Your female should skip her 1st heat so her body could fully develop, then in her 2nd heat, which would be around 12 to 16 months of age, she would be physically ready. I would recommend walking and running your female regularly to develop the perfect mother to a new litter of puppies. Feeding your female a well-balanced diet will set you up for a set of wonderful puppies with a happy and comfortable mother.
PREGNANCY:
The gestation period for a pit bull is 62 days, about 9 weeks. On about the 6th week after breeding, your female will start to gain a little weight, then everyday after, she will gain weight rapidly until she gives birth.
During your pit bulls pregnancy, you need to feed her about 35% to 50% more than her regular diet as she is now eating for a litter of puppies.
It is a must to jot down on a calendar the important date of the actually breeding so you know when to be expecting your litter to drop. You want your female to be in a comfortable place to have her puppies, so prepare her pen and put her in there 3 to 5 days before the litter is expected to drop.
BIRTH:
To new mother’s, it is good to be with her during her first litter. She is still new to the process she might have a hard time breaking the pouch. If this is the case, you must break it yourself so the puppy can breathe. Your female will know what to do after. Also, watch out for your female as she may accidentally sit one of her many delicate puppies.
NURSING:
After your female gives birth to her litter and she cleaned them up, they must all be right next to her sleeping or sucking on her nipples eating. Any puppies put off to the side and are still alive, pay close attention to those puppies as they are the most vulnerable.
Your female will lose weight after giving birth so it is a must to continue feeding her 35% to 50% more of her regular diet. She will be feeding her puppies for the next 6 to 7 weeks but it is recommended to start gradually feeding the puppies puppy food around 4 weeks, mixing dry puppy food with water and/or wet canned food.
Water is pivotal for your female to keep producing milk.
WEANING:
By the 4th to 5th weeks after birth, the puppies will be drawn into their mother’s water bowl and food. Gradually, the puppies will begin eating more solid food and nursing less off their mother. Most puppies are completely weaned around the 7th week after birth.
7TH WEEK & ON:
When the puppies reach 7 weeks of age, take them to the veterinary clinic to be de-wormed and to receive their first set of puppy shots. Begin feeding your puppies’ regular puppy food and tend to each one of them individually to bring out their best characteristic’s. Your puppy is what you make them to be.
