What Age Do Pit Bulls Reach Full Size? [Growth Chart & Facts]

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A Pit Bull makes one of the most loyal and protective guard dogs you can decide to adopt, but it is essential to understand what age a Pit Bull will reach full size and how much a Pit Bull should weigh as they mature and grow.

This helps you to understand if your Pit Bull is growing at the standard and acceptable rate and allows you to keep tabs on if your Pit Bull is remaining at ideal weights and healthy.

I have been a Terrier Owner for over 2.5 years, and here is what I can tell you on this topic.

What Age Do Pit Bulls Reach Full Size?

Pit Bulls will reach their full height potential by 18 months old and will mature to their potential weight between the age of 2 and 3. Pit Bull Terriers will grow the most rapidly between the ages of 4 and 9 months of age, and factors such as diet, exercise, and genetics can impact your Pit Bull’s overall size.

I realized as typing this out that this only answers 1 small question when it comes to what you can expect with a Pit Bull Terrier and that you may have a lot more questions about a Pit Bull’s growth curve, height, and weight.

To accommodate, I plan to break this down in much more depth and include a height and weight chart based on a Pit Bull Terriers age and gender.

Consider this your ultimate guide for understanding how your Pit Bull will grow, what the ideal weights for your Pit Bull look like, and just how big your new Pit Bull puppy will get.

Here is how I intend to present the information for you today:



Pit Bull Growth Chart, Growth Expectations, and Growth Explanations


To streamline some of this information, I want to begin with a chart breaking down the weight ranges you can expect your Pit Bull to reach certain intervals that you can view directly above.

Age Of Pit Bull TerrierAverage Weight MaleAverage Weight FemaleGrowth Remaining?
1 Week6-10oz7-11ozYes
8 Weeks7-14lbs6-12lbsYes
3 Months10-20lbs9-18lbsYes
4 Months25-38lbs20-35lbsYes Rapid Growth
6 Months30-40lbs26-36lbsYes Rapid Growth
8 Months45-63lbs40-59lbsYes, Growth Begins To Slow
1 Year Old49-70lbs42-64lbsYes, Your Pit Bull Will Still Continue to Fill Out Weight
Pit Bull Terrier Growth Chart

You Have A Few Different Breeds of Pit Bulls

Another thing you need to keep in mind when generalizing the information about a Pit Bull’s maximum weight and even height is the breed-specific genetics of the dog you are referencing.

Pit Bulls seem to be often lumped together into one name or often always referred to as the Pit Bull Terrier.

You have several different potential breeds of Pit Bulls that include the following:

  • American Pit Bull Terrier
  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • American Bully

Chart of Average Weight and Sizes Of Different Pit Bull Terrier Breeds

Type of Pit Bull TerrierAverage Weight Of Pit Bull Terrier Breed
American Pit Bull Terrier30-65lbs
American Staffordshire Terrier40-70lbs
Staffordshire Bull Terrier24-39lbs
American Bully31-56lbs
4 Breeds of Pit Bull Terrier’s Average Weight and Growth Chart

The above chart is a quick breakdown of the averages of each of the primary 4 Pit Bull Terrier breeds.

I simply wanted to mention and reference these breeds because they are often lumped or called Pit Bull Terriers by the average person considering adopting a dog in the future.

For the sake of the rest of this brief guide, we will be discussing and covering the American Pit Bull Terrier.

American Pit Bull Terrier

How Big Is a Pit Bull Puppy When They Are Born?

A few factors will impact the size of a Pit Bull when they are born.

These factors include things such as the size of the mother Pit Bull Terrier and how many other Pit Bulls are being born in the same litter.

Typically, a 1-week old Pit Bull will weigh anywhere between 7 and 10oz, which is roughly ½ of a pound.

Yep, you read that right, a Pit Bull Terrier starts their young life and journey at a small 7-10oz, and the growth begins to accelerate rapidly at roughly 4 months of age.


How Big Is a Pit Bull Puppy At 8 Weeks?

8 weeks is a significant milestone for your Pit Bull puppy.

This is when your Pit Bull is now eating puppy food and beginning the transition away from their mother.

