How Fast Can Pitbulls Run?

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A running dog is one remarkable sight to behold for any dog owner. Big or small, all canines love to let out a little run from time to time, and it’s needless to say how much they enjoy it as is evident by the smile they have while doing so. In today’s case, I look at how fast can Pitbulls run?

How Fast Can Pitbulls Run?

A Pitbull will run as fast as 25 to 30 miles per hour making them an above-average runner among dogs. Although they were not initially bred for running, they are full of energy which allows them to run at such impressive speeds. However, they can only run for a short while before burning out.

A black Staffordshire Bull Terrier with a black harness sitting on a tree log

They are therefore not suitable for lengthy athletic challenges. However, they will offer good companionship for short runs such as those below seven miles. Historically Pitbulls were bred for sport from a mix of old English Terriers with old English Bulldogs, which made them strong and agile for them to first offer entertainment by fighting one another and second bull and bear baiting.

What Make Pitbulls Both Good and Bad Runners

A pitbull can be both a good and poor runner at the same time owing to their inbuilt features that are advantageous and some disadvantageous.

Why They Are Good Runners

Some of the reasons why they are good runners include;

  • They are energeticPitbulls have well-built muscles that give them huge amounts of energy, allowing them to carry their weight with ease and at high speeds over short distances
  • They have an average body size– They have a body height that allows them to comfortably run side by side with the owner without struggling, unlike other shorter dog breeds.
  • They offer safety and protection– Pitbulls have an innate desire to please and protect their owners and thus offer safety when running in risky environments. Their musty looks and well-built physique come off as intimidating to would-be threats.
  • They have endurance– This dog breed has a never-give-up attitude, giving it a spirit of endurance that allows it to run alongside you to its last bit of energy reserve.

Why They Are Poor Runners

The list of reasons why they are not suitable for running includes;

  • They are highly reactive–  Pitbulls are heightened dogs and will confront any strange or intimidating creatures like other dogs and passers-by, leading to aggression.
  • They have a short snout– Unlike athletic dogs, such as the greyhound that have long snouts to take in large amounts of cool and oxygen-rich air, Pitbulls have short ones that deny them the much-needed air for high respiration.
  • They were not bred for running– Their breeding resulted in the absence of key features needed for ease of running such as broad paws for traction and shock absorption, longer legs to cover more length and strides, and chest to accommodate a larger heart, and greater lung capacity.
A black Staffordshire Bull Terrier lying on his back on forest grounds

Benefits of Running Your Pitbull

Every dog has its own daily physical requirements that may be as simple as a run. Many benefits come with running your dog.

Here are some reasons why it is good to run your Pitbull.

  • It is a good way to make productive use of excess energy that the dog would otherwise use in mischief, damaging things at home by playing around or biting into your property.
  • Running allows for physical fitness, exercising muscles leading to their build-up, and improving cardio and lung capacity that makes for better respiratory function within the dog.
  • Increased mental well-being as the dog enjoys the run leads to lower stress levels, anxiety, and depression.
  • The bond between the dog and its owner is strengthened as they both experience one another under such heightened situations leading to greater connection and interdependence.

Ways To Increase Your Pitbull’s Overall Speed

When it comes to top speed, there is always room for improvement, as is evident with athletes who, upon setting seemingly impossible-to-break records, defy their own limits with a little bit more practice and determination on their next attempt. With a little motivation such as treats, you can be able to achieve much more with your dog.

In this same way, as seen below, can your dog’s top speed be taken to the next level.

  • Weight pulling –  Although considered by some as a form of cruelty towards dogs. Pulling weights will help your dog build up muscles that translate to greater strength and agility and thus achieve better top speeds.
  • Obstacle training entails putting the dog through an obstacle course, entailing tunnels, tires, weaving poles, jumps, and teeter-totters. This improves cardio and respiration, which ensures efficient energy conversion into speed.
  • Flyball – This is a competitive sport where dogs race each other side by side towards boxes holding tennis balls released upon stepping on a release pad. The dogs then carry the balls back to their owners. The game’s structure provides an incentive for the dog to run faster as the dog hopes to please the owner as quickly as possible by retrieving and getting it back to the owner, a perfect scenario for a Pitbull.
  • Hiking – This includes athletic training in high altitude areas that makes the dog’s body produce higher amounts of red blood cells needed for top-speed achievement to supply the muscles with plenty of oxygen for the high metabolism rates.
A top view of a brown and white Staffordshire Bull Terrier sitting on dry ground

Related Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions.

Can You Outrun a Pitbull?

You could not outrun a Pitbull if you were to be put on a race track all factors were favorable to you and the dog. This is because a healthy adult dog will pick up speeds of about 25-30 mph while a human adult male will get to  8 mph and a female human 6 mph both of which are a mere fraction of the Pitbull’s pace.

What Is the Suitable Running Gear for Pitbulls?

The suitable running gear for a Pitbull fits it with a lightweight leash that has an elastic hand band absorbing some of the tension from the back-and-forth pulling between you and it. A saddle bag would also be a nice touch to help carry some important accessories such as a foldable water cap for it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pitbulls may not be the best dogs for extreme athletic sports owing to their limited respiration ability and body physique. However, what they lack in speed, they make up for in strength making them perfect candidates for high-energy requirement activities.