While it’s normal for all dogs to drool at certain times, it’s not very appealing to have an overly slobbery pet. Large breeds tend to drool more than small breeds, but what about breeds that fall somewhere in the middle, like Pitbulls. Do Pitbulls drool a lot?
Pitbulls drool more than the average dog, especially Pitbull Terriers. Their short snout and often open mouth make for a large production of drool. Pitbulls generally are food-motivated. That means they drool when they smell tasty food. If a male Pitbull smells a female in heat, they will drool too. It’s common for dogs to drool when they are not well. The Pitbull is no exception.
If you find yourself shopping for a Pitbull, you should be prepared that you’ll likely end up with a drooling dog. You might luck out and get one that’s not super slobbery, but don’t count on it. Read on to know some of the reasons why dogs drool, what makes Pitbulls a slobbery breed, and how you can combat the issue of drool.
Why Do Dogs Drool?
First, we should understand what makes a dog drool. One of the main reasons that cause a lot of saliva production is the breed of canine. Specific breeds have large, floppy upper lips. These loose jowls do a poor job of trapping saliva, causing it to drip from the mouth.
Some breeds with loose and floppy lips, which makes them big droolers include:
- Bloodhound
- Basset Hound
- Coonhound
- Bull Mastiff
- Clumber Spaniel
- Saint Bernard
- Bull Terrier
- Newfoundland
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- Bulldogs
After physical predispositions, illness is the next likely culprit of excessive drool. Things like tooth decay and oral disease can cause pain and a lot of saliva.
Mental issues like anxiety can also cause drooling, although this is usually expressed as more of a foam than a drip.
Heatstroke in dogs can also cause a large quantity of drool. Even if your dog drools a lot daily, it’s important to keep an eye on the amount of liquid, so you can tell when a visit to the vet is necessary.
Defining the Pitbull
The Pitbull is not a distinct breed but rather a type or group of specific dogs. These dogs include:
- American Pitbull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- American Bulldog
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
In this article, we’ll refer to the Pitbull as covering all these specific dog breeds.
Do Pitbulls Drool a Lot?
Unfortunately, Pitbulls tend to be on the grosser side of the slobber pool, especially Bull Terriers. If you plan to adopt one and want to know if they will drool a lot, look at the size of their upper lip.
If they have a large, drooping upper lip, chances are they will be a mess-maker. If they have a smaller upper lip, they might not drool, but there’s no guarantee by looking at them.
Why Do Pitbulls Drool So Much?
On the long list of dog breeds with large upper jowls, Pitbulls are not included. So why do they drool a lot? As mentioned, these dogs are often highly food-motivated. This means that you can easily use food to train them to listen to your commands. But it also means that your pup will sit and drool over every morsel that they see.
Pitbulls often use their eyes and expressions to persuade a human into giving them a treat. This expression is usually accompanied by drool dripping from their lip to the floor. By the end of some dinners, you may find an entire puddle that has appeared under them.
Just like humans, Pitbulls salivate when they see something delicious. This is because saliva is a necessary aid in the digestive process. A food-motivated dog will produce a lot of spit.
How to Stop Excessive Drooling in Dogs
Unfortunately, there is no easy fix for excessive drooling in dogs.
Separate eating area to humans
The most effective way to stop a lot of drool is to separate them from the area where the humans eat dinner. By removing the visual temptation of the food, you help to diminish the effects.
Dog food prep in a separate area to eating
You can also stop excessive drooling by prepping your dog’s meal when they are in a different room. Instead of allowing them to sit at your feet while you mix their wet and dry food, leave them in a different place. Only call them once the food is ready to eat. The less that they sit and stare at the food, the less they will drool.
Ease anxiety with a stress blanket or jacket
Another major cause of drooling is stress. Whether your Pitbull gets anxiety when left alone or while traveling in a car, you can expect a lot of slobber. An excellent all-natural way to diminish the effects of stress is by purchasing a weighted vest for your Pitbull.
The Classic Dog Anxiety Jacket from ThunderShirt applies constant, light pressure to your dog’s body. This helps to ease their stress, as it gives them a sense of being held. Your dog may need some positive reinforcement to get used to their new accessory, but they can benefit from the calming effect of the blanket or vest once it does.
Here’s an investigative news report on the ThunderShirt and its effect on dogs.