While this is encouraging for those of you that you are eager to pick your new Pit Bull, it is essential to wait until at least 8 weeks to do so for the correct development and transition to take place.

At this age, your Pit Bull is likely to eat 3-4 small meals per day as they transition away from their mother and weighing in around 6-10lbs.


How Big Is a Pit Bull at 3 Months?

When a Pit Bull reaches the age of 3 months old (12 weeks), things begin to change again for your Pit Bull Terrier.

At this age, the meals can be separated into 2-3 meals per day, but you need to keep an eye on your Pit Bull during this switch to ensure that they do not suffer from any upset stomachs.

At 3 months of age, a Pit Bull Terrier will weigh between 13-19 pounds.

While this may seem relatively light for a muscular Pit Bull Terrier, keep in mind, the significant growth for your Pit Bull and weight gain is right around the corner.


How Big Is a Pit Bull at 4 Months?

At 4 months old, your Pit Bull is starting to take the form of their known muscular body and larger weight.

Most Pit Bull Terriers, at 4 months of age, will be approaching 25-40lbs in weight.

Again, remember, these ranges exist because of the factors we mentioned at the beginning of this guide.

Genetics, exercise, and even the diet will play a role in the weight your Pit Bull is at when they are 4 months of age.

We will also touch on some of the specifics on ranging weights further into this post so be sure to keep reading.


How Big Is a Pit Bull at 6 Months?

Now, we skip ahead to the 6-month mark when your Pit Bull is capable of only eating 2 meals per day, and your Pit Bull is beginning to reach their max size and weight more rapidly.

At 6 months old, a Pit Bull Terrier will be roughly 60% of its full size and weight.

Yep, 40% left to go until your once adorable Pit Bull puppy is the muscular full-grown dog, they have been working towards becoming.

At 6 months of age, a Pit Bull Terrier should weigh in between 30-40lbs.


How Big Is a Pit Bull at 8 Months?

At 8 months old, a Pit Bull Terrier will begin weighing between 35-50 pounds depending on several factors.

Your Pit Bull has also sprung in size even more since the 6-month age range.


How Big Is a Pit Bull at 1 Year Old?

Now is when you are really getting a good idea of how much your Pit Bull will weigh going forward, assuming you do a good job maintaining your Pit Bull’s weight and providing the best diet and exercise.

At 1 year old, a Pit Bull Terrier will be weighing between 45-65 pounds.


Factors That Can Impact How Big Your Pit Bull Will Be and How Fast They Will Grow

Now that we have a general idea of how much a Pit Bull will weigh and what ages your Pit Bull Terrier will begin reaching these weights, it is important to cover what factors will impact how big your Pit Bull ultimately gets.

Here is a look at 3 of the most common factors that will impact the overall size and weight of a Pit Bull Terrier.


#1- Genetics Will Impact the Overall Size and Weight of Your Pit Bull

Genetics play a huge part in how much your Pit Bull will weigh and how they will ultimately grow.

If the mother of your Pit Bull Terrier and the father of your Pit Bull are on the smaller side, you can expect to be raising a smaller Pit Bull.

On the flip side, if your Pit Bull has parents on the larger or even much more muscular end of the spectrum, you can expect to achieve the same size and weights as your Pit Bull .

Keep in mind that genetics also factor into the price you will ultimately pay for your Pit Bull Terrier at the time of the adoption.

Often, strong bloodlines or larger Pit Bulls may cost you more out of pocket to adopt.


#2- Exercise Will Play a Critical Role

All dogs need exercise, which certainly includes the Pit Bull Terrier.

Depending on how much exercise you can provide your Pit Bull, you may experience different weights than other Pit Bulls you read about or see.

It is necessary for this dog, and they love to partake in any form of exercise or training you are willing to provide.

This can include activities such as the following:

Not only is this going to help with socialization for your Pit Bull beginning at young ages, but it is also going to help with some of the negative behaviors that a Pit Bull may display.

The exercise can help your Pit to release built-up energy, which can cause behaviors such as excessive barking or excessive chewing.

Especially when they are young puppies.

