When Do Pitbulls Stop Growing? [ Here’s The Answer ]

A lot of pet parents get thrilled when they first bring their Pitbull puppies home. Watching them grow, playing with them, enjoying their goofy nature all can make your life more exciting than ever before.

So, when your pet friend gradually develops its physique and turns into an adult dog from a puppy only within a year, it seems like you have achieved some goals.

But, after a certain age, they stop growing. It is the time when the mongrels hit the ultimate growth milestone.

When do Pitbulls stop growing?

Pitbulls generally stop growing when they turn 1. But, it does not mean the developing process ends here. After they are one year old, Pitbulls flourish slowly. So, if you ask when the health system of a Pitbull ultimately stops growing, then the answer will be when they complete 2-3 years of their lives.

The advancement or body development of a Pitbull mostly takes place during their first year of life.

As a result, a Pitbull puppy grows fast at that time, and at the end of the first year, they gain almost all characteristics of adulthood.

When it comes for this dog to breed, time flies so quickly! They start to feature all the attributes of an adult Pitbull from their one year age. Still, other physical developments take place until they turn 3.

But, as we say in our other blogs, there cannot be any settled or universal formula that goes along with every canine.

Every dog is different, and so is its body growth. If you ask the exact timetable of the adulthood of a Pitbull, it depends on multiple factors. Age, gender, and even diet impact the growth rate of a pup.

To sum up, generally, Pitbulls stop developing when they turn 2, but some exceptions can still grow after age 2.

Also, Pitbulls naturally achieve adult height within 1 or 1.5 years and gain grown-up weight within 2-3 years.

Even though medical professionals follow these numbers while treating a Pitbull, there can be other variants too.

A Pitbull can grow differently from another. But if your Pitbull does not flourish remarkably within one year, it badly needs medical help.


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Pitbull growth chart

Below we have shared an estimated growth chart of Pitbulls so that you can easily understand whether your pet has grown healthily or not. But before checking out the table, remember all these numbers can vary depending on several factors.

AgeMale weight (lbs)Female weight (lbs)Total (Approax %)
1 month9.27.212.1
2 months2016.526.18
3 months31.226.541.17
4 months423655
5 months50.64466.55
6 months57.35072.51
8 months66.557.587.35
10 months7261.594.7
1 year7664.2100

If the weight of your Pitbull slightly differs from these approximate numbers, then there is nothing wrong. But, if the difference becomes massive, consult with a vet instantly.

How much weight should a normal Pitbull have?

During the newborn phase, a male Pitbull puppy generally weighs 9.2 lbs or 4.2 kgs within the first month, while a 1-month-old female puppy weighs approx 7.2 lbs or 3.3 kgs. Pitbull is probably the one species that come with four different types of Bulldogs and Terriers. While typically, a Pitbull puppy weighs 9.2-7.2 lbs, a fully grown canine can gain a maximum of 76-64.2 pounds.

Still, if your canine companion grows differently than these average parameters does not mean your pup is sick.

If your Pitbull is in good health and gets adequate nutrition daily, then there is nothing wrong.

Also, remember female Pitbulls typically grow smaller than male ones. So, before measuring your pup, consider its gender.

Below we have shared the monthly growth rate of a Pitbull and explain every bit of it. It will help you know how much development you can expect from your mongrel and at what age.


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The first month with only the basic needs

The newborn phase of a Pitbull pup is no different from other dogs. During the first month of its life, the dog can neither see nor hear. If you bring home your pet at this time, you will find it toothless.

Even the eyes of this tiny furry ball-like pup are closed.

They can only find their mothers by feel. Even though they cannot play or interact during this newborn phase, it can be enjoyable to see them thrive fast.

Like any other being on this planet, a newborn Pitbull puppy requires you to fulfill only the basic needs. They prioritize feeding, sleeping, and growing during the first month.

Almost after 15 days, the eyes of the Pitbulls start to open.

Their growth becomes faster from this time, and you will notice other significant developments just within three weeks.

Your 21-days-old Pitbull puppy gradually develops the hearing ability and slowly begins to make proper barking noises.

At the end of the first month of a Pitbull life, you will notice tiny white dots appearing on their gums.