Keep them cool and hydrated
Since dehydrated or overheated pups tend to be heavy droolers, it’s important to give your four-legged friend access to water and shaded areas. While Pitbulls are happiest when warm, they can quickly get too hot in extreme temperatures.
A dog of this breed likes to be outside, but high temperatures can cause a large amount of panting and drooling. To combat this, always ensure your dog has somewhere shady to lay and a big bowl of cool water to drink from.
Maintain oral health
Broken or diseased teeth, infected or damaged gums, dental abscesses are another leading cause of messy slobber. To battle these, you’ll need to assist your pet with their oral care. The best way to do this is by brushing their teeth daily.
Use a pet-specific toothpaste like the Arm & Hammer Dog toothpaste that contains powerful baking soda. This product fights bacteria and helps to maintain a healthy, drool-free mouth for your dog.
For an easy-to-make home-remedy, you can use a mixture of coconut oil, baking soda, and vanilla to create a delicious, dog-friendly toothpaste.
Coping With Drool
Drool rag
If you don’t want to banish your dog from the eating area, or if they just can’t stop producing saliva, then it might be time to invest in a dog rag.
The HugeHounds DroolRag is an absorbent cloth device created especially for cleaning up dog drools. It includes two hand pockets that allow for easy wiping of dripping jowls without getting your hands messy. For an at-home alternative, you can recycle an old terry cloth towel into a drool rag.
Dog drool towel
Instead of carrying around a towel wherever your drooling pooch may go, grab the Wipe It dog towel. This tube-shaped towel conveniently sits around your dog’s neck. Any drool from the mouth slides down onto the towel.
Since the towel is elasticated, you can also move it to wipe your dog’s mouth and then rotate the towel to the dryer position.
Dog drool bandana
So, if you are looking for something more fashionable for your Pitbull, a bandana will suit you better.
Also, a bandana around your Pitbulls neck acts like a bib to catch the drool. Ensure the triangle piece is over your dog’s chest.
There are lots of different types of bandanas to suit all types of budgets available on Amazon. Here are my top 3 picks, all made with cotton, so it’s soft on your dog’s neck:
- Vipith Plaid Bandana for larger dogs (8 pack)
- Unique Style Bandana for small and large dogs
- Best bandana for small dogs
Be sure to measure your Pitbull correctly.
How To Get Rid of Drool
Dog saliva contains a lot of bacteria.
So my first tip is don’t let the dog drool dry. Otherwise, it just becomes more challenging to clean, and more germs are left in your home.
So, I can recommend a couple of options for dog drool cleaners.
Magic Eraser
Suitable for floors, walls, appliances (stainless steel), wood (including floors and cabinets), and laminate floors.
Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser comes in cleaning pads and a mop.
Just be gentle with the pads. Just buff the drool spots away.
To clean drool off leather, do not scrub.
Vinegar and water
Simple but effective: the acid in the vinegar will break down dried drool. Mix one part vinegar to 3 parts water.
Cleaning windows is another matter. Firstly, mix equal parts of vinegar to water. If you’re not satisfied with the result on your windows at home and in the car, follow up with Windex. The result should be streak-free.
Steam mop
Suitable for hard to remove drool stains on linoleum. Try the Bissell 19404 PowerFresh Pet Steam Mop.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Pitbulls are often found to be drooly dogs.
While they are not at the top of the offenders’ list, they tend to be highly food-motivated. Therefore, they produce a lot of saliva around mealtimes. These pups can also be overly messy when stressed, sick, or dehydrated, and so their physical and mental health should always be considered when a large amount of drool occurs.
We’ve covered a few ways you can combat this slobber in this article. So, pay attention to their drooling patterns to know which of these remedies you need to follow.
Mad About Pitbulls?
We love Pitbulls and have written other articles about them on our blog that you will find an interesting read:
- Pitbulls and hiking – all you need to know
- Pitbulls and their bite: how strong is it?
- Pitbulls and their sense of smell for tracking
- Pitbulls and backpacking – the only guide you need
- Best ever guide to the Blue Pitbull
- Mileage and dogs: how far can they run (features Pitbulls)
- Hunting with your Pitbull: is this possible?
- The Pitbull’s shedding habit: what you need to know
- Breeders guide for Red-Nosed American Pitbull Terriers.