of Pit Bulldog food, you can also supplement to achieve the results. For example, Bully Max ($69.99) weight gainer or MVP K9 Supplements ($44.99) muscle builder are two of the most popular ways to help a Pitbull gain weight.
5 Factors Affecting Your Pitbull’s Weight
Before you begin your Pitbull’s muscle-building journey, you should consider some key factors that affect your dog’s weight. This will help you understand what workout strategy you should focus on to help them be beefier.
Like humans, a Pitbull’s weight and overall body composition are affected by genetics. Studies show that obesity in some dog breeds is caused by inherited genes from their parents. This explains why no two dogs will have the same exact size as adults.
With that being said, you shouldn’t put too much pressure on making your Pitbull gain more muscles.
If they are genetically predisposed to be on the slender side of their parents, then you shouldn’t expect them to be buff or bulky.
Regardless of dog breed, weight is directly affected by the amount and quality of the food intake.
For Pitbulls, proteins, carbs, and healthy fats should be included in their diet. Ensuring proper food intake while your dog is still a puppy can help them achieve their ideal weight in adulthood.
Dog treats should only be given during training. When given in excess, though, your Pitbull can become overweight.
FAQ
What can I feed my pitbull to make it big?
- Walking that gradually becomes running.
- Swimming – this is a great way to provide low impact exercise that increases stamina.
How do I get my dog to bulk up?