These are the milk teeth. You can expect the weight of your pitbull, ranging from 7.2 to 9.2 lbs. A female puppy typically weighs less than a male one.

Socialization during the second month

A 2-months-old Pitbull puppy typically weighs 16.6 to 19.9 lbs. While the physical development process is still ongoing, socialization procedures take place at this phase.

Pitbull puppies start receiving inputs from the surrounding world.

As the communication ability of a Pitbull begins to flourish at this stage, try to socialize them from a young age.

Since Pitbull puppies get a bit more active in this stage, provide them toys and play with them to spend their energy correctly. The weaning process begins in the middle of the second month.

However, by the age of 7 weeks, you would get a puppy with barkings, lots of interactions, and wagging tails. As the weaning process completes, they start to eat solids.

Training starts at the age of 3 months

Generally, Pitbulls get heavier at this phase and weigh almost 26.7 to 31.3 lbs. Although theoretically, you can take a seven-week-old Pitbull outside for a stroll, it is better to wait until the puppy gets 10-months-old.

Socialization during this third month becomes vital.

It can make your puppy a well-adjusted dog who can meet other pups and even strangers. It can never be early to start training your pet. If a pet parent manages their dogs appropriately, they become easy to handle.

The fourth month will be full of tantrums

You can expect your Pitbull puppy to gain almost 36.2 to 41.8 lbs. The night before your Pitbull becomes 4-months-old, prepare yourself for all the upcoming hassles, naggings, and tantrums.

Yes, you guessed it correctly. This phase is similar to the teenage years like human beings.

The puppies will become naughtier, and they badly need strict training at this time.

At this phase, your Pitbull would lose its milk teeth and grow its permanent teeth. So, provide them with a lot of chewing toys.

Massive developments within 5-10 months of age

During this stage, Pitbulls start growing faster, and you will notice some massive changes occurring during this period. The physical developments and features begin to get prominent.

You will see a drastic improvement in its heights and weights.

Within only five months, their weights increase approx 20 lbs. While a 5-months-old Pitbull weighs almost 44 to 50.6 lbs, a 10-months-one can weigh even 72 lbs. That is huge!

Since the slightly grown Pitbull can comprehend the commands now, continue the training sessions.

At about six months of age, your Pitbull puppy becomes ideal for neutering as it can promote a healthy and longer life.

10-12 months, remaining significant developments occur

Within these two months, your Pitbull starts to like an adult dog. You can expect the pet to weigh almost 64 to 72 lbs on its first birthday.

At this time, try to train your Pitbull with good behaviors and educate it to show proper manners. If they do so, reward the mongrels with yummy treats.

Some little yet vital growth happens after 12 months

On the first birthday of your Pitbull, you can officially call it an adult dog instead of a puppy.

Although the weights remain unchanged after Pitbulls turn one year old, their muscles would still grow.

It can result in a bulky look. Regular exercise, daily activities, and proper nutrition can promote a slow but steady growth during 12-36 months.


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How Big Do Pitbulls Get?

Adult Pitbulls usually weigh 35-60 pounds and thrive up to 18-21 inches. As you have already understood the growth rate of a Pitbull, it is the right time to discuss how big a Pitbull will get it. As they are medium-sized canines, you can expect them to turn into neither small nor big mongrels. Still, the ultimate size can differ as there are a lot of varieties in this breed. So let us dig into the matter to find the answer.

Type of Pitbull

Pocket Pitbull, the tiniest variety of this breed, grows up to 12-16 inches in height and weighs within the range of 11-22 pounds. On the other hand, Hulk-sized XL Pitbulls are the biggest species on earth.

Calculate the weight earlier

You can follow a secret formula to get the adult weight of your Pitbull puppy. Double the four-month weight of your puppy. The outcome will be an average estimate of how big your Pitbull will be.

The gender factor

Male Pitbulls typically weigh heavier than female Pitbulls. So this factor can cast an impact on the adult weight of your dog. Generally, a grown-up male Pitbull weighs 35-60 pounds, where the female one weighs 30-50 pounds. But, you will see no more than an inch difference between their heights.

The genetic factor

While questioning how big your Pitbulls will grow, look at their parents.

