Typically Pit bulls calm down between 6-12 months of age. Pitbulls are a highly energetic and fun breed. As pit bulls grow older they might still hyper after two years old but they won’t be quite as hyper as they were in their first year of life.
Many Pit bull owners wonder when their pups will calm down. This is especially true for first-time pet parents.
Pit bulls generally have a bad reputation because they were bred for bull baiting as fight dogs in the early 1800s. However, Pit bulls are actually family-oriented and friendly, if not energetic dogs.
While owning hyper dogs like a Pit bull can be challenging, it is also gratifying. The zest for life that a Pitbull has may be exhausting, but it is amazing how calm your Pitbull can become after taking the time to help them learn how to behave appropriately.
How Do You Calm Down a Hyper Pitbull?
You can do a few things to calm down hyperactive pit bulls. Since Pit bulls have an abundance of energy, your dog may seem hyper and can be difficult to calm down. To help your pitbull calm down, try following these suggestions.
Tire Out Your Pitbull
To tire out pit bull type dogs, you can play with them or take your pup for a walk. Pit bulls require a lot of exercises to let out their built-up energy throughout the day. Your pit will benefit from games of fetch, brisk walks, hikes, running, flirt poles,s or even agility sports.
You should allow between 60 to 90 minutes a day for your Pitbull to get in some playtime and exercise. Pitbull puppies, however, should have more than one hour of exercise daily because too much strenuous activity is not good for a puppy who is still growing and developing.
Mental Stimulation
Mental stimulation is just as important for your Pitbull as physical exercise. Since Pitbulls are such an intelligent breed, it is important to keep your pup mentally stimulated to avoid boredom and hyper behavior Providing challenges to your Pitbull is an activity that should be incorporated into your daily routine.
Some good ways to mentally stimulate your Bully are to play sniff and search games, use food puzzles, perform trick and obedience training, and give them a stimulating chew toy. Work on practicing some basic commands with your pup, like “fetch,” “drop,” “wait,” “sit,” and “come.”
If you decide to use food puzzles, your Pit will quickly become tired of searching for their piece of dry dog food, and they will see the food as a reward for their hard work.
Remember that lack of physical and mental exercise with make pitbulls hyper and can lead to bad behavior.
Establish a Routine
An established routine for your Bully is essential to help your pup calm down. All dogs thrive off of having a balanced routine and rely on structure to keep them going. If your pup does not have a routine, you might notice hyperactive behaviors in your dog.
You should have meal routines, exercise, quiet time, playtime, and bedtime. Your Pitbull will enjoy having a set way for their day and should calm down after getting used to it.
Reward Good Behavior
When your Pitbull has good behavior, you need to reward your pup. When you reward your Pitbull for their good behavior, you show them that you like their behavior and that it makes you happy.
Once your pit bull calms down after being hyper, you should reward them immediately and say something like “Good Dog” or “Yes”. Positive reinforcement has proven to be a method that works for basic learning and behavior modification, so this is a good way to teach your Pitbull that calm behavior is good behavior.
Why Do Pit bulls Get Zoomies?
What are zoomies?
The “Zoomies” is when calm dogs turn inoto crazy dogs in just a short time. Your pup might be relaxing with you while watching TV, and then he is running in circles all around your living room.
The zoomies are especially common after your Bully has a bath, is playing outside, at night, and after they poop. However, the Zoomies can also happen for no particular reason. An invisible switch has been turned on, and your dog is going crazy.
The zoomies are absurd bursts of energy that your Bully will sometimes get known as Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPS) to relieve any excess energy they have built up inside. FRAPS is a normal canine behavior found in most other breeds, including Pit bulls.
How Often Do Pitbulls Need to Be Walked?
Walking Adult Pit Bulls
Pitbulls should be walked at least two times daily for 30 to 45 minutes at a time. If you can only walk your Pit bull once a day, you should try to walk them for about one hour. Pitbulls have the stamina to walk all day if you let them, but it is not recommended to over-exercise your Bully.
Walking Pit Bull puppies
When your Pit bull is a puppy, you should add five minutes for every month that your puppy grows. If your puppy is five months old, you should only be walking him for about 25 minutes a day. Once your puppy reaches adulthood, your dog should be walked twice a day for more extended periods.
What Age Do Pitbulls Show Aggression?
It is common for Pitbulls to begin to show aggression somewhere between 8 months and two years of age. However, aggression can develop at any time and can come on suddenly.
Before your Pit bull is about to become aggressive and fight, they might not show typical signs of aggression. Your Bully may not bark or growl, but it will likely raise its toes and become alert.
Signs of aggression in Pit bulls
Some common signs of aggression in Pitbulls include:
- Carrying their tail high and stiffly wagging it
- Low range barking
- Staring
- Standing tall
- Holding their ears erect
- Snarling
- Teeth showing
To help prevent your Pit bull from becoming aggressive, there are specific steps you can take. Consider socializing your Bully, neuter or spay your dog, and always show respect and kindness to your pup.
Conclusion
While the American pit bull terrier might have an abundance of pent up energy, they are generally an excellent dog to have in your home. Finding ways to tire out and mentally stimulate your Pit bull are essential raising calm and balanced dogs.
So, when do Pitbulls calm down? There’s no one size fits all answer to this. Pitbull owners should understand that every pup is a little different from the next. Your adult dog might calm down sooner or later than other pit bulls.
In addition, establishing a routine and rewarding your Bully’s good behavior will surely set your pup to display a calm demeanor.
