getting them in great physical and mental shape.
While I'm not a perfect Pit Bull owner and I have made my share of mistakes, I also believe in giving my girls as much exercise as I possibly can. This means making a few sacrifices for them.
For example, instead of watching the latest episode of CSI: Crime Scene or the new hit show, Criminal Minds I choose to walk my girls.
This two hours normally spent sitting on my rear watching TV has been converted to exercise time for both me and the girls.
Getting Started on the Road to a Healthy Pit Bull
You can do two things right now to immediately impact the long term health of your Pit Bull(s).
1.) Get them on a healthy, fresh, raw diet as quickly as possible.
When you provide a fresh raw diet to your pal(s) you set them up for better health almost immediately. For the record I also feed kibble but I feed it mixed with something raw (hamburger mostly) or I feed 100% raw.
When you provide a fresh raw diet to your pal(s) you set them up for better health almost immediately. For the record I also feed kibble but I feed it mixed with something raw (hamburger mostly) or I feed 100% raw.
This works for me and my dogs. You will have to find out what works for you and yours.
The raw diet will help expel contaminants and other nastiness from your dog before you start them on a proper fitness program.
2.) Hand-Walking for 3-5 miles a day.
What? 3-5 miles a day? Are you joking?
Nope.
Walking is primal and taps into your Pit Bulls canine instincts. Walking is a great way to get exercise and build a bond for any Pit Bull.
Canines are animals who love to roam and explore their world.
Hand walking also helps you form a bond with your Pit Bull(s) and this helps build their mental health as well. Once they see you as a confident leader their attitudes on walks will change dramatically. A dog who was once a puller will suddenly start to pull less and less.
Hand walking is the most basic but most powerful gift you can share with your pal(s).
Start Off Slow and Let Your Dog Dictate the Pace
Start off at your current level of exercise, if it's none, well, get out of the house and walk your dog.
Then slowly increase the walking distance and let your dog tell you when it's time to move on to the next step. He or she will tell you they are ready by their behavior.
Are they really sore after 2 miles? Then you shouldn't move up to a longer distance until they can recover quickly after walking 2 miles.
Are they panting heavily and appear stressed? Then back off a little and notch it down to a reasonable amount of work that doesn't result in this situation.
After you start hand-walking your dog for 3-5 miles and they are ready to go for more, increase it to 5-10 miles.
You will progress slowly. Also, you have to consider your current health as well. Are you able to accomplish this? If not, start off with a distance both you and he or she can complete without killing yourselves.
Take it to the next Level
After you are walking up to 5 miles a day and he or she is recovering well you can start to add other outlets for exercise into the program.
For example, Gunther is walking 5 miles a day and still wants to play at the end of the walk. He is showing you that he is ready for another out let. Working on obedience for 15 minutes or having him on the spring pole for 5-10 minutes are both ways to add more outlets to his over all fitness routine.
The distance of the walk is important too. It should be long enough to burn off excess energy but short enough as to not harm your dogs health.
A physical fitness program should always start with a trip to the vet. I would suggest asking their advice on a correct physical fitness program as well.
Exercise is the missing link most people are in desperate need of.
Long hand walking can also remove behavior problems as well. As they say, "a tired Pit Bull is a good Pit Bull."
Out of all the things I suggest for getting a Pit Bull in great physical condition, hand walking for 3-5-10 miles every day is by far the most successful activity to date.
I know it works for my girls and it helps me to reduce my own personal stress levels and stay some what in shape too.
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