Be sure to provide plenty of exercises not only to keep your Pit Bull at ideal weights and size but to help your Pit Bull develop into the excellent and loyal dog they can become.


#3-Diet Is Always A Factor for Your Pit Bull Terriers Size and Growth

Diet is perhaps the most crucial factor you need to account for when monitoring your Pit Bull’s weight and growth.

A high-quality diet is imperative.

You can either make this decision for yourself, speak to the breeder that sold you your Pit Bull or consult with a vet.

Nonetheless, a high-quality diet can make or break your Pit Bull’s ability to remain at the proper weights and have a direct impact on your Pit Bull’s overall growth and development.


Is My Pit Bull Terrier A Healthy Weight?

Determining if your Pit Bull is a healthy weight can be easier said than done and likely will need a vet to assess accurately.

Obviously, if you have a full-bred Pit Bull Terrier and your Pit Bull is growing based on what we have laid out for you thus far, you are likely in good shape.

You can also use the eye test to determine if your Pit Bull Terrier is remaining at ideal weights.

At younger ages, it is completely normal to see the outline of your Pit Bull’s ribs, but as they age, the outline should be harder to notice.

If your Pit Bull seems like they are overweight, you need to consider providing more exercise or changing your Pit Bull’s diet.

Some Pit Bull owners even switch to raw-meat diets to keep their Pit Bulls as lean as possible.

This does not mean you necessarily need nor should do this, but this gives you an idea and an example of how this can vary for each Pit Bull.

Another idea to reduce their weight is to choose dog treats that are low in calories.

Keep tabs on your Pit Bull as they grow and get yearly check-ups and advice from your vet if you are ever unsure.

Ultimately, your Pit Bull’s health and happiness are priority number 1.


When Do Pit Bulls Stop Growing?

Most Pit Bull Terriers will continue to fill out and gain some additional weight until they are about 2-3 years old.

While they may be full-grown height wise before the age of 2, most Pit Bulls have not reached their peak weights until this 24-36 month of age.

If your Pit Bull is past 3 years old and is experiencing weight gain issues, you may need to consult a vet, consider a change in diet, or begin providing more exercise.


Other Pit Bull Terrier Mixes Will Also Vary in Size

The last thing I want everyone reading to keep in mind is that if you do not have a full-bred Pit Bull Terrier or your Pit Bull is a mix with another dog breed, the weights we have discussed, and overall size can vary dramatically.

Depending on what mix your Pit Bull is, your dog may exceed the weights we have discussed or been full-grown at a much younger age.

Be sure to search for specifics based on your Pit Bull mix to get the most accurate information or speak to a vet near you.


Make Sure Your Pit Bull Remains at Ideal Weights for Optimal Health and Happiness

As you can see, your loving and affectionate Pit Bull is small at first but hits a rapid growth spurt in weight and height at around the age of 4 months.

From there, the average weight of a Pit Bull Terrier can vary based on several factors, but hopefully, this brief article has broken down actionable steps and things to keep in mind so that you can use to ensure your Pit Bull remains at the most ideal weights.

If you ever have concerns about your Pit Bull’s size, growth, and development or weight, be sure to consult with a local vet and get a second opinion.

Provide a well-balanced and high-quality diet and ensure your Pit Bull Terrier gets plenty of exercise and love, and you will be in great shape.

Luna and I wish you the best of luck with your Pit Bull’s and the journey you have ahead of you!


Do You Have Any Further Recommendations You Can Share with The Readers About A Pit Bull‘s Average Weight or Size?

How big is your Pit Bull Terrier, and how old are they currently?

Do you have any other recommendations or advice for the readers about a Pit Bull’s ideal weights and size?

Be sure to share those thoughts, stories, and concerns by dropping a comment below.

As always, Luna and I appreciate you stopping by and reading today, and we will see you again next time.

Josh Martin- Founder and Creator of Terrier Owner

Josh Martin is the proud owner of a female Jack Russell Terrier Named Luna. Josh founded TerrierOwner.com to share the stories of owning a Terrier and to help all terrier owners with the struggles, excitement and common questions that come with being a new terrier parent.

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