You will find the answer by yourself. The size and height of the parents of the dog affect the body growth of your Pitbull. So their physique can aid you in predicting the adult height and weight of your pet.

Factors that can impact the growth of a Pitbull

We have now become aware of how big your Pitbull can be and how much weight you can expect from your pup. So, it is time to know about some factors that can impact the growth of your Pitbull. Following are some of these circumstances.

You can do nothing with genetics

Genetics play a vital role in determining the ultimate height and weight of your Pitbull. If the parents of your pet are members of a small-size Pitbull breed, you can expect to raise a smaller one. On the contrary, Pitbulls become heavier and muscular if their parents feature these attributes.

Regular exercise and a proper diet promote healthy body growth

While obesity or being underweight can hinder your Pitbull from developing, regular and appropriate exercise can promote healthy body weight.

Every canine breed requires regular exercise, and Pitbull is no different. The best workouts for a Pitbull will be running, walking, hiking, cycling, swimming, and fetching.

Diet plays a crucial role in the physical development of a Pitbull. If your pup fails to achieve the standard weight and height as per its age, the reason could be malnutrition. Pitbull develops rapidly during the first year.

At this time, they require extra calories, vitamins, and minerals. If you fail to provide that, the phenomenon can result in poor body growth. You can even consult your vet before preparing the diet chart.

Major health problems

Often Pitbulls undergo some major health issues that ultimately hinder the growth of the canine. The problems can affect the hormonal balance of the Pitbull.

Hormonal imbalance can decrease the growth rate if the Pitbull is fewer than 2 / 3 years of age. The sooner you can identify the problem, the better your pet will grow as per its age.

Desexing can make your Pitbull bulkier

Pet owners perform spaying or neutering on their Pitbulls at a very young age to extend their growth period. Many pet parents and even vets also support this fact. But, there are even some cases where Pitbulls get bulky due to desexing and gain mass drastically.


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FAQ

Below are some questions Pitbull adopters frequently ask to check whether their dogs are growing accurately or not.

1. How big will my pitbull get?

Generally, a Pitbull can weigh up to 35-60 pounds, and it thrives to almost 18-21 inches. Remember that Pitbulls can grow to various sizes, depending on their breeds, diet, and daily exercise. If you own a few-month-old Pitbull puppy, you will notice significant changes and development within a year.

But, after turning 1, Pitbulls typically do not put on remarkable weight. So, you can expect an adult male American Pitbull Terrier to weigh up to 35-60 pounds, while a female one weighs 30-50 pounds. An adult Pitbull typically does not get higher than 21 inches.

2. How big should a 6-month-old pitbull be?

A 6-months-old male Pitbull puppy typically weighs 20-35 pounds, while a female one does not weigh heavier than 15-30 pounds. When it comes to the Pitbull breed, you will encounter variations regarding their size and weight. But, generally, Pitbulls gain no more than 30-35 pounds when they become only six months old.

However, these estimates can vary from one dog to another, and your puppy will develop at its rate. Still, regular monitoring can prevent them from getting underweight or overweight.

3. Do Pitbulls get bigger after one year?

Yes, in some cases, Pitbulls get bigger after their first birthday, but you will not see any significant or speedy changes in them. If you provide proper nutrition and care, Pitbulls thrive rapidly within a year.

The changes even become prominent as each week passes.

But, the development process slows down at the one-year age mark. Still, some variants grow slowly and ultimately hit the adulthood milestone at their second or third birthday. Pitbulls stop growing when they turn 2 or 3.

4. When does a pitbull head stop growing?

Like the other physical developments, the brain of a Pitbull notably develops within the first year of its life. Generally, you will notice four different types of Pitbulls of various sizes.

But, all of them feature the same attributes like average square head, tiny rectangular and folded ear, and short tail. Sustainable and rapid brain improvement of a Pitbull takes place during the first year.

All the significant developments are complete within this time. Gradually it slows down after the first year and ultimately stops when they turn 3.

End thought

Even though Pitbulls stop growing significantly at the age of 1, diet, exercise, breed, desexing all can influence the growth of a Pitbull. No matter what age milestone your Pitbull hits, providing the required nutrients will always be the key to the physical development of the pup.